by Helen Harper
‘It pays well. And we’re very choosy about our targets.’
I scoffed loudly.
‘Sorry.’ She didn’t look apologetic at all. ‘This was a rush job with limited time to carry it out.’
‘Let me guess,’ I said drily. ‘You had between the Cruaich and the old Adair Lands to take me down.’
‘Yup. All we knew was that you were a Sidhe. I should have twigged the truth. Who else would be interested in going to that place?’ She looked at me curiously. ‘Why are you going there?’
I ignored the question. This could be my chance to prove once and for all that Aifric wasn’t the upstanding man everyone pretended he was. Byron’s father, the Steward of the Highlands, was determined to see me dead. Knowing wasn’t evidence though. If I could get Chandra to give me proof that he’d hired her to kill me, then Byron would have to believe me. ‘Who’s your employer?’
‘You mean who wants you dead,’ she said. It wasn’t a question. ‘I have no idea. It was a dead drop. We advertise on the Dark Net and anonymity is assured for both client and freelancer.’
Shite. And thanks to the Gift I’d stolen from Kirsty Kincaid which, because I’d ripped it away from the hapless Sidhe in its entirety was showing no signs of dissipating, I knew she was telling the truth. ‘There’s no way you can...’
She shook her head. ‘No.’
‘I don’t get it, Chandra,’ burst out the man who’d thrust a gun into my face. He’d taken off his balaclava to reveal dark, swarthy skin, an impressive moustache and the largest set of ears I’d ever seen. He glared at her. ‘Our job is to kill her. She’s just a Sidhe, so why the hell don’t we get on with it before she pulls more sneaky magic shit?’
‘She’s Clan-less, Ramsay.’
That wasn’t actually true any more but somehow I didn’t think this was the time to mention it.
‘Bullshit. There’s not a single Clan-less Sidhe in the whole of the Highlands.’
Chandra gave him a long-suffering look. ‘This is Integrity Taylor.’
Ramsay started, more surprised than was sensible considering the gun he still held loosely in his hands. As he jerked involuntarily, it went off. Everyone jumped, apart from Speck. He screamed.
‘You arse,’ Chandra said to Ramsay. ‘You could have killed someone. It’s lucky that car was already set for the knacker’s yard.’
I frowned and looked round, my heart sinking when I saw what she was referring to. The stray bullet had slammed into our fuel tank; a steady dribble of petrol was already leaking out.
‘Brilliant,’ I sighed.
Twitchy-Finger stared at me. ‘Integrity Taylor is a myth.’
My eyebrows flew up as his words drew my attention away from the poor car. Before I could say anything, Chandra laughed. ‘What colour is her hair?’
‘White.’
‘And is she old enough to have white hair?’
‘She looks mid-twenties,’ he said grudgingly. ‘But she could have dyed it.’ His lip curled. ‘You women like to do that.’
Chandra rolled her eyes. ‘Us women? Just remember who pays your wages, boyo.’
One of the others sidled up. ‘You’re really Integrity Taylor?’
I coughed. ‘I hadn’t realised I was so famous.’
‘Infamous more like,’ Chandra snorted. ‘I keep telling them that I kicked your arse and broke your nose but they never believe me.’
‘I was thirteen.’
She looked at me blankly. ‘So?’
‘You couldn’t do that to me now.’
‘Honey, we almost killed you about ten minutes ago.’
Okay, I’d give her that. I tugged at a loose curl, tucking it behind my ear, and massaged my neck. My skin was tender and I had no doubt that by tomorrow I’d be sporting some very unsightly bruises. ‘Lots of people know who I am, Chandra. Why’s he being so weird?’
‘You’ve not been in Aberdeen for a while, have you?’
I shrugged. ‘I guess not.’
‘There are a lot of stories coming out of the Cruaich that you infiltrated the Sidhe and stole the source of all their magic.’ I frowned. ‘Plus,’ Chandra added, ‘some people say you won the Games.’
‘I didn’t win.’
Chandra waved her hand in the air as if it didn’t matter. ‘Your old neighbour, Chump?’
‘Charlie.’
‘Well, Chump has been going around saying that he knows you intimately and that you’ve been using magic for years. He says you’ve sworn vengeance against the Sidhe for what they did to your family and that you’re amassing an army to destroy them.’
