Page 171 of First Light

Her sister’s murderers were dead. Or one was dead and one had been taken by the kelpie, so she was as good as dead. She knew where Lachlan was, and she knew the truth about their relationship. And Duncan was… Duncan.

Right now all Carys wanted was to go home.

She took a deep breath and looked at Robb. “I kind of think Seren was killed because Regan was a chaos monster who liked to torment Aisling, but yes, there might have also been some maps.” She plowed on. “Before you ask, Cadell and I already gave them to Mared, who is going to deliver them to Dafydd. All of Seren’s journals are with her father, so if you want to know what to tell Queen Orla, talk to him.” She stepped away from the throne. “I am not a queen or a king. I’m not a diplomat. This isn’t even my world.” She raised her hands. “I’mdone.”

Carys saw from the frustrated expression on Robb’s face that he was out of arguments.

She turned to leave with Cadell at her side.

“Carys.”

Lachlan ran to her, grabbing her arm and spinning her around.

Cadell snarled and put a swift hand around Lachlan’s neck.

“Wait!” Carys held up a hand. “Cadell, it’s fine.”

Lachlan’s eyes drilled into her, and he spoke in a rush. “Don’t go. Stay with me. Marry me. You could be a queen here. Go back to Baywood if you need to, then come back.” His voice turned pleading. “And be with me.”

Carys let out a harsh breath. “How could you ask me that?”

Lachlan frowned. “You know I love you.”

“The woman who murdered Seren diedyesterday.” Carys closed her eyes and turned her face away. “You were grieving my sisteryesterday. And you ask me this today?”

“I love you.”

“You love… a version of me maybe?” Carys opened her eyes, and her heart broke looking at him. “And I loved a version of you.” She put a hand on his cheek. “But neither of us knew the whole truth. I don’t even know who I am anymore, Lachlan.” She took his hand from her arm and knit their fingers together. “Don’task me that question today.”

“Not today does not mean never,” he said softly.

“No.” Her heart softened, and she gently kissed his cheek. “It doesn’t mean never.”

Lachlan opened his mouth, then closed it, pressing his lips together to hold in whatever he’d been about to say. He nodded, then let her hand go.

He was so beautiful he made her heart ache, and in the softness of his expression and the openness of his face, she saw everything she’d fallen in love with months before.

“I’ll see you again.” She looked at Robb, then over at Cadell. “I have a feeling this world isn’t done with me yet.”

“I’ll see you again.” His voice was firm. “And there will be no more secrets, Carys.”

“We don’t need them anymore.” She turned and walked out the door.

“I’m tryingto figure out how I’m going to explain a giant seven-foot Welshman moving into my house in Baywood when I left America to look for my missing Scottish boyfriend.” Carys and Cadell were walking toward Duncan’s cottage on the road that led down from Sgàin Castle.

Cadell shrugged. “Tell themwe are family.”

Carys looked down at herself. Barely over five feet. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Completely average figure.

And beside her was Cadell, nearly seven feet tall, golden-haired and golden-eyed, his arms as long as both of hers put together.

“Okay, sure.” She nodded. “Everyone is going to buy that.”

“Families come in many shapes, Nêrys.”

They were passing through the village, Carys sending polite waves to the harried villagers who eyed her with suspicion.

“Not real fond of me anymore, I guess.”