Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)(27)

I patted her on the shoulder. Aifric had been spinning quite a yarn to his minions. What were the odds that if he managed to get Candy down to my border to dangle him in front of Tipsania, the Wild Man would then die in some horrific ‘accident’?

Byron wasn’t that kind of bastard; maybe he wasn’t involved in this at all. Not that it mattered either way. I’d had my suspicions confirmed and I now knew for sure that Candy was going to be used as bait to drag Tipsania back for her impending nuptials. Once I got Candy out of here, Aifric’s plans would be scuppered. There was a lot of satisfaction in knowing that.

I smiled at the Sidhe and pointed behind me. ‘You may go,’ I croaked.

Her brow furrowed. Desperate to get rid of her before she started to question my hoarse voice, I folded my arms and tried an expression of vague impatience. She was obviously still confused but she bowed her head and marched past me, snapping out a salute as she passed. Maybe it would be a good thing if she came down to my place; she’d get on with Sorley like a house on fire.

As soon as the Sidhe had disappeared, I dropped the illusion in order to conserve my magic and hurried down the corridor.

‘You weren’t very convincing,’ Bob told me.

‘I only need five minutes. Keep watch in case she comes back.’

He saluted as well, although it was a considerably sloppier version. I checked my watch, took a deep breath and looked around.

There were six cells. Three didn’t look as if they’d been used since the days of Robert the Bruce, given the rusting manacles and the thick layer of dust in each one. Two were spick and span but empty; there was a spatter of dried blood in the corner of one which made me shudder and reminded me that Aifric Moncrieffe really was a bastard. The last cell held a sleeping occupant.

I looked at Candy’s inert form. His cheeks were ruddy and a lock of long, straggly hair, which fell across his forehead, gently lifted every time he exhaled. So he was here and he was alive. I watched him for a moment. This was where love got you: thrown into a deep, dark dungeon with only damned spiders for company.

I shook myself. As insane as it might appear to those on the outside, I was going to do my best to give Candy and Tipsania their happy ending. Someone had to come out all of this with a smile on their face otherwise what was the point?

I checked the corridor again then, satisfied that it was clear, I ran to the cell door and knelt, making short work of its lock. This was not a state-of-the-art system. I frowned and touched one of the bars. Candy was a Wild Man; I didn’t know much about them but their strength and size were legendary. Candy had once bopped me lightly on the head and knocked me unconscious. I couldn’t understand why he hadn’t tried to bend these bars. Surely he had the power to do so? Surely he wasn’t scared of one little Sidhe guard?

Biting the inside of my cheek, I swung open the door. It creaked, making me wince and Candy stir. He grunted softly then, as if realising someone was standing and staring at him, suddenly bolted upright.

‘Wh–what?’ His jaw dropped as he stared at me. ‘Integrity Adair. What in bejesus are you doing here? I thought you were dead.’

Huh. ‘Tipsania didn’t tell you I was alive?’ She was more circumspect than I’d given her credit for. Or maybe the world didn’t revolve around me after all and when she’d spoken to him on the phone they’d been talking about other things. The thought of them murmuring sweet nothings was kind of cute.

‘Tip?’ Panic flared in his eyes. ‘Is she alright? Has she been hurt?’ He leapt to his feet. Given the way he was looking at me, I suddenly understood why they were called Wild Men.

Now that I could see him properly, I could see several painful-looking bruises on his face and body. I gestured at him awkwardly. ‘She’s fine.’

He glanced from side to side, his pupils dilated and his muscles bunched up. ‘Is she here?’

‘No,’ I soothed. ‘She’s away. She’s safe. They can’t get to her.’

Candy’s attention returned to me and, as he fixed on my face, he appeared to calm down. I wasn’t fooled though; he was still panicking. He was just doing a better job of hiding it. ‘They?’

‘Aifric. Byron. Whoever. Let’s concentrate on getting you out of here.’

Candy didn’t move. ‘Does Byron know you’re alive?’

‘No. Let’s go.’

‘Does Byron know where Tip is?’

‘No. Come on, Candy. I’ll answer your questions properly once we’re out of here.’

He stepped backwards. ‘He needs her.’

I blinked. Er… ‘Byron needs her? But don’t you need her too?’ I asked stupidly.

Candy crossed his arms across his massive chest. I swear he had the girth of a bloody oak tree. ‘I have her.’

I tilted my head to the side. ‘I hate to point out the obvious but you’re stuck in a medieval dungeon while she’s wandering around in the free, fresh air of the Highlands.’

He regarded me impassively. ‘You should tell Byron you’re alive. He’ll be very happy.’

Yeah, yeah. ‘Look, Candy,’ I said, trying again, ‘I understand this is all a surprise to you but we probably don’t have very long. We need to get out of here before the alarm is raised.’

He turned round and settled back on his narrow bed. I gaped at him. ‘I have to stay here,’ he rumbled. ‘I promised Byron.’