Despite the cold shoulders, I persisted. Sooner or later, someone would soften up.

‘I never took you for a social butterfly,’ drawled a familiar voice as my attempt to get close to a Clan Orrock woman failed miserably and she all but sprinted away.

I turned. ‘You can’t really be sociable when people act as if you’ve got the plague.’

Byron shrugged languidly. ‘They’ll come around.’

‘You mean when they realise I’ve not nicked their family heirlooms? Someone’s obviously been telling tales.’

His look of discomfort was answer enough. ‘There have been … stories,’ he admitted. ‘What happened with the Foinse doesn’t help.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘No-one’s seen it. It’s the source of all magic, Integrity. You were the last person to hold it and you possess a clever sleight of hand.’

‘You think I palmed it when no-one was looking? You saw the damn thing fly away just like I did, Byron.’

‘I know,’ he replied equably. ‘But people don’t trust you.’

‘Gee,’ I said sarcastically, ‘blow me down with a feather. I never realised.’

‘You are a thief, Integrity.’

‘Reformed.’ Sort of. ‘Besides, I’ve never stolen from any of the Clans.’ Actually, that was a lie; I’d spotted at least one noble who I’d relieved of a rather ugly-looking emerald ring. But that was years earlier and he’d have no reason to suspect me of the crime.

Byron tilted his head and gave me a long look. ‘You stole from me.’

‘That’s where you’re wrong. I stole from Jamie.’ I smirked. ‘Call it foreplay, if you will.’ Byron’s eyes suddenly darkened. ‘And I returned your silly jewel.’ I said, referring to the stunning Lia Saifire.

A muscle jerked in his cheek. ‘Are you expecting my gratitude?’

‘No.’ I nibbled on my bottom lip. ‘Why didn’t you tell your father that I was going to compete in the Games?’

‘I had no idea you were going to do such a thing.’

‘Yes, you did.’ I eyed him speculatively. ‘In fact, I think you told me about the Games because you wanted me to compete. Were you missing me?’

His face took on a look of mock sorrow. ‘Yes. I couldn’t sleep at night without knowing where you were. Food tasted like ash in my mouth. I couldn’t find joy in anything. When the sun shone, it was as if the very heavens were laughing at me.’

‘Yeah? And when was the last time the sun shone?’

Byron grinned suddenly with such a flash of pure enjoyment that I wished I’d done more to see it earlier. ‘Probably October.’

I smiled back. ‘Holding these Games in February seems a deliberate action to freeze my tits off.’

I thought maybe I’d been too crude and wished I could back take the words but Byron responded with his own spark. He leaned forward and whispered in my ear, ‘My balls are blue. I can’t imagine what they’ll be like tomorrow when I have to wear a kilt.’ He winked and my mouth went dry. I didn’t normally have fantasies about those particular body parts but I had a very vivid image now. ‘Nice tartan, by the way. I’m guessing the hot pink is your personal addition?’