Page 134 of First Light

“Not really ‘of course.’ Carys is human too.”

“Not according to the rumbling of the fae at the king’s table.” Cadell’s eyes never left the golden-clad group. “They’re speakingamong themselves, and they heard about her bargain with the Crow Mother.”

Carys kept her voice low and tried to conceal her staring with her wine goblet. “What does that mean? They don’t think I’m human? Of course I’m human.”

“They don’t think you’re Brightkin.”

“Of course I’m Brightkin. Seren was my Shadowkin, and they all knew her, right?”

“There is something about that bargain…” Cadell looked at Carys, then at Duncan. “Dance with her. I want to observe them.”

Duncan cleared his throat and squirmed like an eleven-year-old boy. “Cadell, I don’t think Carys?—”

“I’m tired.” Just the thought of being in Duncan’s arms was… complicated. “And my feet hurt from the other day?—”

“Exactly, her feet.” Duncan gestured toward the floor. “I don’t know how she didn’t break an ankle climbing that mountain.”

Carys frowned. “I’m a very experienced hiker.”

“I’m just saying that your ankles are quite…” His cheeks flushed a little. “Delicate.” He pushed back from the table. “Excuse me.”

Duncan stood and stomped away, his burly shoulders disappearing into the crowd.

“Not him too,” Cadell muttered.

She could feel her cheeks warming. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Lachlan was bad enough, but the cross human?—”

“Excuse me” —she pushed back from the table too— “I should go find?—”

“Lachlan.” Cadell lifted his chin.

“I should find Lachlan?”

“No need.” Lachlan’s low voice was behind her.

Carys turned and looked up. “Oh.”

“I already found you.” He held out his arm and smiled. “Shall we dance?”

She looked at Cadell, then at the fae clustered at the head table, whispering among themselves and not pretending to hide their stares.

“That’s fine.” She nodded. “Good. Yes, we should dance.”

I see that your feet have magically healed themselves. Astonishing, Nêrys.

Carys shot him a look that said shut up.

“Excellent.” Lachlan took her hand. “We haven’t had a chance to dance yet.”

“No, we haven’t.”

As soon as they reached the dance floor, the music changed abruptly from the rousing, foot-stomping pipes and fiddles to a drawn-out waltz that wept with aching strings as the fae singer Naida, who sang on the first night, began a new song.

Lachlan swept her into his arms and guided her into the stream of dancers in the center of the floor. “Do you remember?”

It was the one dance he’d taught her back in Baywood, and it was impossible not to be thrown.