Page 39 of First Light

“It’s nice not to have to watch every word.”

“It is, isn’t it?” The woman lifted the bandage and removed it. “That’s better. Your body accepts magical healing. Another fortunate turn. Not all humans do, but you feel a little fae-touched.”

Fae-touched? Was she talking about Dru bringing her through the forest?

It didn’t matter that the unicorn spoke in riddles—Carys felt better just being in her presence. “I don’t even want to think about what might have happened if you guys hadn’t found me.”

“You’re lucky Azar has such a big voice.” The woman’s dark brown eyes creased at the corners in maternal mirth. “I suppose I won’t be able to chide her for using it so often.”

“You’re her mother.”

She smiled. “I am so honored and burdened.”

It was the first time Carys had the urge to laugh all day. “What’s your name?”

“Yasmin. And Azar tells me you are called Carys.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Yasmin.”

The woman had light brown skin and lips that reminded Carys of Dru with their berry-red hue, but there was nothing threatening about her. She had a proud forehead and a broad, muscled chest with strong shoulders.

Yasmin bore a gold sigil on her forehead in an intricate, swirling design where Carys imagined her horn would be in unicorn form.

Carys looked around the forest meadow that the little girl called home. “And what is this place?”

“You are a guest of the Blessing of Moray,” Yasmin said. “This is our current camp.”

The meadow was a wildflower-and-grass-covered island in a forest of pines and cedars. It was filled with bright tents that draped from tree to tree, and the light seemed brighter, as if a glow emanated from the glorious creatures walking among the flowers and trees, a mix of multicolored unicorns and people who were clearly only temporarily in human form.

There were small unicorns and children playing in the grass within the safety of the circle of tents, laughing and jumping in both human and animal form.

“I feel very safe here.” Carys hoped that her instincts were right, because if these creatures were evil, maybe she’d just give in to it.

Nothing this beautiful could be evil.

“Youaresafe here,” Yasmin said. “The kelpie cannot leave the boundaries of the loch, and Darius will not let anything enter the forest that could bring the children harm.”

“Darius?” Carys looked at the golden-brown unicorn who had attacked the kelpie. Azar was draped across his back, braiding his mane and whispering secrets into his ear as another unicorn tended to the wounds on his side.

“Yes, my mate is the one who rescued you.” Yasmin’s eyes glowed when she looked at the magnificent creature.

“Azar is his daughter.”

“Yes. Darius is the chief here, though our blessing grants allegiance to Lord Robb.”

“The king?”

The woman smiled. “Unicorns don’t recognize kings, but we feel at home here, as have our ancestors for many generations.” Yasmin patted the dressing on Carys’s ankle. “You’ll be healed within an hour or so. Then Darius can return you to the castle.”

Carys sat up, shaking her head. “I can’t go back to the castle. Can one of you take me to the fae gate so I can go back to the Brightlands?”

Yasmin looked confused. “The fae gate? Why would you want to go there? The Borderlands are dangerous.”

“But I’m not from here. I’m trying to get back.” At this point damn her clothes. Damn Duncan. Damn Lachlan and all the rest. She had clothes in Scotland and a mobile phone and credit cards that could buy her a ticket home.

Yasmin frowned. “Aren’t you of the Shadowlands? You accepted my healing.” She stepped back and looked more closely at Carys, turning her head from one side to the other. “You’re Brightkin.” She blinked. “I know your face now. You’reherBrightkin.”

Nice to have another reminder that Carys didn’t have her own identity in this place. She took a deep breath. “I’m from the other side of the gate, and I really just want to go home.” Carys glanced at the light overhead, which seemed to be dimming as they spoke. “If it’s too late now, maybe I could camp here with you and find the fae gate in the morning.”

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