Page 64 of Broken Veil
Carys forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, walking into the shadows whether she wanted to or not.
One choice.Angus.
But was it her choice or his that would decide her fate?
One choice.
Behind her, Naida began to hum, and it was the same song Dru had sung the first time he walked Carys and Duncan through the gate. The ellyllon might have found the melody soothing, but it did nothing to calm Carys’s fear.
“This is as far as I go.” Andrew stepped to the right of the path and crossed his arms over his barrel chest as his eyes reached Carys. “Be careful. It’s her they want.”
Carys paused in front of him. “Why?”
He shrugged. “Why do you think?”
Because you are of the Shadow,Cadell said in her mind.Your mother was born within it. By fate, you should not exist.
Duncan paused to lean closer and say something to Andrew; then he joined Lachlan on the path, reaching his hand back for Carys to hold.
“Do you think they resent me for it?” Carys put her hand in Duncan’s but turned to look at Cadell.
The dragon was already growing more inhuman, his eyes glinting gold, his wild nature emerging with every step they took.
Yes. His voice was a low rumble in her mind.That is why they want you.
“Who would resent you?” Laura piped up. “Wow, this gate feels weird.” She was looking around like the professional she was. “Carys, this is the first gate you went through?”
“Yes.” And the cold dread hadn’t let up.
“No wonder you were so freaked out.”
As they walked closer, the shadows grew deeper and the wisps circled. Carys heard them before she felt them, laughing whispers coming from low-hanging branches as dark and creeping shadows reached across the narrow path to trip her.
She felt a chilly finger reach across her ankle, and something cold and fluttering tickled her ear, as if an icy moth jumped from her shoulder and flew into her hair.
“Duncan.” She squirmed at the feeling of cold fingers running over her.
He must have heard the fear in her voice because he turned and grabbed her, tugging her in front of him and surrounding her with his solid embrace.
“Walk with me now, lass.” He put his mouth by her ear. “They can’t have you, can they? That’s why these wild fae are angry little bastards—because they know you’re mine.”
Lachlan had his sword drawn, his footsteps steady but relentless as he pushed through the hanging branches and thick darkness. “There are imps in the trees. And I saw a redcap watching from the roots of an oak tree we just passed.”
“So Andy is right,” Duncan said. “The woods are wilder now.”
Carys saw a shadow darting forward to her left. When she turned to look, she realized it was Godrik, dissolving into a dark mist as his wolf form took hold of him and he bounded into the thick woods with silent ferocity.
“Godrik?” Naida’s eyes went wide. Her mouth formed a smallO; then she went silent and her eyes were sad.
“Hey.” Laura held her hand out to Naida. “He probably just needs to stretch his legs. He’s been human for a really long time.”
Naida took Laura’s hand, and the two women continued walking with Lachlan and Cadell bringing up the rear.
The whispers were everywhere in Carys’s mind, tugging at her ears and fanning their cold breath down her neck even as Duncan held her safe in the cage of his warm arms.
It didn’t seem to matter. She stumbled on a root that stretched toward her, nearly sending both her and Duncan tumbling.
“That’s it!” Duncan lifted his head and shouted at the trees. “You little bastards, just let us pass. You know us, remember?”
