‘Hello? Candy? Are you there?’

I stiffened. Tipsania. What the hell was she doing here? While her antagonism towards me was no secret, she’d always been open about her hatred and I wouldn’t have put it past her to attack me in public. Skulking around in Scottish trees didn’t seem like her style. And who the hell was Candy? That name was worrying familiar.

I edged round the fir, adjusting my position so that I could see her and remain hidden. Peering through a gap in the needles, I understood why we’d assumed she was some enormous beast. The dress she was wearing looked like a full-blown ball gown; it was a ridiculous, with a Cinderella-type, meringue-shaped skirt that had to be five feet wide. I liked a pretty dress myself but her get-up wouldn’t be any good for covert action. This wasn’t about us at all. Something else was going on.

There was a loud wheeze, followed by the crunch of heavy footsteps. Brochan plastered himself against the tree trunk as the unmistakable form of a Wild Man appeared from beyond a dense copse of trees. I suddenly realised where I’d heard the name Candy before: he’d been working for Byron when we first met in Aberdeen. He’d also knocked me unconscious.

Like most of his kind, he was barefoot and built like a rhinoceros. When he spoke, however, his gentle tone completely belied his size. ‘Tip?’

Tipsania let out a girlish squeal and ran towards him, ignoring the fact that her skirt was catching on twigs and dead leaves. She flung herself at him while Brochan and I both gaped. Candy grabbed her waist and spun her round, lifting her up so he could kiss her. It was a passionate clinch. She’d been all over Byron yesterday; what on earth was going on?

‘I can’t stay long,’ she breathed, when he finally let her go. ‘I’m supposed to be at the competitors’ breakfast in twenty minutes.’

My stomach growled. A hot breakfast sounded really good. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Aifric – or anyone else – had ‘forgotten’ to tell me about it. Neither should I have been pissed off because it wasn’t like I could eat anything for fear of it being poisoned. The invitation would have been nice though.

‘I’ve missed you. Can’t you skip breakfast?’

‘Everyone else will be there and my absence would be noted.’ She sighed and leaned her head against his chest. Compared to the Wild Man, Tipsania looked tiny, even in that massive wedding cake of a dress.

‘It’s not too late to back out of the Games,’ he rumbled. ‘You know the later challenges are going to be dangerous and I don’t want you to get hurt.’

‘I can look after myself. And you know it’s the only way.’

‘The chances of you winning…’

‘Hush.’ She tilted her head up and gazed into his eyes. ‘I’m very motivated.’

He breathed in. ‘Tipsania Scrymgeour, I love you.’

She smiled, her expression reflecting a softness I hadn’t thought she was capable of. ‘I love you too, Candy Man.’