Page 61 of First Light
“To eat?” Cadell shrugged. “Of course. Are you hungry?”
Okay, so most of the myths and old wives’ tales she’d read were probably nonsense, but a few things did seem to hold true. “But they don’t like iron, right?”
Cadell nodded. “Very true, which is why they do not allow humans to mine it.”
Don’t allow didn’t mean it didn’t exist. “But you’re more powerful than any fae, right? You have physical strength,andyou have magic.”
“I have both those things, but a powerful fae with strong magic can ward against me and hide you from my sight.”
“What?” She turned to him. “I’ve never read anything like that. How could the fae keep you away from me?”
Cadell led her down the path to the left, and soon Carys saw the silver-washed loch through the trees. The light grew a little brighter, and the birds started singing again.
“This isn’t a book or a story in your world, Nêrys. This is real now. We are creatures of magic,” Cadell said. “As they are. Magic works against magic. Though no human being or creature could keep me away from you, my lady, a powerful fae could hide you from my senses and I would not be able to find you. Becarefulwhere you walk.”
“Carys!” A bright shout from the trees ahead made her turn. A familiar grubby face ran toward her. “Mother said you were visiting us today.”
She caught the little girl up in her arms, and Azar quickly climbed around to Carys’s back. “How did she know? We just decided to come out here this morning.”
Were unicorns precognitive? She’d never read anything like that in texts.
“Yasmin knows things.” Cadell’s face was soft when he looked at Azar. “You’ve grown, little one. Do you remember me?”
She shook her head. “No, but I know you’re dragon.” She bared her teeth. “Rawr.”
“You are fierce.” Cadell smiled. “I am dragon, and I am in your father’s debt. He saved my lady.”
“Is Carys your lady?” Azar hugged her around the neck. “So youaremagic. I knew it.” She looked up at Cadell. “Do you know my mother?”
“And your father, little star. I held you when you were first foaled.”
Her little chin jutted out. “I’m not a baby now.”
Cadell nodded deeply. “I can see that.”
Azar scrambled down and ran ahead. “Mama!”
Carys looked up at Cadell. “You’re good with kids.”
“I should be,” he muttered. “I have six of my own.”
“Holy shit, Cadell.”
He frowned. “Shit is the least holy thing I can think of.”
“Mrs. Cadell must be busy.” She cocked her head. “As were you.”
He smirked. “Dragon hordes are not like human families. Our breeding is not romantic. Our seers decide which dragons should mate and when. Our children are all raised communally.”
Carys whispered, “Dragon babies.”
Cadell raised an eyebrow. “Are hidden until they are quite large.”
“Even from me?” She gave him wide eyes and a hopeful smile.
“Even from you.”
“Please let me see the dragon babies. Please, please, please.”