Page 49 of The Shadow Path
“I have a feeling we haven’t heard the last from her, but as for your bargain with her, you’re correct.” He kissed her shoulder. “You’re well and done with her. Thank the heavens.”
Carys closed her eyes and leaned her neck to the side as Duncan’s mouth moved from her shoulder to her neck, the warm velvet of his lips contrasting with the rough stubble of his beard.
Her skin prickled in awareness.
She was tempted. She was so tempted.
Duncan was right there, and she wanted him. Her body was screaming at her to turn and take whatever she wanted. He was ready, and she was too.
But bodies weren’t the problem. Her attraction to Duncan hadn’t ever been in doubt.
“So you went to the Brightlands.” His lips trailed soft kisses along her skin. “Did ya think about staying once you were there?”
“It was sunny in London.”
He laughed. “So that’s a yes?”
“No.” She blinked. “Actually I didn’t. Dru was with me, and all I could think about was getting back to Laura.”And you.
“You’re a good friend,” he whispered. “I had my eye on her. Once everyone realized you were missing, I made sure she had a carriage back to Dafydd’s with his guards before Lachlan and I went to look for you.”
Her heart swelled. “You’re a good man.”
“She’s a guest here. And your best friend. You can trust me to take care of her. I know what it’s like to be a stranger.”
“And that’s why you’re the laird of Murrayshall.”
His laugh was low. “Because I can call a carriage?”
She turned and met his eyes. “Because you think about the details, Duncan. No matter where we are.”
He took a strand of her hair between his fingers. “Just helping a friend.”
She whispered, “Thank you.”
His lips were right there. She wasn’t ready for everything Duncan wanted, but she couldn’t forget the memory of their kiss.
His eyes fell to her lips, and he mouthed her name.Carys.
She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of rosemary and metal. His breath touched her lips and?—
“Lady Carys!” A pounding came at the door. “The Kingsguard is in the hall!”
“The Cymric dragonscaused a riot on the Night Bridge.” Wynnflad, newly promoted Chief Captain of the Kingsguard, stood at attention in Dafydd’s hall. “King Harold is not pleased.It’s the eve of his coronation, and there are foreign emissaries from the continent here.”
Carys had been called to Dafydd’s hall with Cadell, only to be greeted by a company of the Kingsguard standing at attention in front of her uncle’s table. She had thrown on a pair of linen leggings and a tunic while Duncan waited in her sitting room, but she felt distinctly underdressed with everyone in uniform.
Dafydd shrugged his massive shoulders. “One of my nêr ddraig was attacked by a troll illegally trading in human slaves in the night market. Her bonded dragon responded in the appropriate way. If a troll or two was injured, that is not our concern. They were criminals. Harold should bethankingmy niece.”
The captain sighed. “There were two dragons sitting on the Night Bridge, spewing fire across the west side of the Cye Bourne. There were reports of fae involvement.” Winnie was clearly exasperated. “They were out of control. We haven’t seen a sign of the Great Serpent since last night.”
Dafydd looked at Cadell. “Were you out of control?”
“Of course not, my king.” He glanced at Winnie. “And at no time would we harm the Great Serpent. He is the guardian of the river and her creatures; all dragons of Briton revere his power. As soon as I located my lady,” he continued, “I retrieved her and left the market.”
“After lighting half of it on fire,” Winnie countered.
“We were defending ourselves from troll aggression.” Mared stood at Dafydd’s shoulder. “We could sense Lady Carys’s presence, but none of the market vendors were forthcoming and more than one implied that we should do anatomically impossible things.”