My mouth dropped open. I glanced round at Speck, Brochan, Taylor and Lexie. Formidable thieves they might be, but they were hardly an army.
‘If you need some help,’ Chandra said casually, ‘then we’ll offer our services.’
I gaped at her. ‘Eh?’
She leaned in. ‘The Clans have had a hold over us for too long.’ Her eyes gleamed. ‘It’s time to start fighting back.’
‘I don’t fight,’ I whispered. ‘And I’m technically one of them.’
‘No you’re not.’
‘I’ve taken my Clan name back,’ I told her. ‘I’m Integrity Adair. Not Taylor.’
Chandra lifted her chin. ‘You’re still one of us. You’ve still got the Clan-less in your heart.’ She jabbed her finger at my chest. ‘In your soul. You know what it means to be on our side of the magic.’
I did. But I wasn’t a fighter. Then I thought of my true name, the one I’d received in the Cruaich’s sacred grove: Layoch, meaning warrior. I shivered.
‘You’re not ready yet,’ Chandra declared. ‘But you will be. I can see why they want you dead. You should take care, Integrity Adair. Watch your back. You’re damned lucky it was me who picked up this little gig. I’ll spread the word, though, and make sure no one else takes up the contract. I can be pretty scary when I want to be.’
My thirteen-year-old self could attest to that. At least thanks to the stolen Gift running through my veins I knew she was telling the truth. ‘Thanks,’ I murmured.
She grinned and whacked me on the shoulder, sending me flying. ‘Any time.’ She pointed. ‘We’re parked over there out of sight. We’ll give you a lift into Perth. You should be able to find someone to come out and do something with your ... car.’ She said the last part dubiously as if she wasn’t sure if such a rust bucket merited that title.
‘Are you going to pay for the damage?’
Chandra flicked me a look. ‘Well, sure,’ she said easily. ‘I reckon five hundred quid would more than cover it.’
I spotted Taylor wincing out of the corner of my eye. Great. He probably owed her money. And it was probably five hundred pounds.
‘We should make a move before it gets dark. On the bright side though, it’s Saturday night. There’s a ceilidh on in the town hall.’
‘I’d rather go to a rave,’ Lexie muttered.
Chandra smiled then jerked her head. ‘Come on, boys and girls.’ Her team started trailing after her. One or two of them sent me suspicious looks while the others seemed to regard with me with awe.
I looked at my friends. ‘We should go with them,’ I said finally. ‘That car’s not going anywhere.’
‘You mix with disappointing company, Uh Integrity,’ Bob said. ‘They are ... grubby. I don’t like the way that Ramsay man looked at me.’
‘And here was me thinking that you couldn’t wait for me to make those remaining two wishes so you could get away from me.’
‘The grass is not always greener,’ he said patronisingly.
‘It’s pretty green on this side because we’re fertilised by your bullshit.’
He stared at me. ‘Is that a joke? That had better be a joke.’ He rolled up his sleeves and formed tiny fists with his hands. ‘Otherwise I’ll break that pretty nose of yours again.’ He danced from foot to foot and began humming Eye of the Tiger. ‘I’ve seen every Rocky film. I will pulverise you, Uh Integrity. They wi
ll be picking bits of you up when I’m done.’
‘Bits of me smashed into the green, green grass?’ I enquired with a wink.
‘You betcha! You...’
‘How do you really know her, Tegs?’ Lexie interrupted. ‘Chandra, I mean.’
‘We went to school together,’ I said absently, turning my attention away from the genie. ‘She was in the year above me.’
Speck cocked his head. ‘You went to school?’
I smiled. ‘Are you saying I come across as uneducated?’
‘No. It’s just that I’m having great difficulty imagining you dressed in a uniform and doing your homework. Did you have pigtails?’
‘She only lasted six months before she was expelled,’ Taylor said. ‘I home-schooled her after that.’
‘It’s not my fault,’ I protested. ‘Living as a nameless Sidhe servant didn’t exactly prepare me for the world of education.’
Taylor patted my cheek fondly. ‘You did alright in the end.’
‘It’s not the end yet,’ I grumbled. ‘Let’s grab that lift into town with Chandra. We don’t need any more ... mishaps.’
We all began to move, apart from Brochan who remained immobile. I looked at him. ‘You coming?’
‘Isn’t anyone going to point out the obvious? Raising an army against the Clans?’
