Page 88 of The Shadow Path
“Yes.” Duncan reached for a plate. “Yes. I’m worried too. Especially after yesterday.”
“First Dru comes back and they’re being all cryptic with each other, and then Orla’s fae mentions an offering—whatever thehell that means—and then fae gates start waking up and the forest god yesterday and?—”
“We get it, it’s been busy.” Laura’s face was grim. “What were you and Cadell talking about?”
“That the Crow Mother isn’t fae.” Carys kept her voice low. “That she can’t be. She showed me three faces when she trapped me in the forest by the river. Three faces. I met the mother when we struck the bargain. Nurturing mature woman in the cottage in the forest, right? Cauldrons bubbling. Happy to receive visitors and gifts.”
“And bargain for a year of your life or your firstborn child,” Laura said. “I remember the story.”
“Your firstborn child?” Duncan’s eyes went wide.
“Which obviously I did not trade,” Carys said.
“Very interesting that he focused on that one though,” Laura whispered. “Just saying.”
“She showed me the mother then.” Carys tried to ignore both of them. “But when she caught me alone in the forest, when Dru came and found me, right at the end, before she disappeared, I saw two others. A maiden and an old woman.”
“A three-faced fae?” Duncan asked. “Was it a glamour?”
“I don’t think so, and neither does Cadell.” Carys swallowed the lump in her throat. “I think the Crow Mother is a goddess. Maiden, mother, crone. Which means?—”
“You invited one of the old gods to Central London,” Duncan said. “And unlike the fae, gods do not lose their power in the Brightlands.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“This is a ridiculous idea.” Cadell might have thought it was a ridiculous idea, but he was still going with them.
“Thank you, Cadell; you’re the best dragon in the whole entire world.” Carys walked next to Cadell as they started to cross the Night Bridge on foot. Laura was on his other side, and Duncan led the way. Night was falling, and the last of the pearl-grey light was fading in the Shadowlands. By the time they crossed the fae gate, dawn should be breaking in London.
“I know there’s a lot going on, but I think Carys is right to be worried,” Laura continued. “Orla mentioned the Crow Mother, and the Crow Mother mentioned Orla. This could all be part of the same thing.”
Cadell did not look convinced. “If she’s a goddess—which I believe is correct—that means that the Brightlands is not foreign to her. In fact, she was born there at some point in history. I have no idea why she might have been banished or what was keeping her from passing through the gate, but we have no control or influence over divine powers.”
Duncan kept silent as they walked, casting glares anytime someone looked like they might approach.
“I’m curious,” Carys said. “If I unleashed something on the Brightlands?—”
“It would be out of your control,” Cadell said. “Cross Human, can you convince her?”
Duncan glanced over his shoulder. “I can convince her of nothing most of the time.”
Cadell frowned. “Not even now that you’re sexual partners?”
“Ha!” Laura crowed.
Carys felt like her face was on fire. “Does everyone in Anglia know?”
The cross human shot her a rakish grin. “Hopefully.”
“Nêrys, we are mentally and emotionally bonded. Of course I will know when you take on a new sexual partner.”
“Does this mean I’ll know ifyouget a girlfriend?”
Cadell glanced at Laura. “No.”
“Unfair.”
Were Cadell’s cheeks red? Just a little?
