Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)

He frowned. ‘Is that a good idea? You’re safe here.’

‘Fergus,’ I said, not unkindly, ‘unless you want to swear fealty, right now you’re effectively an asylum seeker. What I do and where I go is my business.’

He held up his palms. ‘I wouldn’t dream of telling Chieftain Adair what she should do,’ he said easily. Then his expression sobered. ‘Thank you for taking me in. You didn’t have to do that. I’ll swear in if you want me to.’

‘God, no. I don’t need more warm bodies on my conscience. But you’re welcome to be here. I’m glad to see you’re on the mend.’

‘The blue-haired pixie told me something about what happened up north. You should have waited until I woke up. I could have told you that it was Byron who wanted the wedding to go ahead.’

Damn it. I’d managed to stop thinking about Byron for at least a minute. ‘You were out for the count. And there’s more going on than just Byron Moncrieffe.’

The Foinse stopped its swirling and spun round, zipping towards me with such velocity that I thought for a moment it was going to smack me in the forehead. It stopped inches away from my face, however, and nuzzled in towards me. The warmth exuding from it was rather comforting.

‘Did you ever consider why the Clans were so keen to keep the Foinse locked away?’ Fergus asked.

I reached up and stroked it tentatively. It buzzed happily in response. ‘They wanted control of the magic.’

He nodded. ‘I hear your warlock friend is suddenly growing remarkably adept.’

I raised my eyebrows. ‘Lexie has been telling a lot of tales.’

‘Oh,’ he grinned, ‘that part wasn’t the pixie. May told me that.’

I blinked. ‘May doesn’t have a tongue.’

I smiled at her and she gave an uncertain smile in return. Fergus turned to her, his hands fluttering. May watched them carefully and responded. My jaw fell open. ‘Sign language?’

‘Yep.’

‘But she doesn’t speak English.’

‘Gaelic.’

‘Wow.’

Fergus’s eyes softened. ‘Yeah. She’s pretty amazing.’

I stared at him. There was an odd flush rising up in his cheeks. I looked at May; she was peeking up at him from beneath her eyelashes. I took a step back. No wonder I’d felt like I was intruding.

‘Er, Fergus?’

He didn’t take his attention away from May. ‘Mmm?’

‘What about the Innes girl?’

‘Pardon?’

‘You’re here because you shagged some Sidhe girl and her dad was pissed off.’

‘Oh yeah.’ He registered what I was saying and turned to meet my gaze. ‘You want to know what my intentions are.’

‘Don’t lead May on.’

His expression was serious. ‘That’s not what this is about.’

I bloody well hoped not.

‘Uh. Eh. Ee.’ May got to her feet and grinned. She braved the weak Scottish sunlight for a few moments and wrapped her arms around me. Not long ago, those arms had been little more than twigs but now I could feel flesh beneath her skin. She was definitely looking healthier. It was amazing how quickly things could change. She leaned her head on my shoulder while the Foinse buried itself between the pair of us. I hugged her back.

There was no mistaking the warning in the look I gave Fergus. He bowed. Oddly enough, I didn’t think he was being facetious or flippant this time. Eventually I drew away and led May gently back to the safety of the shade. Hugs were all well and good but I had business to attend to. ‘Where would Aifric Moncrieffe keep a prisoner?’

Fergus gave me a confused look. ‘In prison.’

I shook my head. ‘No, I don’t mean a murderer or…’

‘A thief?’

‘Funny. Where would he keep someone he wants to hide?’

A spark gleamed in his eyes. ‘Now who would the Steward want to hide?’ he mused. ‘You’re here. Your friends are here. The trolls are here. Your assassin buddy is busy opening up a dress shop. Byron Moncrieffe is getting measured for his new wedding kilt.’ I tried not to flinch. ‘So who are you asking about?’

‘That’s on a need-to-know basis.’

‘You can trust me.’

I snorted. ‘You know it’s been bugging me for a while about who you remind me of. I’ve finally got it. You think you’re like Q. From Star Trek.’

For possibly the first time since I’d met him, Fergus didn’t know what I was talking about. ‘Is that a television programme?’

I smirked. ‘Yeah. Sci-fi. Q is an omnipotent being who knows everything.’

From out of nowhere, Bob zapped into existence. ‘Hey!’ he complained. ‘I’m the only all-knowing being around here, Uh Integrity!’ He glared at Fergus as if the Bauchan were stealing his very soul.

I laughed. ‘In the end, Q has to keep going to the Enterprise crew for help. He’s not as all-knowing as he thinks he is.’

Bob frowned suspiciously. ‘Are you alluding to me or to him’ – he nodded at Fergus – ‘with this pathetic comparison?’

I shrugged. ‘You’re the clever ones. You tell me.’

There was a shout from behind us. Taylor and Brochan were near the mansion and waving at me. I checked my watch; yeah, it was time to go.

‘Look after May,’ I said to Fergus.

He put his arm round her. I couldn’t be sure but it looked as if she blushed. ‘I will,’ he said quietly.

I nibbled on a hangnail. ‘Could you ask her about what things are like beyond the Veil? The more information we have about life there…’ I shrugged.

Fergus’s eyes were sharp. ‘You’re planning an expedition?’

‘Not exactly but we can’t just pretend it’s not there. People are suffering. Sooner or later, I’m going to have to do something.’

May’s shoulders shrank as if she knew what we were talking about. Fergus edged even closer to her. ‘I can do that,’ he said finally. ‘If she’s willing to tell me. But,’ he added in a rush, ‘if you go, then I’m coming with you.’

‘Why?’ I asked suspiciously.

‘I deal in knowledge, Chieftain. Just think what I could do if that knowledge extended to the Lowlands.’

‘I couldn’t guarantee your safety,’ I said honestly.

He gave me a lopsided grin. ‘No one ever can.’ I nodded in agreement and turned to leave. ‘Integrity?’ he called out after me.

‘Yeah?’

‘The Cruaich has a series of dungeons underground. They can be reached from a closed-off staircase next to the library. That’s where I’d keep someone if I were the Steward.’

I grinned my gratitude. Excellent; I’d been aiming for the Cruaich all along.

‘I could have told you that, Uh Integrity,’ Bob complained. He folded his arms and pouted. ‘In fact, if you make a wish to free Candy, I can show you just how impotent I really am.’

‘I think you mean omnipotent,’ I said drily as I started walking away.

‘Candy?’ Fergus asked from behind. ‘The Wild Man who works for Byron Moncrieffe?’

‘Nice going,’ I muttered to Bob.

‘It’s not my fault Bauchans have big ears.’

‘A right ear, a left ear and a final front ear?’

‘Uh Integrity?’

‘Yes?’

Bob shoved the Foinse out of the way and scooted up to my neck, settling himself above my collarbone with a happy sigh. ‘I really hate you sometimes.’





Chapter Five