Veiled Threat

  ‘Uh Integrity,’ Bob said. ‘Haggises are not real. Not unless they’re on a plate anyway.’

  Brochan pursed his lips. ‘Isn’t it haggi?’

  I held the squirming creature towards them. ‘Whatever the plural is, it really is a haggis.’ I shrugged. ‘Something to do with Morna Carnegie.’

  ‘The flower woman?’

  I nodded. At the Games, she’d used her Gift to give life to the most stunning display of heather that I’d ever seen. I was on a promise to visit her and gain control over my Gift. Considering I’d stolen part of her Gift – whether unconsciously or not ‒ and she hadn’t censured me for it, it wasn’t a promise I wanted to break. ‘They get all over the place. The haggis, I mean. I’ve seen their tracks everywhere. It’s probably just lost.’

  Sorley glared at it. ‘I don’t like it.’

  ‘It won’t hurt you.’ I crouched down and released it. It ran straight back to him, leaping up at his leg once more. I laughed. It wrapped one of its three legs round Sorley’s ankle and nuzzled him. He tried to shake it off. ‘Vermin!’

  ‘It’s not doing any harm.’

  ‘How do you know? You should be wary of anything linked to the Sidhe.’ He shook his head vehemently. ‘Giving life to a ... a ... thing like that is not natural.’

  ‘I think it likes you.’

  Speck nodded. ‘Looks like love to me.’

  Sorley shuddered. He started to bend down but the haggis suddenly let out a loud yip and yanked itself away, disappearing into the night just as a set of headlights appeared in the distance. Whoever was out there was heading directly for us.

  ‘We’re not ready! The ground needs to be re-consecrated. The border isn’t in place.’ Sorley flung out his words. ‘Get to your places!’

  Lexie scratched her head. ‘What places?’

  He started stamping out the small fire. ‘Like a bloody beacon,’ he muttered. He slapped himself around the face. ‘Idiot.’

  ‘If it was someone dangerous,’ I pointed out, ‘they would have kept their lights off.’

  ‘It could be a diversion. There could be others coming from different directions.’

  I watched the vehicle approach. ‘Nah. Don’t forget I’m expecting a visitor.’

  Lexie twirled a blue curl in delight. ‘You think it’s...?’

  I smiled. A couple of butterflies made their presence known to my stomach. ‘Yes.’

  We turned and watched as the vehicle pulled to halt about fifty feet away. The engine and lights were turned off and the door opened. Sorley tensed but I put my hand on his arm. ‘It’s alright. Really.’

  Despite my words of reassurance, I was still relieved when the figure silhouetted against the moon was unmistakably Byron’s. My eyes travelled across his broad shoulders. His hair was edged in silver from the moonlight, although his face remained shadowed.

  ‘I don’t get it,’ Speck muttered. ‘I know you like Byron Moncrieffe but his father is our mortal enemy.’

  Sorley drew himself up. ‘Moncrieffe?’

  ‘It’s alright,’ I soothed. ‘He’s not like his father. And I told you he might be coming.’

  The troll threw me a suspicious look but he didn’t rush Byron and try to stab him in the chest or cut out his heart, so I felt things weren’t going too badly.

  ‘Sorley,’ Lexie said patiently, ‘Byron likes our Tegs too.’

  He was still confused. ‘But the Steward...’

  ‘Aifric’s trying to kill me,’ I pointed out, ‘but Byron still thinks the sun shines out of his arse. Either he’ll avoid another assassination attempt while his son is here and we’re all safe or...’

  ‘Or he’ll try again and Byron will finally see the truth.’ Lexie nodded. ‘Of course, it helps that you like him. A lot.’

  Brochan growled under his breath.

  I shrugged. ‘He’s a good guy.’

  Lexie smirked and shook her blue hair. ‘Sure.’ She winked. ‘You still should have asked for Jamie, though. Nothing works better than a bit of old-fashioned jealousy.’

  ‘Are girls always so manipulative?’ Speck asked plaintively, appealing to Taylor.

  ‘Apparently so,’ I muttered, as Byron walked round the car, opened the passenger door and another figure appeared. ‘Because Tipsania Scrymgeour has managed to invite herself along with him.’

  Two other shapes extricated themselves from the back seat.

  ‘And,’ Brochan grimaced, ‘he’s brought back-up.’

