Page 9 of The Shadow Path
Carys didn’t have a great response to that, so she looked at Laura. “What do you think? I’m not his heir. I’m barely a dragon rider.”
Laura kicked out her feet and crossed them at the ankles. “Listen, I hate people planning my life as much as anyone, but you do have a role. I think you need to go.” She shrugged. “It’ll probably be a week of parties and boring dinners, a long-ass ceremony or two, and then you come home. You can spend some time with your uncle. You know that’s probably all he really wants. The coronation just gives him a good excuse to call you home.”
Carys wanted to scream. “You do realize that just by saying that, you’re practically guaranteeing that something shitty is going to happen to me, right?”
And her current concept of home felt very, very tenuous.
Yes, she was born in Wales.
Yes, her extended family was there.
But she had grown up in Northern California. Her parents were estranged from their families, and everything Carys knew was in California.
Except for Duncan.
And Lachlan.
And her uncle and aunt, who were both in the Shadowlands.
Sohomewas uncertain at best.
Laura lifted a steaming mug of what smelled like mint tea. “I don’t think you can get out of it, so you should consider it a paid vacation. You’re flying to England on a private jet, dude.”
Cadell turned to Duncan. “Dudeis a common term of address in California, and it can be applied to all genders. It expresses a general sense of camaraderie, but it can also be used in insults. It is sometimes hard to distinguish which is which.”
Duncan nodded. “I appreciate the information, Cadell.”
“Fine.” Carys smiled at Laura. “Then you can come with me as an honorary representative of Turtle Island.”
Laura snorted. “I wasn’t invited.”
“I think that is an excellent idea,” Cadell said.
Laura gaped at him. “What? Why?”
The dragon was silent.
“You’d be able to keep Carys company.” Duncan spoke up. “I know for a fact that Dafydd would love to meet more of her friends. He’s about as welcoming a host as you can imagine, so it’s not a bad idea.”
“I’m not a leader here.” Laura looked around. “Kere is a healer. Most of the humans here have some kind of magic even if it’s just a little bit, but I don’t have any mysterious powers like Carys does.”
“Don’t lie,” Carys said. “You can read runes.”
“That’s not magic.”
“It is power though.” Cadell looked at Duncan. “As a pauwau inwe, Laura Thompson has been trained in magic, and while she is not fae-touched like humans born into the shadows, she can access some elemental magic.”
“I’m just a go-between for our people both here and there,” Laura said. “It’s not the same.”
“If it helps, I don’t have any magic at all,” Duncan said.
“A go-between is exactly what Carys needs,” Cadell said. “Someone from her life here to accompany her and give her council on her role in Briton.”
Carys hated to see Laura uncomfortable, but she had to confess she loved the idea of having someone from home come with her.
“Please?” Carys tried to make her eyes as doe-like as possible when she turned to her best friend. “Please, please, please?”
Laura humphed. Then she huffed. Then she sighed. “Okay, but if things get weird, I’m ditching all of you and going on a pub tour or something.”
