Into the Wildewood by Gillian Summers

tried to move her foot to walk away, but she couldn’t. It was as if her legs were encased in invisible concrete and wrapped in chains. She glanced at Elianard, who smiled back at her.
    “I haven’t finished speaking to you,” he said. “Do not go into the woods. If you do, people near and dear to you may be harmed.”
    “Are you threatening us?”
    “No. I’m suggesting that if you do enter the woods and interfere, then the consequences will be felt by anyone associated with you.”
    “What do you mean, interfere? With what?” As she spoke, instinct guided Keelie. She had to use the rose quartz to break the magic Elianard was using to bind her in place.
    She tossed the costume over her shoulder, reached into her jeans pocket for her protective rock, and pulled it out. She held out her clenched fist to break the spell. Nothing happened. Not the reaction she’d expected.
    Elianard’s eyes narrowed. “Earth magic will not stop me. Do you think that your little quartz will chase me away, like garlic to a vampire?” He laughed. “Of course, that won’t work either. Ask your father.”
    “Ask me what? I have warned you, Elianard, to stay away from my daughter.”
    “Dad!” Keelie’s knees were watery with relief, or maybe it was the breaking of the spell, because suddenly it was as if her legs had been freed from the invisible concrete and chains. She stepped back to regain her balance.
    Elianard walked away.
    Dad frowned. “The idiot! He’s getting more and more careless. Stay away from him.”
    “I did. I was minding my own business and he stopped me.”
    “I want you to stay in the Faire. Stay out of the woods.”
    “He said the same thing. Does this have to do with the unicorn?” Concern for the unicorn, along with a sense of protection, washed over Keelie. If Elianard harmed one hair on it, she’d …
    She didn’t know what she would do, but she’d do something. She’d protect the unicorn. She didn’t want another creature hurt because of Elianard or Elia, the way Ariel had been. For once, Keelie was glad the hawk was in Pennsylvania and not here in the Wildewood.
    “Maybe. Elianard’s magic seems stronger.” Zeke frowned, and his thoughts suddenly seemed far away. “Unicorns are very powerful in their own right.”
    Keelie shuddered, remembering the glowing horn she’d glimpsed that night and Elianard’s comments about pure bloodlines. What kind of magic would it take to hurt a unicorn? Dad was right. Elianard was an idiot.
    “Where’s Knot? He’s supposed to be with you at all times.” Her father peered into the bushes, as if Knot had disguised himself as a shrub.
    “I dunno. Maybe he went to check out the pubs.”
    Dad glowered toward the woods. “I’ll find him, and when I do he has a lot of explaining to do.”
    Keelie rubbed her temple.
    Dad wrinkled his nose. “What’s that smell?”
    “Probably Elianard.”
    Dad arched an eyebrow and the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile. “Isn’t that the Plumpkin suit that Vernerd wore last year?”
    She gave him a wide-eyed look. This was the moment she needed if she was going to milk sympathy from Dad. “Yes, it is. Can you believe they’re making me wear this? From what I heard he had lice, too.” Dad didn’t have to know that Elia was the source of this bit of information.
    Dad stroked his chin, a pensive look on his face. “I think I remember hearing about that.” He started walking toward the campground.
    Keelie easily kept up with his long stride. Like father like daughter, she thought. “So?”
    “So what?”
    Subtlety wasn’t working. “How could you let your only child wear a stupid dragon suit that’s infested with lice and smells like puke? Where’s the concern? Where’s the love?”
    “I know Finch had the suit dry cleaned; so it’s no longer infested with anything. As for the smell, there’s nothing I can do about that other than possibly asking Janice to recommend some herb or essential oil to