Page 170 of Broken Veil
“Someone called it the best drone show they’ve ever seen.” Lachlan glanced at Cadell with half a smile.
Laura stifled a laugh.
Cadell grimaced. “I will try not to be offended.”
Lachlan was smiling more. Not fully back to himself, but partway there. There was a peace in his eyes that had been missing for a long time.
Carys looked around the cozy library where Dafydd was sharing a new barrel of wine with them the day after Eamer had released her from her room. “Any news of Naida and Godrik?”
“Gone,” Laura said. “A couple of days after we got here. You were still sleeping, and they said they needed to get back home, so…”
“I understand completely.” Carys shook her head. “What’s the date back in the UK?”
“August third,” Duncan said.
“I have to go back soon.” She took her uncle’s hand. “I have classes starting in like two weeks, and I’m completely unprepared.” She laughed.
Duncan said, “If you tell your students you were stopping interdimensional battles in the fae realm, they might cut you some slack.”
“No, I think they’d very kindly call for a psychological intervention,” Laura said. “And I have to say it’s just a good thing that my uncle is my boss and is in the know about all this stuff, otherwise, I would be so fired.”
“So you are returning to the Brightlands,” Dafydd said. “For good?”
She cocked her head. “Uncle, you know I’m not suited to be queen here.”
“On the contrary, you would make an excellent regent,” Dafydd said. “You have negotiated with goddesses, fought in battles, and have the wise counsel of Cadell of Eryri.” He looked at her solemnly. “Added to that, you bear the collar of Dôn, our oldest goddess.”
Carys shook her head. “I know. But I don’twantto be queen. Seren did. Seren knew her whole life she was going to be queen. She could prepare for it. Me?” She shook her head. “I’m a teacher. Just a teacher, Uncle Dafydd.”
“There is nothingjustabout those who shape young minds.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “And remember, whether as teacher or mother, you could shape the future of our kingdom, Carys Morgan.”
She sat back. “What is that supposed to mean?” She looked at Duncan. Then at Cadell. “Hey, as far as I know?—”
“We want children, don’t we?” Duncan reached for her hand. “Someday. And when we have them, I think all your uncle is saying is that it might be prudent to be in Scotland.”
Lachlan sat up straight. “Yes.” His expression brightened. “Yes, of course.”
“Any child born to you would be as my own grandchild.” Dafydd glanced at Cadell. “And those of our line do have a very strong affinity for dragons.”
“Of course.” Carys felt tears come to her eyes, but she tried to hide them.
It wasn’t sadness. It wasn’t something she could ever be sad about.
But now she knew. Now she knew that whatever children she and Duncan might have someday, those children would have a shadow twin, another half.
But unlike Carys, those children wouldn’t be strangers to the two realms. Because she was a daughter of two worlds.
And she would have a home and a family in both.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
She dreamed of flying when she slept.
The cold wind cut through the leather armor that shielded her body, creeping down her neck like icy water over rocks.
She soared over mountains draped in fog where the dark tips of ancient giants jabbed the cloudy sky.
The only light that touched her face came from the glow of fire coming from the belly of the beast that carried her, and in the distance, she heard the thunder of the Tistilal’s wings as the thunderbird flew north over the mountain peaks that bordered the great Pacific Ocean.
