Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)(48)

His eyes searched my face. I wondered what exactly he was looking for. ‘Jamie told me what happened,’ he said finally.

‘He tried to tell you when you barged into my room,’ I reminded him. ‘You just didn’t seem to be in the mood to listen.’

‘The Foinse must be failing faster than we’d thought,’ he said, ignoring my pointed comment.

‘You’re kidding?’ I scoffed. ‘You think it’s because the magic is draining away from your safe little Sidhe world that a sea monster suddenly appeared from hundreds of miles away? In my bedroom? I gave you more credit than that, Byron. Either someone wants the Foinse to break down, or their desire to rid the world of me is stronger than their desire to see the magic safe.’

‘No-one would dare,’ he growled. ‘You have guest privileges.’

‘Oh yeah? Because I’m pretty sure someone just did dare. If you don’t believe me, go have a look outside. The stoor worm left a lovely snail trail all the way down your wall.’

His jaw worked. ‘I’ll have a guard put on you.’

The last thing I wanted was to be watched twenty-four-seven. ‘I don’t need a guard. I need you to make sure that whoever is behind this is stopped.’

‘Investigations have already begun,’ he said stiffly.

‘Good. Now tell me what you want.’

He took a step closer so I had to crane my neck to look up at him. His voice dropped until it was both silky and dangerous. ‘Did he make you scream?’

‘The worm? Of course I bloody well screamed.’

Byron’s emerald eyes glittered. ‘No. Did Jamie make you scream?’

I swallowed and stared at him, my tongue suddenly unable to form any words.

‘I could make you scream,’ he continued. He reached over and brushed my bare arm with the tip of his index finger.

I jerked away and Byron laughed.

‘Is that why you summoned me here? To measure your sexual prowess against your mate’s?’

He watched me with amusement. I decided I preferred glowering Byron. ‘No. We need to go over the arrangements for tomorrow and the naming ceremony.’

I felt an odd mixture of relief and disappointment. ‘Well, good. Go on, then.’ I crossed my arms firmly across my chest. Just in case. Of course I received a sharp jab of pain in my ribs when I did so. It was a struggle to stay composed.

‘Normally, the ceremony would take place on your Clan ground,’ Byron explained.

‘I don’t have a Clan.’

He didn’t rise to the bait. ‘Just so. Besides, after your father’s untimely demise, the Adair grounds were salted. It’d be a miracle if the sacred grove is still standing.’

‘You guys don’t mess around, do you?’ I asked, feeling faintly sick at the wanton destruction and the thoroughness with which the Adairs had been treated.

He looked as if he knew what I was thinking. ‘It was before my time. And tempers were running high.’

‘I’ll bet.’

‘The grove here at the Cruaich will serve just as well,’ he continued, as if I’d not spoken. ‘Every Clan is represented here.’

‘Even the murderous Adairs?’

He held my gaze. ‘Even them.’

‘Fine. So what do I have to do?’

‘You enter alone.’ He pulled out a scroll and tossed it in my direction. ‘You read this aloud, asking your ancestors to guide you. Then you’ll receive your true name. Your Gift should emerge within a few days.’

‘You’ve got more than one Gift. Maybe I will have too.’

‘Maybe. I only have two. Your father had three.’

I was surprised. Three Gifts? I’d known he was powerful. I just hadn’t realised by how much.

‘Of course,’ Byron continued, ‘you might not get any. Your body might not be able to handle the shock as it’s already in the full bloom of adulthood. Your system might just reject it.’

Such a scenario would probably be the best for everyone. I didn’t need a Gift to open the Foinse. Perhaps whoever had tried to kill me would back off if I were essentially powerless.

‘I know you have telekinesis,’ I said. ‘What’s your other Gift?’

‘Do you care?’ he asked softly.

I guessed not. I shook myself and changed the subject. ‘That’s why there’s a fever,’ I mused. ‘It’s the body fighting against the Gift.’

Byron gave me an approving nod. ‘Indeed.’

‘It’d be better if that didn’t happen. Then we can leave for the Foinse immediately.’ My tone was decisive. I ignored Byron’s sharp look .

‘The onset of the fever happens almost immediately,’ he admitted. ‘You’ll know you’re getting sick before you leave the grove. The sicker you are, the stronger your Gift. Because I received two, I was ill for a fortnight. It wasn’t … pleasant.’

That sounded like a considerable understatement. Great. I didn’t need a temperature and sweats to add to my already aching body. I sighed. ‘There was something else I wanted to ask.’

‘You wanted to know what Rebekah meant.’

‘Rebekah is the ginger nut?’

He stiffened slightly. ‘She wouldn’t take kindly to being called that but, yes, that’s her. There have been many Sidhe who wondered why you didn’t come back to take revenge for what happened to your Clan.’