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  Bella had been walking for hours, and there hadn’t been a single trace of Glimmer. It was moments before dusk, and soon Bella would have to turn back to meet her friends. The new boots that Bella had so eagerly laced up this morning had rubbed blisters into her heels and big toes. Sweat trickled down her forehead and soaked the collar of her T-shirt.

  Bella’s crystal hadn’t vibrated once. She had even taken it out of her pocket to see if she had missed a vibration, but the crystal remained clear. No one was having any luck.

  Glimmer’s definitely not in my section of the castle grounds, Bella thought. But how did she escape the royal guards? Did she just walk across the drawbridge? Surely she could not have swum through the moat without being seen by guards.

  Bella forgot how lucky she and her friends were that none of them had been spotted by the royal security team. They would have to lie about what they were doing, and Bella hated lying. But this was for a good reason.

  The princess took a few more steps and stopped as she reached the creek in front of her. Bella had taken the front left quarter of the castle grounds. Ben, Ivy, and Clara had each taken another quarter of Crystal Castle’s grounds. Bella’s section included a creek that had a small waterfall at the start. Even though her instinct told her that Glimmer couldn’t have made it across the moat, she knew she had to try.

  This is the last place left to look, Bella thought. Then I have to get back.

  She sat down on the grass near the creek bed and undid her boots. She tugged off her socks, rolled up her pant legs, and stepped into the cool water. The creek bottom was covered in a bed of smooth brown and black stones—none sharp enough to cut or bruise Bella’s feet.

  Teensy minnows and tadpoles swam away from Bella as she carefully walked up the creek toward the waterfall. The ankle-deep water felt good on her blisters. The princess squinted and bent down, the setting sun visible in the water’s reflection. Something had disturbed the rocks. The entire creek had been smooth and now there were—one, two, three, four—spots of rocks smushed into the ground. Bella stuck her hand in the water, tracing her finger over a U-shaped imprint.

  Glimmer’s shoe!

  “Glimmer!” Bella called. She forgot that she wasn’t supposed to be calling for the unicorn in case someone heard. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Are you here?”

  Bella stayed hunched over and followed the hoofprints as they went along the creek bed, then vanished. Steps away from the loud waterfall, she looked from side to side, trying to pick up the trail.

  “The grass!” Bella said out loud. She sprinted through the creek, her footsteps spraying water up her legs. She put her bare feet in the spots of trampled grass—almost like playing hopscotch. The four diagonal prints zigzagged away from the creek and headed for the property line that divided Crystal Castle from the rest of the kingdom.

  Bella slipped her fingers around her crystal. She needed to tell her friends to meet her here. The princess took a few more steps, and the hoofprints became harder and harder to spot. A shiny screen that looked like plastic wrap was inches from Bella’s face. The palm-size screen signaled the end of Crystal Castle land. Bella slowly put a foot through the screen spell, causing it to ripple.

  “Princess? Princess Bella!”

  Bella yanked her foot back as if it had touched scorching lava. She stifled a shriek and turned to the deep voice that had called her name. She released the crystal, leaving it in her pocket, glad she hadn’t called her friends.

  One of the members of the royal security team approached her. His sword gleamed at his side, and he was dressed in all black with a pin of the castle’s seal on his lapel.

  “Um, hi!” Bella said. She hurried away from the hoofprint trail and tried to scuff away the rest of the prints with her feet as she approached the guard. I don’t want him to see any of Glimmer’s tracks, she thought.

  “Are you all right?” the guard asked after bowing to Bella. “It’s not safe for you to cross the property line, Princess. The other guards and I only patrol the castle grounds unless the king instructs us otherwise.”

  Bella smiled. “I know. I was playing in the creek and then saw a”—she swallowed—“butterfly, and I chased it. I’d never seen one like it before. Thank you for calling to me before I went too far over the line.”

  The guard nodded, smiling back. His green eyes looked around as if searching for evidence of the butterfly. But he didn’t seem to pick up on the princess’s lie. “Of course, Princess. Do you need an escort back to the castle?”

  “Oh no, thank you,” Bella said. “I know my way from here. Thanks!”

