Page 34 of Broken Veil
Once, Carys had been so in love with the man that she’d flown to a strange country to figure out where he’d gone. And now?
Looking at Lachlan was painful. It was just… painful.
“You should try to sleep,” Duncan said. “It’s another half hour to Wappenham at least.”
Carys nodded and reclined her seat. She could feel her stomach groaning, but she was out of trail mix, and the other food was in the back of the van. She didn’t want to wake Laura and Naida, so she closed her eyes.
“The eels’ll be hunting this time of night.” Wade’s voice boomed in the silent van. “European eels are nocturnal. Fine summer night like this, they’ll be hunting.”
“What do eels eat?” Lachlan asked.
Carys opened her eyes; she was not going to be able to sleep.
“Opportunistic feeders,” Wade said. “They like mudworms.”
She had a vivid picture in her mind. It was not pleasant.
“They eat fishes,” Wade continued. “Crayfish. Slugs.”
“So lots of different things,” Carys said. “That’s fascinating.”
“Oh aye, they’re fascinating creatures, the oldAnguilla anguilla.” He looked at Cadell. “That’s what the humans call ’em. They migrate to breed. Kind of like your kind.”
Carys blinked and turned around. “What? Dragons migrate to?—”
“That is none of your business,” Cadell said. “Ignore him.”
“Eels swim to the Sargasso Sea.” Wade smiled, clearly enjoying poking the dragon. “But that’s not where the dragons go, do they, old man?”
Carys looked back and saw that Laura’s eyes were open even though she was staying silent.
“No,” Wade continued, “you fly to the fire islands, don’t you? Breed. Hatch your?—”
Cadell’s hand shot out and gripped Wade’s throat. “Whatever you think you know of our young, forget it, old one.”
“Hey.” Laura sat up and put a hand on Cadell’s shoulder. “Hey, hey. Everyone calm down.”
Carys felt a burning knot in her chest, and she knew she was feeling Cadell’s simmering rage.
The fae had stolen young dragons only weeks ago, hiding them in fae forts that were only found because the dragon children broke the magical wards with their own blood.
Carys had seen the little ones, some no older than six or seven, their hands and arms bloodied from cutting themselves with sharp rocks in order to rescue the sleeping human children taken with them.
Cadell.Carys spoke in her mind, hoping that he could hear her.Leave him alone.
There was nothing in her mind but a low, angry buzzing sound.
Cadell.
“Old man!” Duncan called out. “We all right back there?”
Despite the dragon’s grip, Wade chuckled. “Aye, be reet, old wyrm. I’ve no desire to harm your kind. I’ve known more than one sea wyrm in my time.”
Cadell took his hand away from Wade’s throat, but the dragon never stopped glaring.
Godrik leaned toward Cadell and muttered something under his breath in Cymric.
“You think I don’t speak that one?” Wade chuckled. “Brightkin, how’s old Angus these days?”
