I searched his face. He was telling the truth. Unlike most of the other highborn Sidhe in this place, neither he nor Jamie seemed to care whose daughter I was.

‘Sir? Byron?’ someone interrupted. ‘You’re wanted in the grand hall.’

Both of us turned. It was a nervous-looking pixie who was doing everything he could to avoid eye contact with me. Interesting. Perhaps these people really were afraid of me. I could use that.

‘On my way,’ Byron grunted. He gave me a final glance. ‘I’ll escort you to the grove tomorrow. Until then, try and avoid having sex with anyone else. We don’t need half the castle in love with you.’

I grinned. ‘Why ever not?’

Byron rolled his eyes. ‘By the way, it’s pyrokinesis.’

Puzzled, I stared at him. ‘What is?’

‘My second Gift.’ He touched me lightly on the shoulder and walked out. The pixie ran.

I watched them go, then dropped my head and examined my shoes. I didn’t like the idea of being able to call up fire. Certainly it would have its uses but in this day and age it would be used far more for destruction than anything else. I shivered and thought about Byron’s other comments. Whenever I got answers, I also ended up with more questions. I hadn’t come here to learn about myself, however. I didn’t need new revelations or an emotional growth spurt. I was happy the way I was.

I lifted my chin up and spotted a pretty feather in an inkwell on a table nearby. I picked it up, then whistled. I couldn’t be entirely sure but this looked like it came from the wings of a unicorn. It was priceless. The damned beasts were so hard to catch unawares that unless you were an unblemished virgin, you’d no hope of getting close to one. I grinned to myself. Charlie would give me a good price for it. I shoved it down my top. It tickled my skin but I wasn’t going far. I was Integrity Taylor, thief extraordinaire after all – not Integrity Adair, Clan princess.

Chapter Thirteen

I took one last critical glance in the mirror. It was just as well I’d arrived at the Cruaich well prepared. The hot pink scarf went very well with my black jumpsuit. Topped off with diamante-encrusted sunglasses, I decided l looked more like a footballer’s wife than a shady Sidhe. It wasn’t a bad effort but I didn’t want any of these royal idiots getting the wrong idea and thinking I was a glittery pushover so I also attached my trusty utility belt with my thievery gadgets. Ha! Let them make of that what they would.

‘We need to go now, Integrity,’ Byron drawled from the doorway.

I tapped the scimitar nestled securely in my inner pocket where it would be safely out of sight. ‘You ready for this, Bob?’