  Before the guard could say another word, Bella gave him a tiny wave and trotted away. She dashed across the creek, put on her boots, and darted across the grounds, hurrying back to the stables.

  That was way too close! Bella thought as she jogged. I have to be more careful. Her stomach sank as she reached the stables. Ivy and Clara stood empty-handed and were covered in streaks of dirt. Ben came around the other side of the stables, red-faced and sneakers covered in mud.

  “I knew that no one had found Glimmer,” Bella said, reaching her friends. “But I’d hoped my crystal had missed a signal.”

  The four of them plopped onto the floor of the tack room. Bella reached over and pulled a blade of grass from Clara’s long hair.

  “We don’t have much time,” Ivy said. “I have to be home really soon or my parents will worry.”

  “Mine too,” Clara said. “I’m sorry, Bella. I looked everywhere in my section. I didn’t find a thing.”

  Ivy and Ben nodded, their eyes downcast.

  “At least you guys didn’t get stopped by guards,” Bella said.

  “What?” Ben asked, sitting up straight. He’d been slouching against a wooden cabinet.

  “I was in the creek and I found hoofprints,” Bella said. “I know they’re Glimmer’s.”

  “Oh! Why didn’t you message us?” Ivy asked. She swiped at sweat on her forehead.

  “I started to,” Bella said. “I got caught up following the prints. They led me to the castle line. I was halfway through the screen when a guard saw me.”

  Clara’s mouth formed a giant O shape. “What did you do?”

  “I had to lie,” Bella said. “I told him that I was chasing a butterfly, and I ran off before he could ask me anything else.”

  Ben’s brows knitted together. “Did he believe you?”

  “Yes,” Bella said. Her chest tightened a little. “I hated lying, but I had to.”

  “You did the right thing,” Ivy said. She stretched her legs out in front of her. The knees of her jeans were grass stained.

  “Now we know that Glimmer isn’t on the castle grounds,” Bella said. “The hoofprints pointed in the direction of the Dark Forest.”

  The mention of the Dark Forest caused everyone to fall silent.

  “Guys,” Bella added. “No one has to go in but me. I have to go—Glimmer’s my unicorn. I understand if you don’t want to go.”

  Ben shook his head. “No way. I’m going too.”

  Ivy and Clara nodded in solidarity.

  “What if we start by searching around the castle after school?” Ivy said. “I’ll tell my parents that I’m staying over for a while.”

  “I’ll do the same as Ivy,” Clara said. “If we don’t find Glimmer tomorrow, then we’ll go into the Dark Forest the next day.”

  Bella thought for a minute. “That’s a good idea. Maybe we should be in pairs this time.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Ben said, looking at Bella. “If that’s all right.”

  “Sure. Thanks, Ben,” Bella said. “Ivy and Clara, are you okay going together?”

  The two girls looked at each other and high-fived. “Team Clivy!” Clara said, giggling.

  The overhead lights went from dim to bright. Bella looked out of the small window in the tack room. The sun was almost completely gone.

  “You and Ivy still have to g
et home,” Bella said. “I missed dinner, and I don’t want Frederick to come looking for you, Ben. We will mess up this entire plan if we all get in trouble on the first day.”

  “You’re right,” Ben said. “Everyone needs to go.”

  “Tomorrow,” Bella said. “Snapdragon Garden at two thirty.”

  5

  Act “Normal”

  After splitting up from her friends, Bella managed to shower and change clothes before running into her mom. The queen found Bella when the princess was drying her hair.

  “When did you come inside?” Queen Katherine asked, folding her arms. Bella studied her mom’s face. The queen wasn’t angry, but she was definitely a little cross.

  “I got in a while ago,” Bella said. “I was sweaty and gross from being outside, so I took a shower. I didn’t want to track dirt everywhere. I’m so sorry that I missed dinner, Mom.”

  “Did something happen during your riding lesson?” Queen Katherine asked. She raised a you-better-tell-the-truth “Mom” eyebrow.

  “Nothing happened,” Bella said. She hated lying to her mom. Queen Katherine trusted Bella, and the princess had never given her parents a reason not to trust her.

