Page 39 of The Shadow Path

Page List

Font Size:

His eyes crinkled with laughter. “Aye, ye did.”

Her face was on fire. “Okay, the song ended. We better move.”

Duncan took her hand, weaving their fingers together. “I know you’re going to dance with Lachlan.” He bent and whispered in her ear. “But you’re going to think of me when you’re in his arms.”

CHAPTER NINE

Carys did dance with Lachlan, and she did think about Duncan most of the time. From the sour look on Lachlan’s face, he knew it too. She also danced with Godrik, though there was little conversation, and she danced with her uncle twice.

Laura appeared to be the belle of the ball, and Cadell was forced to be patient as every lord and a few ladies of Anglia took the opportunity to dance with the interesting foreigner from across the ocean who was visiting the Anglian court.

Carys loved to see her friend being celebrated. Back home, Laura was the responsible eldest sister, backbone of her family and tribe and mainstay at every community function. Here, she was a carefree diplomat of sorts and a fascinating visitor from another continent.

“Your friend is rather pretty, isn’t she?”

Carys smiled. “She’s more than pretty, don’t you…” Her smile fell when she turned to the right and saw the familiar face of the Crow Mother, who was sitting at her table. “What are you doing here?”

She looked around, but no one seemed to notice the dark-haired woman dressed in black save for a lone fae woman on theother side of the room who stared at the Crow Mother with ice-blue eyes.

“What are you doing here?” she asked again. Meanwhile in her mind, she was shouting for her dragon.Cadell, where are you?

Nothing.

It was as if a fog had wrapped around her mind.

“No use calling for the beast,” the Crow Mother said. “My magic is far older than his.” She looked at the head table. “There’s so much magic and feasting in this garden, it’s the perfect time to act.” She narrowed her eyes on Orla. “The queen will bring me her offering, and then everything will fall into place.”

“What offering?” She had to be speaking about Orla. There was only one queen on the dais since Harold wasn’t married.

“I take offerings of all kinds,” the Crow Mother said. “Magic. Blood. Babies.”

Carys barely managed to stop the shiver. “What do you want from me?”

“What you’ve promised, Carys Morgan, daughter of two worlds. Passage to the Brightlands so I can…” She smiled. “…see the sun. Among other things.”

There was no way Carys could go back on her promise now; she’d struck a bargain. “I’ll meet you in the morning at the Night Bridge then.”

“No need.” Branwen stood. “We’ll go now.”

“I can’t.” She looked around. “I’m a guest here and—” It was as if a hand reached up and covered her mouth.

Carys panicked.

“No need to be afraid, dear one. You’re going to give me what was promised, and then you’ll return safely to the Shadowlands.” Branwen stood, reached her hand down, and took Carys’s in her own.

Carys had no choice but to follow her, mute and manageable. She shouted for Cadell in her mind, but the Crow Mother’s power was too great. Fog crept around them, just as it had in the park and on Branwen’s mountain fortress in Alba.

Without any recourse and compelled by magic, Carys lifted her skirt and followed Branwen into the trees.

“Harold thinks his wards are powerful.” Branwen spoke to Carys as if they were friends. “But the wolf mages have earthly magic. More brutish than elegant.” She glanced over her shoulder when Carys didn’t speak. “Oh, forgive me.” She waved a hand, and Carys felt her lips loosen.

“How are we going?” She was already plotting her escape. “You have to know we’re miles from the Night Bridge. And that’s the only gate that knows me in this area, so how?—”

“Have a care, Carys.” The Crow Mother interrupted. “You think I haven’t thought of these things?” Branwen led them through the forest bordering the castle gardens, and moments after they entered the trees, Carys saw a dark carriage emerge from the shadows. “If it were only me, I would simply fly with my crows.” She turned and patted Carys on the cheek. “But you need more… terrestrial accommodations.”

As they approached the carriage, a black door swung open and the shadows loomed in front of her. Nothing appeared to be pulling the carriage, but even so, the box jolted ahead as if invisible beasts were ready to move.

Carys didn’t feel fear. Not exactly. The Crow Mother needed her to open the gate, which meant that—at least for now—she was safe. Then after they passed through the gate and into the Brightlands, the old fae would lose her magic.