Page 41 of The Shadow Path
Other than the fae gate behind her house in California, she’d never walked through a gate on her own before, much less guided a magical creature through the passageway.
Grit and moss gathered under her fingertips as she walked, and Carys absorbed everything her senses could detect.
The sound of her boots slapping on damp stone.
The press of dark shadows on either side of the narrow alley.
The smell of the river and roasting meat from the market.
What kind of meat? She didn’t want to guess.
Her fingers dragged over a gritty line of brick; then cold fingers grabbed her wrist.
Carys jumped back, yanking her arm away from whatever creature had grabbed it, but she wasn’t able to get away from the shadows, and instead, she dragged a tall, thin figure covered in wool rags.
The Crow Mother uttered a breathy curse and snarled, “What areyoudoing here?”
The creature lifted its head, pushed back the dark cowl around his wild hair, and Dru stepped into a beam of light coming from a second-story window.
“What trouble are you about this night, mother?” The corner of the fae’s mouth turned up. “And what trouble have you dragged my friend into?”
“None but what she bargained for, Diarmuid.”
Carys was a little bit shocked that Dru considered her a friend, but in the company of the Crow Mother, she’d take it. Cadell still couldn’t hear her, and she didn’t have any kind of weapon secreted in her ball gown.
Thatwas a lesson learned.
“Hey, Dru.” She let out a slow breath. “Kind of surprised to see you here.”
Was he following her? Following the Crow Mother?
Or did Dru have his own schemes that had nothing to do with either of them?
Dru hooked his thumbs in the band of leather around his waist, lifting his chin and pushing his shoulders back. He was the canny bartender again, not the Green Man, the woodland prince,orthe beggar in rags.
“This woman made that bargain not knowing your true nature,” he said.
“But she made it nonetheless.”
Carys whispered, “I did make a bargain, Dru.”
Dru nodded. “And so you’ll pay the old one.” His eyes narrowed. “I do wonder what you’re about.”
Branwen cackled. “You’ll find out in time, and it’s no trouble for you or your kind.” She leaned closer to Dru. “In fact, it might just be to your benefit.”
A muscle in Dru’s cheek jumped, and a glimmer of light ran along the sigil at his right temple. “I’ll go along then. I see that Carys’s dragon is absent from her company this night. I’ll be happy to be her guide.”
“I tried calling him,” Carys said. “But I couldn’t seem to connect.”
“Not necessary,” the Crow Mother said.
Dru’s voice crackled with power. “Try to stop me, old woman.”
Carys put a hand on his arm. “I would appreciate having company on the way back.”
“Very well.” She cocked her head. “The elf prince is correct. I cannot stop him from following us.”
“Let’s get on with it.” Dru glanced over his shoulder. “There’s a dragon in the air.”
