Page 61 of The Shadow Path
Between being sewn into their dresses, hair braiding with numerous extensions, and last-minute dancing-in-heavy-velvet lessons, Carys and Laura hadn’t eaten anything since that afternoon.
“They’ll serve it when we sit down. I see our table.” Cadell came to a halt so quickly he nearly yanked Carys’s shoulder from the socket.
The dragon cursed under his breath in very rapid Cymric.
“What?” Carys’s heart leaped, and she reached for the dagger that usually sat at her waist except she was in a velvet gown and no weapons were allowed at the coronation ball.
Cadell, what it is?
We have been seated directly between Godrik’s wolves and a contingent of fae from Éire.
Okay, who did we piss off?
“I have no idea, but we will tread softly,” he said quietly as he ushered Carys toward their table. “Laura?”
“What’s up, dragon butt?”
Cadell blinked and froze before he slowly turned to face Laura.
Carys barely kept from bursting into laughter. Duncan didn’t even try.
“Fuck me.” The blacksmith snorted. “His face, Laura.”
“What?” Laura’s cheeks were red as she stared at Cadell. “You need something?”
“We are…” The dragon seemed to struggle to collect his thoughts. “We’re sitting between traditionally antagonistic parties. Whether by accident or design, I have no idea, but tonight would be an excellent night for you and Carys to play up your foreignness and be intriguing.”
“Keep them too curious about the weird Americans to snipe at each other?” Laura nodded. “Can do.”
“What about me?” Duncan said. “What can I do to help?”
Cadell frowned. “Nothing. You’re a mundane Brightkin. They might question why you’re here, but no one will be interested in you.”
Duncan crossed his arms over his chest. “Say it again when I have steel in my hand.”
“I will.” Cadell started walking again, keeping Carys’s wrist gripped in his massive hand as he weaved them through the crowd.
“That dragon is so damn irritating,” Duncan muttered.
“If it helps,” Carys said. “I don’t think you’re mundane.”
The corner of Duncan’s mouth twitched. “I appreciate that.”
“Except in the magical sense. Then Cadell is actually correct.”
“Mundane?” Duncan pulled Laura’s hand from his arm and deftly switched Laura and Carys’s positions, leaving Cadell gripping Laura’s hand while Duncan pulled them toward the dancers. “Say that again when we’re dancing, Carys Morgan.”
Carys tried to stop it,but before she could say a word, she was pulled into a stately waltz with Duncan holding her close as they moved in time with the music.
“Duncan.” She tried to be stern, but her heart leaped when he wrapped his arm around her and took the lead.
“What?” He winked at her. “The old scaly one giving you that lecture about how dancing makes a statement?”
“Yes, and he’s not wrong.” She tried not to get distracted by the shadow of his beard where it cut along his sharp jawline. “I’m… I mean, we’re not?—”
“We’re not what?” Duncan pulled her close and slid his hand to the small of her back, slowing his steps as the music’s tempo dropped, and the energy around the room went from grand to intimate in a heartbeat.
The dance wasn’t limited to male-and-female couples as Carys and Duncan were joined by pairs of men who appeared to be taking the opportunity to chat or even conduct business, women who whispered secrets or flirted as they passed from arm to arm, and various magical creatures of every race.
