Page 118 of The Shadow Path
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me,” Lachlan said. “I see how you look at him.”
She laughed a little bit. “With annoyance? Irritation? How do I look at Duncan?”
Lachlan’s voice was soft. “The way I wanted you to look at me.”
Carys blinked. “Lachlan?—”
“Maybe that was the way that I used to look at Seren,” he murmured. “She was the beginning and end of my world, but she drove me absolutely crazy at times.”
She cocked her head back to look at the starless sky. “I’m going to think about that later. I’m not going to be able to stop myself.”
Lachlan frowned. “What were we doing, Carys? Was it all just grief for the ones we lost? Seren? Your parents? I know I loveyou. Istilllove you. Even while you’re choosing him. There’s this…” He clenched a fist to his chest. “I feel this ball of anger in my chest that I know you don’t deserve. I’m jealous as hell. But I can’t hate either of you.”
“We loved each other.” Carys felt tears creeping up again, and God, she was tired of crying, but she couldn’t seem to stop. “We loved each other, Lachlan. We really did. I know that.”
“But you love him more.”
Yes.She didn’t want to say that; it felt cruel. She swallowed the hard lump at the back of her throat. “Maybe it’s not more or less. Maybe it’s just different.”
Lachlan nodded. His shoulders were tense. His muscled arms crossed over his chest. “I can accept that, but I still love you. If my love is not what you need right now, I accept that too.” He looked at her. “But know that I’ll never stop loving you. Not ever.”
Lachlan picked up her hand, lifted her palm to his lips, and pressed a chaste and fervent kiss there. He closed his eyes and whispered, “I willalwayslove you, Carys Morgan. Good night.”
Blinking back tears, Carys watched him stand and walk back to the house.
Then her eyes rose, and she saw the curtains in her room snap shut.
Carys was wrappedin Duncan’s arms when she heard a tap on her door early the next morning.
“Carys?” Duncan’s voice was sleepy.
She pulled away from his hold and sat up in bed. “It’s Cadell.”
You need to wake up.
It was early morning, and she could already hear the house stirring. Horses were neighing in the courtyard, and the heavy beat of dragon wings sounded overhead.
“Go ahead.” Duncan rolled out of bed and cleared his throat. “I’ll go back to my room and get ready.”
“I don’t know what he wants.” She opened the door to see her dragon in human form, already standing on the other side with his arm braced against the top arch of the doorway. “What’s up?”
“We’re hunting with Godrik today.” Cadell glanced at Duncan. “The human can join us. Bring your sword.”
“Done.” Duncan threw his overcoat over his shoulders and frowned. “I mean, I would anyway, but is there a specific reason?”
Carys knew before Cadell said it. It hit her like a flash. “The iron. If the iron in the children’s blood could break through the wards?—”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Duncan growled. “What children’s blood?”
Cadell stepped inside the room and closed the door. “The young dragons who were being held in the fae fort cut themselves to break through the wards and call out for the horde. If the iron in their blood could fracture the fae spells, it’s possible that any fae fort that is holding a wolf child might fracture from the iron in your sword.”
Only five living people in all of the Shadowlands knew that Duncan’s sword was forged with dragon blood, and they’d tried very hard to keep it a secret.
“So we hunt with Godrik.” Duncan nodded. “Guess the rumors about my blade are about to become more fact than rumor.”
“It’s worth it if it finds these kids,” Carys said.
Duncan leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Not even a question in my mind, lass. I’ll get dressed and meet you at the stables.” He glanced at Cadell. “You two flying or riding?”
