Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)(39)

‘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?’

‘In a hotel bar. We drank pink champagne.’ My mouth curved into a smile. ‘Well,’ I amended, ‘I drank pink champagne. I’d been trying to avoid alcohol but you didn’t give me much choice. You were avoiding alcohol tonight, too. Why don’t you tell me what you’re up to?’

He ignored my question. A muscle in his cheek pulsated but he’d schooled the rest of his face into an impassive mask. ‘During the Games, I went to see you in your competitors’ accommodation. You were wearing a fancy outfit. What was it?’

‘Princess Leia,’ I answered easily. ‘But only because I’d made a deal with Bob.’ Byron’s eyes narrowed. I countered with another of my own questions. ‘Why are you holding Candy captive? Isn’t he supposed to be your friend?’

He didn’t answer, just kept staring at me unable to believe the evidence of his own eyes. That was understandable. My tongue darted out, wetting my lips. He followed the movement. ‘We almost made love under the only remaining tree in the Adair grove,’ I told him quietly. ‘There are more trees there now. They’re saplings really but they’re growing. When I went across the Veil, I found you on top of Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, shackled to a post. I used Illusion to help us escape so it shouldn’t be too hard to believe that I’ve used it for other things. You told me I smelled bad.’

Byron seemed to stop breathing.

I leaned forward, pushing against the constraints of his magic as best as I could. ‘I wouldn’t know any of these things unless I really was Integrity.’

Even with the darkness surrounding us, his skin seemed leeched of all colour. ‘You’re a ghost.’

‘Oh for goodness’ sake!’ I said, without thinking. ‘What is it with you Sidhe and ghosts? The Bull thought I was a bloody ghost, too. I thought you were smarter than that.’