  Until now. But she had to protect Ben and even shield Glimmer from trouble.

  Bella had realized in the shower that Glimmer’s decision to run away could get her unicorn into trouble. That was the last thing that Bella wanted.

  “Everything went great,” Bella added. “Ben was a great teacher. He told me to go after the lesson, but I decided to stay. I wanted to learn how to prepare Glimmer for bed after riding her.” Bella stretched her arms behind her back. “It’s completely my fault that I got in late,” she added.

  The queen eyed her, and Bella fought the urge to chew her bottom lip.

  Please, please believe me, Mom, Bella thought. I’m sorry I’m lying. I’ll never lie again after this is over!

  “Next time, please make sure you send word that you’ll be missing dinner,” the queen said. “Don’t make a habit of it, though, Bella.”

  “I won’t,” Bella promised.

  Her mom smiled and stepped forward to wrap her arms around her daughter. “I am proud of you, sweetie. I remember my early days of learning to ride Kiwi, and it was quite tiring. I’m so happy you decided to stay at the stables and care for Glimmer.”

  “You could have just ridden her and left,” Queen Katherine continued. “But you showed a true interest in Glimmer’s well-being. That’s my girl. Your father will be proud too.”

  The queen’s words made Bella’s stomach hurt.

  * * *

  On Monday morning, Bella was awake long before Lyssa arrived. She dressed herself, moving quietly so no one would know that she was awake, and settled onto her window seat. The events from last night ran over and over in her mind.

  A swallow chirped outside her window and hopped on the ledge of the fountain. The bird dipped its head into the water, causing droplets to cascade down its neck and back. The little brown bird bathed in the early morning sunlight.

  Last night, after the talk with her mom, Bella had eaten dinner and, claiming to be tired, had gone to bed early. She really had climbed under her covers before her usual bedtime, but she had been awake for most of the night. All Bella could think about was getting through school and searching for Glimmer. She would have to make certain that she didn’t miss dinner for a second night in a row.

  “Bella?” a soft voice called from the other side of the door.

  “Come in,” Bella replied. She pasted a fake smile on her face as Lyssa walked inside.

  Lyssa’s eyes swept over the already-dressed Bella. She tilted her head. “I know why you’re up early. You can’t keep secrets from me!”

  What? How did Lyssa find out? Bella thought, panicked.

  “Lyssa, you can’t—” Bella started.

  “Your ride with Glimmer went so amazing that you were going to sneak out before school to see her,” Lyssa interrupted, grinning. “That’s why you’re up so early.”

  Lyssa’s wrong—so wrong—guess made Bella snap her mouth closed. Relief swept over her that Lyssa didn’t know the truth.

  “You got me,” Bella agreed cheerfully. “I was totally planning to see Glimmer. I got lost in a daydream, and now it’s too late.”

  “Aw, Bells,” Lyssa said. She smoothed her cheery yellow cap-sleeve dress. “The day will go by faster than you think. You’ll be seeing Glimmer before you know it.”

  Bella managed a smile. “I hope so.”

  It was the first sentence of truth she’d spoken in a while.

  Lyssa picked up a hairbrush and waved it at Bella. “Come over and let me do your hair,” she said. “You have to tell me everything about your first ride!”

  Slowly Bella uncurled her legs and walked across her bedroom. She sank into the plush pink-velvet-covered stool in front of her mirror.

  Lyssa ran the brush through Bella’s hair, locking eyes with her in the mirror. “Are you okay?” Lyssa asked. The older girl frowned at Bella’s reflection. “You’re awfully quiet. I thought you would be dying to tell me about your day with Glimmer.”

  “Oh, I am,” Bella said. “Yesterday was amazing, Lyss. I’m just a little tired and sore from riding.”

  Still brushing, Lyssa nodded. “I get it, Bells. I’m sure you were up the night before thinking about what riding Glimmer was going to be like. Then when it was over, I’m sure you felt like an energy zap spell had been cast on you.”

  “Exactly,” Bella agreed. “Glimmer really does mean more to me than anything in my whole life, and I was so, so excited about yesterday.” Under the vanity table, she curled her fingers into fists until her fingernails dug into her palms. It was all she could do to keep from crying. “She’s the best unicorn in the whole world.”

