He glared at me. ‘Is that what you wanted? Can I go now?’

‘Not just yet,’ I replied silkily. ‘Tell me what plans are in place to ensure I don’t win the third challenge.’

His face contorted. ‘I…’

‘Tell me.’

He let out another snarl of frustration. ‘The challenge will take place out on the main field. It’s been cordoned off all day while preparations are made. There won’t be an audience. People are being told they can’t watch so that the competitors aren’t distracted.’

‘No drones either?’

He shook his head. Veins were bulging alarmingly at the side of his neck. He needed to go for a medical check-up. ‘Then what will happen?’

‘I don’t know.’

He was telling the truth. No doubt the Carnegies were keeping the details of how they’d get rid of me to themselves. It made sense. So did banning everyone from watching the challenge; no witnesses, no come back. All I had to do was change that.

‘You’re going to demand that people are allowed to watch,’ I ordered the Bull.

‘I can demand all I like. Didn’t you hear me say that I’m not considered important enough to be taken seriously?’

‘All the same,’ I said. ‘That’s what you will do.’

His sausage-like fingers bunched into hard fists but he jerked out a nod. It didn’t change the overpowering hatred simmering within him. I’d have to be very careful how I treated him; I didn’t need the Bull manoeuvring behind my back and trying to kill me again.

‘Thanks!’ I spun off.

My next target would be considerably harder to manipulate. I ran through various possibilities in my head but unfortunately there was only one way I could see this going.

I found Aifric seated in the bar area. A large group of hangers-on were clustered around, fawning over him. Was that why he did all this? Because he enjoyed having his ego massaged? I could work with that.

I strolled up, wasting no time in playing games. I could have waited for him to call me over but I wasn’t feeling patient. Instead, I joined the group and smiled prettily. ‘Steward, you are looking wonderful this evening,’ I cooed. ‘That shirt fits you like a glove. I can see where Byron gets his good looks from.’

There were titters from around me but I ignored them. Aifric pinned his eyes on me. ‘Why, thank you, Integrity. It’s very kind of you to say that.’ He half-turned as if to ignore me.

I giggled. ‘I wonder if I might ask you for some help,’ I said girlishly. ‘I’m so new here and I understand how important it is to act with honour. I’ve been trying to emulate the other Sidhe but obviously I’m still getting it wrong. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had those points deducted in the last challenge.’ Aifric glanced at me. Excellent. I’d hooked him. Now it was time to reel him in. ‘I have some information which might put me at a slight advantage in the next challenge. I don’t want to lose more points so maybe I could ask for your advice. Then I’ll know whether I should share that information or not.’