  Chapter Seven

  The butterflies, which had been reaching a delicious crescendo, evaporated in an instant. Byron took Tipsania’s arm and the pair of them strolled towards us, flanked by their companions. As they drew closer, it was apparent that the back-up consisted of two trolls. I resisted the urge to shoot a questioning look at Sorley and forced myself to look relaxed. I’d brought this down on my own head and I could blame no one but myself. The least I could was to disguise my annoyance. Taylor had taught me well.

  I waved enthusiastically. ‘Hello! Have you broken down? Do you need help?’

  Something glinted deep in Byron’s eyes but Tipsania merely looked at me as if I was deranged. ‘No,’ she said flatly. Her gaze drifted to the still-smouldering embers of the fire. ‘Is this the best that the Adair Lands have to offer? A few sticks to rub together?’

  I tried my best to smile. ‘You should have been here five minutes ago. The entertainment was ... ripe.’

  ‘And,’ Lexie butted in, ‘we had haggis.’

  Tipsania recoiled. ‘I don’t like haggis. Sheep’s stomach and oatmeal? My tastes are more cultured.’

  I battened down the urge to call the haggis back and order it to attack her. Instead I turned my attention to Byron. ‘So what can we do for you this evening?’

  ‘Don’t play coy, Integrity,’ he said. It was more of a purr than an accusation. Apparently Byron’s ego had been massaged by the fact I’d asked for him. Whether that was a good or a bad thing, I wasn’t entirely sure. ‘You know very well why we’re here.’

  I tapped the corner of my mouth thoughtfully. ‘You’re delivering your wedding invitations by hand?’

  Funnily enough, both their expressions soured. ‘No,’ Byron said, a muscle throbbing in his cheek. ‘I’m here as the designated hero.’ He placed emphasis on that last word. ‘Apparently you require help to travel beyond the Veil and retrieve the body of Matthew MacBain.’

  I think I made a good show of frowning prettily. ‘Oh? But it’s scary and dangerous. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.’ Byron glowered at me. I shrugged. ‘Beggars can’t be choosers,’ I said cheerily. ‘I suppose you’ll do. Why don’t you come in and I’ll give you the grand tour? We can’t leave for the Veil just yet, no matter how keen you are to meet some Fomori demons.’

  Sorley coughed. ‘If they must be permitted entrance, they cannot be left unattended at any time.’

  I rubbed my chin as if thinking about it. ‘You’re right, Master Sorley,’ I said. I beamed at our new guests. ‘I’m sure you understand that we can’t take any chances.’

  Byron shrugged, giving every impression that I could rip off my clothes and prostrate myself on the ground with legs spread for his personal delectation and he wouldn’t care. Tipsania, however, was less impressed. ‘What do you take us for?’ She waved an elegant hand around. ‘Do you think we’re likely to steal a piece of wood?’ She nudged one of the empty tins with her slippered toe. ‘Or a piece of your rubbish? We’re not thieves like you, you know.’

  I reminded myself that I was a pacifist; throwing her in the dirt and rubbing her face in it would go against my beliefs. ‘Oh, Tipsy, you have no idea what delights await you inside. You might not be able to help yourself.’

  Her lip curled. ‘I can hardly wait.’

  I glanced around. ‘Brochan,’ I said, ‘you are not to leave darling Tipsania’s side.’

  He bowed. I was so surprised – and amused – that I almost fell over. ‘My pleasure, Chieftain,’ he into
ned.

  I snuck a look at Tipsania. She was not happy at the deferential treatment Brochan was bestowing on me. Her mouth tightened and she folded her arms across her chest. Given that when we were kids, she’d treated me as little better than a slave and now I was Chieftain of my own Clan, she must be feeling put out at the way the tables had turned. I shrugged inwardly. She was on my turf now.

  ‘Speck,’ I said, pointing at the troll on the left, ‘take this one. Lexie,’ I added, gesturing to the other troll, ‘take that one.’

  They aped Brochan’s movements, bowing so dramatically that at one stage I thought Speck would topple over, then flanked each of the burly guards. I noticed that the troll next to Lexie was staring hard at the hole in the ground where Sorley had discovered the remains of his kin. It wasn’t a friendly look.

  ‘Er, Chieftain,’ Sorley interrupted.

  ‘Yup?’ I coughed. ‘I mean, yes, Master Sorley?’

