Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)

I abandoned the far side of the castle in favour of the western-facing wall. This structure was simple, little more than a square. That narrowed down my options and meant I wouldn’t waste time wandering around exterior alcoves. When I rounded the last corner and spied a window which was ajar on the first floor, I finally smiled. Good enough.

I positioned myself directly underneath, bending my knees slightly before springing up. The walls were smooth and there were no helpful footholds. I managed to curve my fingers over the sill and used sheer strength and will power to pull myself up, nudging the window open further with my elbow so I could slip inside. I flipped over in an unnecessary somersault ? but one which I felt the situation called for – and landed on my feet facing the room. A second later, a hand slammed across my mouth and a muscled arm tightened across my chest, holding me in place.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Byron growled in my ear.

Shite.





Chapter Nine


I struggled against his grip but, when it was clear he was far too strong and I was never going to get clear, I let my body relax. He was a lot more tense than I was. I might have fallen for the oldest trick in the book and wandered in through the only entrance to the castle because it had been left open for me to do just that, but my one advantage was that he didn’t want anyone to know he was here. He was on his own and wanted things to remain that way, which gave me some breathing room. Anyway, he’d probably have learned sooner or later that I was still alive; at least this way I might get some answers about what was really going on.

Unable to speak with his hand clamped over my mouth, and confident that he’d realise that soon enough, I waited for him to release me. As soon as he did, I spun round to face him. The expression on his face wasn’t the stunned epiphany that I’d been expecting; instead he was glaring at me with a malevolence that shone from every pore of his body. ‘Who hired you?’ he demanded. ‘Was it my father?’

For a moment I was totally confused. Why would Aifric hire me? I was his sworn enemy and, anyway, he thought I was dead. Then I realised that I’d been so focused on Byron and what he was up to that the Illusion I was Chardonnay was still in place. Byron thought I was the stripper. Well, wasn’t I a prize idiot? I’d needlessly wasted almost all that magic.

‘No,’ I said softly, ‘he didn’t.’ I stepped forward until I was inches away from him. ‘Byron…’

He snarled something under his breath and side-stepped as if he were afraid of me. He flexed his fingers. ‘I could snap your neck like a twig,’ he spat. ‘So start talking before I do you some damage.’

I almost grinned. I could believe a great deal of Byron: I could believe he wanted to marry Tipsania to get the money his Clan needed so badly; I could believe he was now working with his father against Candy; I could even believe he was sneaking into his own house even though I didn’t know why. But I couldn’t believe he was that kind of violent person. He’d threaten and bluster but he wouldn’t physically hurt me. Not to that extent anyway.

His voice was low and dangerous. ‘Are you amused?’ His fury seemed to grow. ‘Do I amuse you?’ He flicked his wrist, sending out a stream of magic in my direction that bound itself round my chest and lifted me into the air. I hovered there, still wearing the ridiculous police uniform. ‘I don’t have time for this,’ he muttered, as much to himself as to me.

‘You’re very angry,’ I told him.

He glared at me in disbelief. ‘Angry? You have no idea. Angry doesn’t even begin to cover it.’

I continued to watch him. I didn’t want to play games but I had to ease my way in. Right now, he looked as if he were about to have an aneurysm. ‘You wanted me back at the Haven,’ I said carefully. ‘You were … turned on.’

The magic binding me tightened slightly. Careful, Byron.

‘I was not,’ he said through gritted teeth.

My veins buzzed with the lie. I licked my lips. ‘Does Tipsania make you feel that way?’

His eyes hardened even more. ‘No one makes me feel that way.’ There was an edge to his voice I’d never heard before.

‘Someone must have rocked your world once,’ I said softly.

He stared at me, something indefinable in his expression. Come on, Byron, you can puzzle this out. ‘The only person who ever made me feel anything,’ he said, ‘is dead. And that’s what will happen to you if you don’t start answering my questions.’

‘You desired me,’ I told him, my heart in my mouth. ‘You wanted me. Maybe you still do. Byron…’

‘Shut up,’ he ground out. ‘Shut the hell up.’

My stomach churned. He was too focused on the Illusion to work out what was going on. There was no other way around this – it was time for the truth. All the truth. I took a deep breath, reached down into myself and extinguished the Illusion. My long dark hair transformed into pure white. The tan I’d so admired disappeared back into my milk-pale skin and my body shifted. There, I was Integrity again. I’d miss those breasts though.

Byron blinked. ‘What the fuck?’ He peered at me and blinked again. He took a step back, swallowed and balled up his fists. ‘What is this?’ he snarled. ‘You think you can taunt me? You’re obviously a Sidhe. Which Clan are you?’

‘It’s me, Byron. It’s Integrity.’

His emerald eyes flashed. ‘Integrity is dead. Just because you have powerful Illusion magic doesn’t mean I’m an idiot.’ His neck muscles were straining as he held himself back. Held himself back from what, I wasn’t entirely sure.

‘I’m Integrity, Byron,’ I repeated. ‘I stole Illusion from someone back at the Cruaich earlier today. I pretended to be that stripper because I wanted to know what you were up to.’ And I wanted to see you again, I added silently. I wanted to press myself against you and have your arms round me so I could pretend that everything was alright between us. ‘I faked my death because if I hadn’t, your father wouldn’t have stopped coming after me. Neither would the Fomori demons.’ My voice faltered slightly. ‘I wanted to tell you the truth. But I didn’t have any choice.’

He took another step back then a step forward. Then he went back again. If this situation weren’t so serious, I’d have made some quip about his dancing but he still looked as if he were barely controlling himself. His jaw tightened and he flicked his wrist again, bringing me towards him so my face was directly in front of his. He reached up as if about to touch me and drew back again. ‘This isn’t real,’ he whispered. ‘You aren’t real.’

‘I am.’ I scanned his features, willing him to see the truth. ‘I can prove it. Ask me anything Integrity would know.’

His nostrils flared. I knew he was scenting me, doing everything he could to ascertain the truth. ‘Where did we first meet?’