  “French braid?” Lyssa asked, Bella’s hair entwined around her fingers.

  “Yes, please,” Bella said.

  “I’m so glad you’re happy with Glimmer,” Lyssa said. Her focus was on braiding Bella’s brown locks. “I’ll have to watch you ride sometime.”

  Bella managed a wobbly smile. “Sure.”

  Lyssa finished Bella’s braid and knelt down by her side. “You know you can tell me anything, right? I can tell when something’s bothering you. Are you worried about the Crystal Kingdom debut on Wednesday?”

  I’m going to tell Lyssa everything, Bella thought. But then Lyssa would be in an awkward position. Enough people were already telling lies and keeping secrets—Bella didn’t want Lyssa to be one of them.

  “The debut is stressing me out a little,” Bella answered honestly. “It’s a big moment in front of the entire kingdom.”

  Lyssa patted Bella’s knee. “It is. But you’ll have Glimmer there to support you. It’s going to be so different from your birthday, when it was just you.”

  Bella tried to smile and nod as Lyssa kept talking about the debut. Not only was she worried sick about Glimmer, but what would happen if the princess of Crystal Kingdom showed up to her unicorn debut—without her unicorn?

  6

  Secrets, Lies, and the Dark Forest

  The school day dragged. On and on and on. Bella, Ivy, Clara, and Ben all huddled together during lunch at a table on the terrace. Bella and the other students in her third-grade class were all taught at Crystal Castle. The princess’s parents hadn’t wanted Bella to be lonely, so they had invited children of castle employees to attend school with Bella and her tutor.

  Today, however, Bella wanted to avoid everyone. While Ben was in school and away from the stables, he always told Frederick a different story about where Glimmer was. Today’s little white lie? Ben had let Glimmer loose in a big field to graze.

  “Does everyone have a copy of their map?” she said, whispering to her friends.

  Ivy, Clara, and Ben, all seated at the round table, nodded.

  “Last night I divided up the outside of the Dark Forest into sections,” Bella explained. “Everyone’s is mar
ked, and I put a spell on the map to only reveal the ink of castle grounds. Just being extra careful.”

  “Good idea, Bells,” Ivy said. Her short hair was clipped back with blue-and-white polka-dot barrettes. Ivy, preparing for the outdoor adventure, had paired sneakers with jeans and a dark-gray T-shirt. Ben, Clara, and Bella were in jeans and dark tees too.

  “One question,” Clara said. “How do we get past the royal guards?”

  Bella rubbed her sweaty palms on her thighs. “I have an idea. What do you guys think about going to my mom after class and telling her that we would like to take Glimmer out in the giant field alongside the road to town?”

  Ben rubbed his forehead. “I like it. We don’t have to worry about the guards.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Ivy declared.

  “Do you know more about the Dark Forest since the first time we talked about it?” Bella asked Ben.

  He shook his head. “I didn’t get a chance to read about it yet. Are there big spiders?”

  “I wish,” Bella said. “We might run into bigger problems than those eight-legged creepers. The forest is Queen Fire’s territory. Her guards might be patrolling to keep us out.”

  Ben’s eyes widened, and he nodded slowly, as if remembering Bella’s confession about her relationship to Queen Fire.

  “My aunt has been stealing unicorns for years,” Bella said. “She uses her evil black aura to make all of the good unicorns become bad. And dangerous!”

  “Will we be able to recognize them?” Ben asked.

  “Easily,” Bella answered. “They are red with black eyes.” She stopped, her throat suddenly desert dry. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what she would do if Queen Fire had captured Glimmer. Bella’s sweet purple unicorn being turned evil . . .

  “Hey,” Ben said, nudging Bella’s ribs with his elbow. “Queen Fire doesn’t have Glimmer. I know it. Think about the way that Glimmer escaped her stall. She’s too smart to be caught by Queen Fire.”

  “I hope so,” Bella said. She picked up her silver fork and stabbed at a pile of macaroni-and-cheese noodles. The food tasted like nothing, and Bella put down her fork, pushing her tray away.