Before I could answer, I spotted Tipsania in the doorway. Her eyes landed on us and she wasted no time in making her way towards us. ‘Your girlfriend’s here,’ I murmured. I gave her my most professional smile.

She sniffed and stopped inches from us. ‘Integrity.’

I tried not to look surprised that she’d remembered my name.

‘That tartan wouldn’t look out of place in a mock Highland stripper show in Vegas.’ She bared her teeth. ‘You know, in one of those smaller venues where a shot of vodka costs about a dollar. A real … classy joint.’

‘I wouldn’t know,’ I returned coolly. ‘I’ve never been to one.’

‘Haven’t you?’ She moved alongside Byron and hooked her arm through his, laying claim to her man and marking her territory. I was surprised she didn’t hike up her skirts, squat down and urinate on his shoe. ‘We went last year, didn’t we, By? It was just the two of us. It’s more romantic than you’d think.’ She giggled. ‘There was a wedding chapel I really liked. You weren’t so keen, were you, Byron?’ She glanced at me. ‘I think he’d rather have a large traditional ceremony.’

I raised my eyebrows. ‘You’re engaged?’

Tipsania preened. ‘Not yet.’ She cast a sidelong look at Byron. ‘But who knows what might happen when the Games are over?’

Byron cleared his throat; he was obviously uncomfortable and I had a sudden flash of insight. He was going to compete and if he won, he’d ask for a monetary reward to help bring his Clan out of their dire financial straits. If he lost, he’d probably end up having to wed good old Tipsy. The Scyrmgeours were loaded. I felt a flicker of unexpected sympathy for her. It didn’t last.

‘You don’t really think that you can win the Games, do you?’ she asked me. ‘It’ll be so embarrassing when you come last. And you do understand the terms of participation? That each participating – and losing ‒ Clan has to help provide the prize for the winner. That’ll be rather difficult for you when you have no Clan.’ She pasted on an expression of mock concern. ‘You don’t want to find yourself heavily in debt for the next twenty years.’ She touched my arm. ‘I’m just thinking of you.’

‘Your kindness knows no bounds,’ I managed through clenched teeth. ‘But my mind is made up.’ And then, because I could think of nothing better than seeing the expression on her face when I outdid her in every single challenge, I asked, ‘And you? Will you be competing?’

She tittered. ‘Of course. But we all know who’s going to win.’

‘Do we?’

Her grip on Byron tightened. ‘Of course. He’s the most powerful Sidhe we’ve seen in decades, aren’t you, darling?’

‘It takes more than brute strength to win the Games,’ he said, his eyes on me. His focus – especially while Tipsania was hanging off him like a limpet – was making me uncomfortable.