He blinked, taken aback. He’d obviously been expecting me to say something else. ‘What about them?’

‘Have you ever met one?’

‘Of course not.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘I think I’d know if I had,’ he answered drily. ‘What on earth has come over you?’

I pressed on. ‘What do you think of them?’

He stared at me. ‘You mean besides the fact that they’re bloodthirsty bastards who changed the face of our country forever and ruined what could have been a wonderful place? Well,’ he said sarcastically, ‘I think they’re fabulous.’

He looked puzzled and vaguely irritated. Yes, all these Sidhe were damned good actors but I didn’t think he was faking.

‘Great!’ I said sunnily. ‘Thanks!’

I turned to go but he caught my arm. ‘What was all that about?’

I caught sight of Jamie out of the corner of my eye. He was hovering in the background, looking nervous. ‘Ask your mate,’ I said flippantly. Then I wandered off.

Lexie, Speck, Brochan and Taylor were huddled in a cluster by the door, looking worried. I strolled up and looped my arm round Taylor’s broad shoulders. ‘Everything alright?’

I received four identical guilty looks. Clearly everything was not alright. ‘Did you find anything?’ Brochan asked gruffly.

I nodded. ‘Yeah.’ I lowered my voice. ‘Aifric is working with the demons.’ They stared at me in stunned silence. ‘I thought that would grab your interest.’

‘When you say demons,’ Brochan said slowly, ‘you mean…’

‘Fomori.’

‘That’s insane,’ Lexie whispered. ‘I knew the guy was a vile prick but how could he ally himself with them?’

Taylor shook his head in disbelief. ‘You’re sure?’

‘Yep.’ I told them about the little iron lion.

Speck sucked in a breath. ‘That’s nuts.’

Lexie agreed with him. ‘It doesn’t make any sense. Why would he do that?’

‘Beats me. But I’m guessing it’s to do with my dad.’

‘We’ll find out the truth,’ Taylor said, his eyes meeting mine.

‘You bet your arse we will.’ I paused. ‘That’s a metaphorical bet, by the way, not a literal one. Now tell me what the problem is.’

Lexie attempted an innocent expression. ‘What do you mean?’

‘When I walked over you all looked as if the world was ending. What gives?’

Brochan tapped his foot. ‘These Sidhe are too good.’

‘Too good?’

‘Musically,’ Speck broke in. ‘You’ve got no chance. Some Kincaid performer dropped out and one of the Blairs didn’t show up either. Unless more of them decide they’re not good enough and back out, you’re screwed.’

‘The harp…’

‘Play one note and you’ll beat everyone? There’s no way, Tegs. There was a Darroch woman who made butterflies dance.’

‘And that woman with the stupid name who’s shagging the Wild Man with the even stupider name sang so beautifully that Brochan gave her a standing ovation.’

I shot him a look. ‘Really?’

His eyes dropped. ‘She was very proficient.’

‘The point is,’ Taylor said, ‘that you need to be prepared for coming last, harp or no harp.’