Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)(17)

We exchanged glances. ‘The Wild Man,’ Lexie said. ‘Candy. He’s missing. The Moncrieffes must know about his relationship with Tipsania and they’ll use him to force her out of hiding. It’s the only thing I can think of that would make her give herself up.’

‘How can they know about him?’ Taylor asked.

‘Byron,’ I said grimly. I didn’t want to believe it of him but Tipsania had been adamant that no one else knew about her and Candy. And Byron knew that Tipsania had been here on my land because he brought her himself. Maybe he’d even sent the Farsenser to see if she was still here.

Nobody looked at me. I bunched my hands into fists. ‘We need to think quickly. Right now we have the edge because we know what they’re up to. That’s not going to last for long.’

Taylor licked his lips. ‘I hate to be the one to say it, Tegs…’

I crossed my arms. ‘But you’re going to anyway.’

He gave me a disarming smile which didn’t fool me for a second. ‘You don’t owe Tipsania anything. I can understand why you’re concerned about the trolls. They’ve sworn fealty and they’re Clan Adair now. Tipsania Scrymgeour isn’t.’

‘She offered fealty,’ I pointed out.

‘But she didn’t actually give it.’

Speck sniffed. ‘Taylor is right. We all know she’s a bitch—’

‘A reformed bitch.’

‘Ha! She’s not there yet,’ he replied. ‘She treated you like shit when you were kids. If Byron Moncrieffe wants to marry her then let him marry her. It’s no longer your concern.’

For once even Lexie didn’t stand up for the Moncrieffe princeling. I tried to make the hurt I felt inside coalesce into anger but it didn’t work. I still just felt hurt. ‘Aifric and Byron have probably banded together to kidnap, or maybe even kill, Candy for falling in love with the wrong person. They’ll get away with it because they’re the rulers of this stupid country. Not only that, they’re going to force a woman who’s currently under my protection to marry someone else, as if we’re living in the Middle Ages instead of the twenty-first century.’ I looked at them. ‘I can’t just let that lie.’

Brochan’s mouth turned down. ‘When you put it like that…’

I shrugged. ‘I have to do what I can.’ I lifted my chin and gazed at the horizon – and the dark cloud of the Veil. ‘It’ll be another good opportunity to practise stealing Gifts and prepare us for what’s to come. Sooner or later I’m going to have to deal with the Fomori demons.’

‘The Lowlands of Scotland are not your responsibility, prophecy or no prophecy,’ Taylor said.

There didn’t seem much point in responding. We all knew we couldn’t let the situation in the Lowlands continue forever; someone had to do something. And if that someone was going to be me, whether I had a clue about what to do or not ? well, so be it. Before that, however, I was going to rescue a damsel in distress and her boyfriend. And I was not going to waste any time being heartsick over any bastard of a Moncrieffe. Screw the lot of them.

***

I showered quickly before grabbing my bag and stuffing everything I could think of inside it. I had no idea when there would be another gang of Sidhe at our door but I had to assume it wouldn’t be long. Time was of the essence.

With wet hair still dripping down my back, I went off in search of Morna and found her at the edge of the Adair grove. New saplings were already springing up, pushing their way towards the sky with an optimism that gave me hope for the future. If they could grow here, on this land that was once so desolate and destroyed, then anything could happen. I brushed the nearby leaves, which might look tiny and delicate but were imbued with considerable strength, and cleared my throat.

‘What is it, dear?’ Morna asked, half-turning towards me.

‘Hi,’ I said, the epitome of awkwardness. ‘The trees are looking good.’

Morna smiled. ‘They are, aren’t they? You’ve done a good job. They’re still small but they’re all healthy.’

‘What type of tree fits in your hand?’ She looked at me patiently. ‘A palm tree.’

I received another polite smile in response. ‘Very good, dear. You’re not here because you want me to laugh at your jokes, though.’

‘No.’ I smoothed my hands down my jeans and took a deep breath. ‘You were right. It’s time for you to go.’

Morna looked at me questioningly. ‘Are you strong enough to manage on your own?’

‘I’ll have to be.’ I looked away. ‘It’s too dangerous for you to stay any longer. Aifric is virtually at the gates.’

‘Does he know you’re alive?’

‘Not yet but it’s just a matter of time. There are … other matters to deal with.’

‘The boy? Byron?’

‘No.’ I scratched my neck. ‘Yes. Sort of.’

She tutted. ‘You should just find him, tell him you’re alive and that you’re in love with him.’

I swallowed. ‘He doesn’t want me.’

‘I doubt that very much.’

‘It’s true. It doesn’t matter anyway,’ I said dismissively. ‘It was never going to happen. I’m going to help Tipsania then go across the Veil and try to help the people there.’