Blood and Snow 7: Seal of Gabriel Read Online Free PDF Page B

glass fell like sharp rain to the floor. A few shards hit my skin and bounced off, my body unharmed.
    I turned away, heading toward the door. I needed to find Devoran. Perhaps he was responsible.
    Tinkling glass sounded behind me. I watched the last pieces of the mirror stitch itselt back together. With a growl, I pulled open the door.
    “Devoran,” I shouted, surprised that I stepped out into the garden. Grass, soft like feathers, brushed against my bare feet. The unicorn, Evny, flicked her ears, and looked at me. “Have you seen Devoran?” I asked.
    She nickered, and came over, her head bent low, in the sign of subjection, and respect. When she stood in front of me, I touched her head, directly above the place where her horn grew.
    “Rise, dear one.” I spoke softly, remembering the cruelty’s she endured.
    “Devoran left Crystal City earlier today. I’m so sorry, apologetic, remorseful.” She bowed, putting one hoofed leg behind the other. I noticed the leg she stood on trembled.
    A wave of smypathy for her filled my veins. “Please, Envy. You don’t need to bow to me. Rise. I insist.”
    She did as I commanded.
    “When will he be back?” I asked.
    “I do not know. It seems there is trouble between the trolls and the elves near Ellavera Pass. He’s gone to make peace, return their harmony, rebuild an accord.”
    I knew the trolls and the elves were always at odds over one petty issue or another. “Thank you.” I scanned the gardens. “Have you seen the pixilette I arrived with? Ryden.”
    She shook her head making her long, beautiful mane flip back and forth.
    “Where is she,” I wondered aloud.
    “I could help you look, if you’d like. The pixilette drank a lot of watermelon juice. She’s probably sleeping it off, feeling whoozy, hungover,” Envy said.
    I smiled. “You’re probably right. And I would greatly appreciate your assisatnce.” We moved toward the table where I’d last seen her. As I came closer, a silver decanter appeared along with a goblet.
    “You must be thirsty,” Envy said.
    “I am,” I said, pouring the liquid that looked like blood into the goblet and raising it to my lips. I drank until it was gone.
    We moved over to the trees. A ruby red fruit grew in abundance on the trees in this section of the garden. Even though it was a different color than the green fruit I’d smelled yesterday, I relaized the aroma was the same.
    Irritated, I asked, “Why does everything in the garden smell like blood?”
    Envy gave me a questioning look and I realized maybe it only smelled that way to me.
    “What does the garden smell like to you?”
    She sniffed, her nose moving so that I wanted to reach out and touch its softness. Resisting, I clutched my hands at my sides.
    “It smells of fresh clover, alfalpha, and braeburn apples.” She flicked her tail, angling her head toward the red fruit on the tree.
    “That’s what this is. An apple.” My sense of smell blinded me to what it truly was. I plucked one from the tree and placed it in the palm of my hand. And I remembered the gem—Abernathy’s soul.
    I sucked in my breath, dropping the apple. Envy sniffed, and picked it up with her teeth. “Have you seen a gem? It’s amber in color and shaped like a teardrop.”
    “Are you talking about the pretty , the lovely , the gorgeous , hanging from your neck?” Her head bobbed up and down.
    I pressed a hand to my neck. It was there. “How?” I wondered aloud, but knew Envy wouldn’t know. Several huge breaths later, I unhooked the chain from my neck and looked at it. I needed to see it with my eyes. The dragon’s soul still swirled within. The outline of an elf eye was also within.
    Sighing, I pressed my fist to my chest.
    “As soon as I find Ryden, I need to be moving on. Can you let Devoran know I appreciate his help.” I spoke as I headed toward the room I’d stayed in. Before I left I needed to have one more look in that mirror. Something on the girl called Snow White had to