Page 69 of First Light

“A wise question,” Dafydd said. “And one I cannot answer fully. Purpose, perhaps? Humanity, though I can already hear Mared’s opinion on that.” He smiled, reminding Carys of her dad. “The bond between a nêr and their dragon is a gift of the old gods, so it is beyond our reckoning, but we do know it is a sacred trust that we must honor.”

She stared at Cadell for a long moment as he stood at attention and pretended to ignore them both. “I’ll never take it for granted. Not ever.” She looked around the cold stone walls. “Even with Duncan and Lachlan here, this place feels very… foreign.”

“Because of the magic?” He raised his eyebrows. “Myths in your world are real in this one, while automobiles and skyscrapers are only tall tales here.”

“Everything is different.” She shook her head. “Even though I was born in Wales, I didn’t grow up there. And I’d never been to Scotland until a week ago. I have a degree in mythology, but it seems like most of what I know only touches the surface of the reality here.”

Dafydd frowned. “It will be dangerous for you here. You must not be afraid to lean on Cadell. He will guide you.”

Carys leaned forward. “Did you ever wonder about my father? You’re a king. Were you ever tempted to find him?”

“No.” Dafydd shook his head. “I had no right to intrude on his life. But I did wonder about him. Sometimes when I went near the gates, I used to think I could feel him. Feel our connection.”

“I like that idea,” Carys said. “I like that maybe Seren knew about me, felt me a little bit. Even though we seem so different.”

“I like to think your father was the steady, logical part of me.” Dafydd crossed his arms over his chest. “I feel that he must have been sensible since I am so often not.”

Carys grinned. “Yeah. He was sensible. Verypragmatic. Fun though.”

“But tell me, Carys Morgan.” Dafydd leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. “Could he tell a good joke?”

Carys burst into laughter and nodded, tears pricking her eyes through the pain of memory. “Yeah. Dad could tell a great joke.”

“Good.” Dafydd reached out and took her hand. “So my wildness gave him something too.”

“I’d say so.” She took the back of her hand and wiped her eyes. “This place is something else.”

“Remember, all of humanity has its light and dark. And darkness isn’t bad.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “Though some here take our shadow nature as permission to act on their worst impulses, we know that it is not.” His eyes darkened. “That is never an excuse.”

Carys could see the grief hidden behind the man’s kind expression. At the end of the day, he might be a king, but he was still a father.

“I remember when my parents died that people avoided talking about them around me,” Carys said. “When that was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to talk about them all the time.”

“I’m sure they loved you very much,” Dafydd said. “I think my greatest fear when Seren died was that people would forget her. I’m an old man.” His voice grew rough. “When I die, who will remember that wonderful child?”

“I won’t forget her. I’ll never forget her.” Carys sat back and lookedat the portrait on the wall. The proud chin and the confident eyes. “She was strong, wasn’t she?” Carys spoke under her breath. “Sometimes I don’t feel very strong.”

“She was strong.” Dafydd looked at the portrait. “And ornery.”

Carys cocked her head. “Headstrong, maybe. Not ornery.”

“Are you trying to defend her?” Dafydd huffed a little. “Seren was anornerychild. Contrary.” Dafydd’s eyes lit up anytime he said his daughter’s name. “And passionate. Affectionate. Loyal. Her birth was quite unusual. Usually the fae give children to the Shadowkin of their mother, but I had no wife.”

Carys frowned. “Eamer?—”

“Queen Orla and my father were in negotiations for years about our marriage. I was a young warrior leading my father’s army. I was still living in the barracks with my men! When Seren appeared at my door,everyonewas shocked. I wasn’t ready to be a father, but thank the gods my mother was still living.” He smiled at the memory. “We managed somehow, that contrary little girl and me.”

“That’s so strange.” Where was her mother’s Shadowkin? Why hadn’t Seren been given to her? Was she one of the blue lights lost in the fae forest? “What did your parents think of you suddenly having a baby?”

“Oh, in this place you don’t question the arrival of any child. They are a great blessing because their arrival is the will of the gods.”

“You don’t see very many children here.”

His expression darkened. “Only ever what the fae allow.” He shook the shadows away. “Anyway, I wouldn’t have cared whatanyonethought. I took one look at Seren and fell in love.” Dafydd held out his hands. “Those round cheeks and all that dark hair. She was a restless baby, always judging me with those brilliant blue eyes.” He winked at her. “She made everyone laugh. Her grandmother was in raptures.”

Dafydd’s stories reminded Carys of her own father’s anecdotes about her childhood. The same delight. The same pride. “I can see how much you loved her.”

His chin lifted. “I’m sure your parents felt exactly as I did, Carys Morgan.”

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