‘She was only talking, Brochan. It was just bluster.’
‘It didn’t sound like bluster,’ he said. ‘It sounded like hope.’
Something indefinable tightened across my shoulders. ‘It’s a really silly idea and you know it. Besides, the only really dodgy Sidhe who needs stopped is Aifric.’
Brochan rubbed his chin. ‘Mm.’
I looked up. Chandra had already reached the top of the hill and was glancing back. She wouldn’t wait around forever. ‘Let’s go,’ I said softly.
Chapter Two
The mechanic, a loud, blousy woman with grease ingrained so deeply in her palms that I doubted it would ever come off, agreed to pick up the Fiat. She seemed doubtful about how quickly she’d get round to fixing it so we ended up buying yet another heap of a car so we could reach my Clan Lands before the month was out. Taylor was grumpy at the amount of money it cost but the last thing I wanted was to hang around Perth for days on end.
We were dangerously close to the Moncrieffe Lands here and it wouldn’t take Aifric long to realise that he’d failed yet again in his bid to kill me. All the same, none of us were in the mood for getting back on the road just yet. I, for one, needed a drink to calm me down. Adrenaline was still firing through me and making me twitchy. Speck looked like he was about to pass out. We could wait until morning before continuing on our way.
Bob made a good effort to keep up everyone’s spirits by jabbing light insults and flitting around us, but we were all shaken by what had just transpired. This was the second real attempt on my life – and there had been other half-hearted efforts too. It was a lot to take in. I was far from perfect but knowing there was someone out there who wanted me cold in the ground was definitely sobering. Especially when that someone was almost certainly the Steward. Even Brochan looked fed up.
‘I was an assassin, you know,’ I said, as we strolled towards the homely pub where we’d arranged to meet Chandra. ‘I used to make a killing.’
Brochan grunted.
‘Well, that’s great, Integrity,’ Speck said, his arms crossed as he marched alongside me. ‘When Tommy the Knock puts a contract out on me for destroying his pride and joy, it will be good to know that you’ll be around to joke with him about it afterwards.’
‘Don’t worry about Tommy the Knock. I’ll speak to him.’ Besides, I seriously doubted that the Fiat was his ‘pride and joy’.
‘This is a bad omen,’ Lexie said. ‘We’re not even at the Adair Lands yet and everything’s going to shit.’
‘You’re not looking at this properly.’ Taylor grinned. There was a lilt to his voice that put me on alert. ‘We just escaped a serious assassination attempt. I’d say that’s very a good omen indeed.’
I looked at Taylor then I looked around. By now, most of the high-street shops were shut and, this being a bitter Scottish February, it was already dark. Even so, there were people out on the street, mostly glammed up for a night on the town. I scanned each and every one of them. I didn’t recognise anyone but that meant nothing. I knew from Taylor’s expression that he’d spotted a way to gamble. Probably some old crony he’d spotted.
With a sinking feeling I cleared my throat. ‘You’re going to come to the ceilidh, right?’
He blinked at me innocently. ‘Of course! I love a good ceilidh.’ He grabbed hold of my hands and yanked me along. ‘The Gay Gordons is my favourite.’ He hummed loudly, cantering up and down the street. Then he stood on my foot.
‘Ouch!’
‘Oops.’ He grinned. ‘Sorry.’
I rolled my eyes and moved away. ‘Look, there’s the pub.’
‘Praise be,’ Lexie said. ‘I’m parched.’
By unspoken consensus, we picked up speed, ignoring the wind blowing against us. A small group of Bauchans was hanging around outside. I guessed my supposed infamy hadn’t reached these parts yet because one of them caught of sight me and muttered to his mates, ‘There’s another fucking Sidhe.’
As soon as we reached them, all five made a show of curtseying. The action was far too deliberate and melodramatic; they swept the ground in a manner that suggested blatant disrespect. There were some Sidhe who would take great offence at that, though I wasn’t one of those. Frankly, I’d rather be on the Bauchans’ side than the Sidhes’. It wasn’t a problem, though: I could match like for like and show them that we weren’t all bastards. And I could have a little fun too.
I halted in front of the little group, pushed up my chin so my nose was in the air and held out my hand. ‘Paupers,’ I said loudly, in a posh, affected accent. ‘Your manners do you well. I will permit you to kiss my hand in return.’
