Page 80 of First Light
“Stars.” She smiled. “I can see stars.”
“Yes.” His hand spread and pressed her palm to his abdomen. “We’ve crossed the threshold to home.”
Duncan heaved a breath, and she felt his shoulders relax. The hand that pressed her palm to his body relaxed and he cleared his throat. He slowed and released her from his grip.
“Probably safe now.” He didn’t look at her but glanced back at the forest and the dancing blue lights that called to Carys. “Ready?”
She looked at the blue lights and found herself wanting to join them even though she knew the danger. “They make me sad.”
His voice was soft. “I know.”
Duncan and Carys walked down the path, and she could see Murrayshall House in the distance.
“I’m on sabbatical from my job,” she said. “But what about you? Can you afford to take time off?”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “Sabbatical? Are you writing a book?”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
He sighed. “I’m disgustingly rich. It’s the one thing my father actually gave me before he died. I don’t really have to work. I just keep busyat the forge because I like it, and Andy keeps me busy here.” He looked down. “But none of it will fall apart without me.”
He kept looking at her, and Carys knew it was her turn.
“I’m not writing a book.” She bit her lip. “I probably should after this, but I’m on medical leave.”
Duncan frowned. “Medical what?” He froze. “Because you’re sick? What are you doing here?” His voice rose. “Carys, do you need a doctor?”
“Not that kind of medical leave.” She huffed a breath. “I’ve been depressed for the past two years. I think it was because of Seren’s death.”
“That shouldn’t be debilitating.” His forehead was creased with worry. “Why would that be so bad that?—”
“Maybe because she was poisoned, okay?” Carys threw out her hands. “I don’t know. Maybe because magic was involved. But yes, maybe that’s part of the reason I want to figure out what happened to her, all right? Maybe her soul can’t rest. Maybe she’s…” She pointed back to the forest. “One of the sluagh now.”
“Don’t even joke about that—it’s a horrible fate.” He stared at her. “For what it’s worth, you don’t seem depressed to me.”
Huh.
Carys thought about how she was feeling.
Confused. Conflicted. She looked at Duncan’s broad shoulders. Maybe very conflicted.
But she didn’t feel depressed. Not at all. The exhaustion was gone. She was sleeping better. She was focused. Determined. The brain fog had lifted.
“Honestly?” She sighed. “It started getting better when I met Lachlan. I don’t want to say that love heals depression or anything silly like that, but?—”
“Lachlan was tied to Seren.” Duncan’s voice was soft. “He’s literally magical.” He started walking down the path again. “It makes sense, Carys.”
But it wasn’t just Lachlan.
She glanced back at the dancing lights and realized that something that had felt missing in her life wasn’t missing anymore.
Because she did believe in fairy tales, and now she knew why.
“I’m fine.”She reassured Laura and Kiersten over the phone. “I promise, things are actually… well, it’s complicated, but they’re good.”
“So you’re talking to him?” Kiersten asked. “You two are figuring things out?”
“We are.” She tried not to lie. “I’ve made some really good friends here, and I’m spending time with them too. I feel like… It’s hard to explain, but I feel really at home.”