  ‘I can look after the trolls here.’

  Byron stiffened but the expression on Sorley’s face was so earnest – and Speck looked so relieved – that I agreed. At least then he could explain that it wasn’t me who’d desecrated the bodies by dropping them here. ‘Very well.’

  I went over to Byron’s parked car, reached for the keys and tossed them to Taylor. ‘It’s a pleasant night. Why don’t we walk up to the main house? Taylor will drive your car up.’

  Tipsania glowered. ‘Who’s looking after Byron?’

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘If I’m to be guarded like some dirty Clan-less...’ Her voice faltered slightly at my look and she started again. ‘If I’m to be guarded and the trolls are to be guarded, why isn’t Byron going to be babysat as well?’

  I smirked. ‘Oh don’t worry. He’s the Steward’s son so it’s only fitting that I take care of him personally.’

  She looked like she’d swallowed a sour plum. Byron remained silent; whatever he was thinking, he was hiding it well. I skipped up to him and hooked my arm through his. I felt his bicep twitch almost imperceptibly but, other than that, he was motionless.

  I raised an eyebrow at Tipsania. ‘Can you feel the air crackle?’

  ‘No,’ she snapped.

  I pursed my lips. ‘Hm. I’d tell you a chemistry joke but I probably wouldn’t get a reaction.’

  Byron exhaled loudly, as if under great sufferance. ‘I’d tell you a joke about sodium but you probably wouldn’t get it.’

  ‘Try me,’ I said.

  He gave me a long look. ‘Na.’

  I grinned. ‘Does this mean we’re friends again?’

  Something flashed in his eyes and his amusement vanished. ‘We were never friends, Integrity.’

  True. I pulled my arm away from his, feeling more hurt than I had any right to. ‘Then you shouldn’t have come here.’ I marched away. He could follow me if he wanted to or he could stay here. His choice. I quashed down the relief I felt when I heard the crunch of his footsteps behind me.

  The car engine revved and Taylor drove past, slamming on the horn in acknowledgment as he did so.

  Sorley started to laugh. ‘Sodium. Na. That’s funny.’ He laughed harder.

  Byron caught up with me. ‘Your troll is laughing at my joke,’ he said with an air of competitive smugness. ‘Not yours.’

  ‘He’s not my troll.’

  ‘He called you chieftain. I’ve never heard a troll do that before.’

  I paused in mid-step. Byron was right. I shook myself; considering what he now knew about Byron’s father, Sorley probably did it for show. ‘If you really don’t want to be here, you can leave,’ I told him, ignoring the lurch I felt.

  ‘You need me. As I told you in Perth.’ He dipped his head. ‘You asked for my help. Here I am.’ He paused. ‘Milady.’

  I exhaled all my breath in a rush. ‘One minute you’re not talking to me. Then you’re arguing with me. The next minute we’re bantering and...’

  ‘Flirting?’ he inquired.

  ‘If you want to call it that.’

  He raised a lazy shoulder. ‘I find you attractive. And manipulative as hell.’

  That stung. Even if he was right. Before I could respond, however, Tipsania hissed right behind us. ‘Stop treading on my heels, you lumbering merman!’

  I smirked, which was unfortunate because at that moment I got my toe caught in a small pothole and went flying. Byron lunged and grabbed my arm, only just keeping me upright. ‘I guess,’ I said somewhat breathlessly, ‘I just can’t stop myself from falling at your feet.’

  He rolled his eyes. ‘Don’t you ever stop with the jokes?’

  I blinked innocently. ‘Why would I?’

  He muttered something under his breath and clicked his fingers. ‘It’s dark out here.’ The air fizzed. A glowing ball of fire coalesced in front of our eyes, hovering about a foot away and throwing long flickering shadows onto the ground.

  ‘Pyrokinesis is a handy Gift to have, Integrity,’ he said softly. ‘Don’t you want to steal it from me?’

  ‘It doesn’t work like that,’ I said honestly. I started walking again. The little ball of fire kept pace, lighting up the road beneath our feet.

  ‘Then how does it work?’

  ‘I don’t know. It’s not deliberate, Byron. I tried to explain that to you before.’

  ‘Explain it to me again.’

  So he could take all my secrets to his damned murdering father? No chance. Byron might have kept quiet up until now but that didn’t mean I was going to be reckless. ‘You just said we weren’t friends. Why would I want to confide in you?’