Four of them looked at me, aghast, apparently believing that I was taking myself seriously. The fifth, however, with a mischievous glint, did exactly as I asked. He bent across and began licking the back of my hand. Then he turned it over and began nibbling at the softer flesh on the other side. It kind of tickled. I remained perfectly still.
‘I like your nail polish,’ he said, between slobbery licks. ‘Hot pink turns me on.’ He grabbed his groin with his free hand. ‘I’m already getting hard.’
I tossed back my hair. ‘Kiss me more.’
His mouth twitched as he held back his laugh. ‘My lady.’
I started moaning. Brochan, clearly put out by my display, hastily pushed open the door to the pub and disappeared. Speck followed, the tips of ears bright red.
‘Have fun, Tegs,’ Lexie purred, taking Taylor by the arm and propelling him inside.
My moaning increased. The four other Bauchans were backing away, shaking their heads. I threw my head from side to side in an almost perfect Meg Ryan imitation. ‘Yes!’ I cried. ‘Oh yes! More!’
The Bauchan chuckled.
There was a flash of light. Bob appeared, floating behind the Bauchan’s head and staring at me. ‘Uh Integrity, what are you doing?’
I gave him a wink. Then I let out a tiny scream and pulled my hand back. I shook myself. ‘That was orgasmic.’
The Bauchan smiled. ‘And here was me thinking that the Sidhe didn’t have a sense of humour. I’m Fergus, by the way.’
‘Integrity.’
‘Which Clan?’
I held his gaze. ‘Adair.’
He raised his eyebrows and whistled. ‘Seriously? I thought they were all dead.’
‘Obviously not,’ Bob said from behind, suspicion glazing his every word.
Fergus stared at him. ‘Is that a genie?’
‘Yep.’
‘I’ve never seen one in the flesh before.’
‘I can hear you, you know!’ Bob flew in front of my face as if he was trying to protect me. Sweet, but reall
y not necessary.
‘You should be careful.’ Fergus looked past Bob at me. ‘It’s not a good idea to ask a genie for wishes.’
‘I got it,’ I said drily.
His grin widened. ‘Yeah, you seem like you can look after yourself.’ He pointed at the pub. ‘Can I buy you a drink?’
Tempting. He was good looking, even for a Bauchan, and I liked his banter and his way of thinking. It probably wasn’t the best time, though. And he didn’t have floppy golden hair or emerald-green eyes. ‘I’m with my friends.’
He took the hint. ‘Another time, perhaps.’
‘Perhaps.’
Fergus bowed like a well-trained diplomat and left, sauntering down the street to join his gullible buddies who were still in a state of shock. He did, however, receive a slap on the back. I shook my head in amusement.
‘Uh Integrity!’ Bob hissed. ‘What did you think you were doing?’
‘Taking the piss.’
He recoiled. ‘What? What piss? Do you mean urine? Were you taking that Bauchan’s urine?’
‘It’s an expression. As an all-knowing supreme being, you should know that. It was just an act, Bob.’
‘Did he know that?’
I sighed. ‘Yes.’
He glared at me. ‘Really? Because I think you were indulging in some very risky behaviour. I thought you were all lovey-dovey about Byron Moncrieffe.’
My eyes narrowed. ‘And I thought you were more fun. Now get back into your letter opener unless you want to be bothered by every single person who walks into that pub.’
‘It’s a scimitar!’ he yelled. ‘You know fine well it’s a scimitar!’
‘Okay. Scimitar.’
He sniffed. ‘That’s better. And, for your information, I’m lots of fun.’
I stretched out my pinkie and ruffled his hair. ‘Course you are.’
***
The second I entered the pub, I was whacked in the face with what appeared to be a bundle of cloth. ‘What the...?’ I spluttered.
Chandra smiled at me serenely. ‘Come on, Integrity. You can’t go to a ceilidh dressed like that.’
I glanced down at my jeans, warm jumper and sparkly hot-pink scarf. I didn’t look that bad, surely? ‘I have other clothes,’ I said, gesturing at my bag. Chandra was well known for her appreciation of tight and revealing attire. Considering she was wearing bright green hot pants and a halter top and it was February, for goodness sake, I dreaded to think what was in the bundle she’d thrown at me. I had no problem with getting dressed up but even I had limits. ‘And since when were shorts de rigeur for ceilidhs?’