Page 11 of The Shadow Path
“Fuck yes,” he blurted. “Brilliant idea. I’ll help you pack.”
Carys smiled. “I had a feeling you’d say that.”
“You say the word and I’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen.” He tapped her chin. “Don’t forget I’m filthy rich. Feel free to take advantage of me.”
“Is that so?” She had a feeling he wasn’t just talking about money.
Duncan stepped closer, and she could feel the heat of his body through her wool sweater. “I haven’t forgotten how your lips taste. Haven’t forgotten how you feel in my arms. Have you forgotten, Carys?” He leaned down, his lips inches from her ear. “Would you like a reminder?”
She closed her eyes, and his scent grew stronger. He smelled like cut grass on the edge of a forest. She remembered his kiss too. She remembered how it felt to have her body pressed to the firm planes of his chest, wrapped in his embrace.
Everything about Duncan lit her up. If Lachlan had been like the sun, Duncan was fire.
He was grumpy as hell at times; he was also kind, thoughtful, and honest.
“It would be so easy to fall into this.” Carys opened her eyes and stared at the cable-knit sweater that covered his chest. “To fall intoyou. I’m not even going to pretend it wouldn’t be.”
“You think I wouldn’t catch you?”
“I know you would.” She looked up and her heart ached. “But you know why it’s not simple.”
Duncan had feelings for her. So did Lachlan. And Carys had feelings for both of them. It wasn’t just about picking one brother over the other; it was about two different lives.
“Until I know what kind of life I want—who I even am—I can’t give you my whole heart.” She put a hand on his chest. “Because that’s what you deserve. My whole heart or nothing.”
Duncan put his hand over hers, pressing her fingers close until she could feel his heartbeat underneath her palm. “You deserve that too, Carys Morgan. You deserve a man’s whole heart. And don’t you forget that ever.”
CHAPTER THREE
Less than twenty-four hours later, Carys was in a black car, riding though the rainy streets of London with Duncan sitting in the front and Cadell and Laura with her in the back.
She wasn’t sure how much their driver knew about anything because he was sent by Duncan’s mother, so she kept her voice low when she talked to Cadell.
“So” —she glanced at Laura— “what is London called?”
Cadell stared at her. “London.”
“No, in the other place.”
“London,” Cadell said. “London is London no matter what side of the shadow you fall on.”
“Really?”
Laura folded her hands and looked out the window. “It’s a very old city, and both Old English and Welsh people called it London. Or some variation close to that. Some people think it was founded by the Romans, but it’s older than that.”
Cadell’s eyes glowed. “You’ve done research into Briton.”
“I research every place I go,” Laura said. “I like to know things.”
Cadell nodded. “A truly admirable trait.”
Of all the humans that Cadell could get attached to, Carys could not think of a single one more unreceptive to male attention than Laura. It wasn’t that her friend didn’t like men, but she’d been burned.
And not by a dragon.
“Almost there.” Duncan rubbed his eyes. “Glad we didn’t arrive at rush hour.”
The streets were nearly deserted at three in the morning, but it had still taken over half an hour to drive from London City Airport to Duncan’s family home in Belgravia.