  ‘You are determined to misunderstand me, aren’t you? You know what I meant when I said that. I also said I’m attracted to you. Crazy and criminal must be the new sexy.’ His eyes glittered with what I could only interpret as smoky promise but wariness still lurked there too.

  Oh. Well, okay then. Now I knew. If I was honest, it was a large part of the reason why I’d nominated him for this little venture. I sighed and pushed back my hair. Byron’s eyes followed the movement. ‘We don’t trust each other,’ I said finally.

  ‘That’s a given.’

  ‘We have nothing in common.’

  He leaned his head down to mine. ‘That’s not entirely true.’

  This was a mistake; I should never have brought him here. ‘Sex,’ I told him. ‘We need to have sex and then we can clear the air and be more professional.’

  Byron didn’t smile. ‘I’m game if you are.’ He looked round the darkened landscape. ‘Right here? Because we should probably let Tipsania and your merman go up to the buildings first. Unless you’d like an audience.’

  Was he joking? I was tempted to call his bluff and find out. I massaged my shoulders. There was no doubt that things would be very different without the spectre of Aifric hanging between us.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ I said. It was far less dramatic than throwing him to the ground and ripping off his clothes but it would do for now.

  ‘For what?’

  ‘Everything,’ I answered softly. ‘And nothing.’

  I wasn’t sure he’d understand but I should have given him more credit. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Me too.’ And with that, we walked the rest of the way in silence.

  ***

  With Byron’s Gift to light the way, I gave Tipsania and Byron a cursory tour. ‘The bedrooms are up there. There’s a kitchen through there. This is the courtyard.’

  ‘It’s not exactly luxurious, is it?’ Tipsania sniffed.

  Brochan rounded on her. ‘It’s been lying empty for a generation. What did you expect?’ The venom in his voice was unusual for him.

  Fortunately, before Tipsania could respond with a stinging retort of her own, Byron got involved. ‘Actually, Tipsy, you’re not seeing it properly. The craftsmanship and stonework are quite extraordinary.’ He whistled through his teeth. ‘This place was built to last. I’d have expected its condition to be far worse.’ He looked round. ‘And this courtyard is magnificent.’

  I
had no right to feel proud at his words but I did. ‘We’ve not been spending much time inside,’ I said gruffly. ‘Not until we get it all cleaned up. Last night we slept in the car.’

  ‘In the car?’ Tipsania shrieked.

  Byron took her hands and murmured something while Brochan sidled up to me. ‘Why do you think he brought her?’ he asked quietly.

  ‘Damned if I know.’ I watched them, ignoring the tug of jealousy at the way he soothed her with just a few words and at the sight of his thumb caressing the back of her hand.

  She nodded, turned around and walked back out through the main entrance. Brochan nodded to me, then followed her.

  ‘Tipsania’s tired,’ Byron said, as if that explained a lifetime of bitchy selfishness. ‘She’s gone to lie down in our car.’

  I shrugged to indicate that she could do whatever she wanted. He looked at me for a long moment as if trying to decide something. Eventually he ran a hand through his hair and I pretended not to notice the way it flopped silkily across his forehead. I wasn’t a sex-crazed Sidhe who was turned on by nothing more than the faint smell of shampoo and pretty golden locks. Nope.

  ‘Have you had a chance to look over the rest of the land?’ he asked, his tone somewhat less stiff now.

  ‘Not really. There’s not much to see. Everything was salted so nothing is growing, apart from the tree where I think the grove used to be.’

  ‘Will you show me?’

  I was probably supposed to say something along the lines of, ‘Hell, no. It’s sacred Adair Land, boyo!’ I knew that in his own way he was holding out an olive branch though. I chose to take it. So sue me. I nodded and led the way out. Let’s face it, at this point, it was pretty much just a half-dead tree; maybe it would look pretty in the firelight from Byron’s Gift. The little fireball was still bobbing around in front of me like an overexcited puppy tugging at its leash.

  Tipsania was already back inside Byron’s car. I lifted a hand to Brochan, who had perched himself on top of its roof. Taylor was leaning against the nearby wall with Speck, Lexie and Bob surrounding him in a suspicious-looking huddle. As soon as Byron and I drew close, they threw us gigantic fake grins and stopped talking. I narrowed my eyes but their smiles widened.