She scowled. ‘If you’re asking whether he’d betray me then the answer is no.’

I hoped she was right. ‘Who else knows that the pair of you are together?’

‘Only Byron.’

I blinked in surprise. ‘Really?’

‘Byron wouldn’t know but for the fact that he walked in on us a while back. He didn’t care. He wasn’t interested in me in the first place and, unlike most Sidhe, he’s not against inter-species relationships.’

My heartstrings twanged with joy. It had been a long time since I’d believed that his relationship with Tipsania was anything but a farce but knowing for certain still made me feel like dancing on the ceiling. Lexie gave me a knowing glance and I immediately sobered up.

‘We should find out what’s going on,’ I said decisively. ‘I’ll investigate.’ I rather liked the idea of being Hercule Poirot; maybe I could invest in a moustache to twirl at appropriate moments. Hot pink, of course.

Taylor blew air through pursed lips. ‘It’s far too dangerous. What if someone sees you?’

It probably wouldn’t be wise to suggest my Poirot disguise idea. I pointed at Tipsania. ‘Hello? Invisibility?’

‘It won’t last for more than a few hours. That won’t even get you past Perth.’

Tipsania’s mouth flattened. ‘She can take my Gift from me. As much as she needs.’

‘You might regret that later,’ Brochan rumbled. He had a point. I didn’t want to draw on Tipsania’s Gift unless it was absolutely necessary. I’d already taken more from her than I probably should have when I ventured across the Veil to retrieve Matthew MacBain’s bones. ‘Besides,’ he continued, ‘a wedding is not that big a deal. It’s certainly not worth risking discovery over.’

‘You green-skinned oaf! It’s my wedding we’re talking about here! My life!’ Tipsania yelled.

‘But you’re here,’ he said calmly. ‘You can’t marry Byron Moncrieffe if you’re not at your own ceremony.’ His heavy shoulders rolled in a shrug. ‘So who cares?’

Even without the narrow glance he shot me, Brochan’s meaning was clear. I cared – whether anyone else wanted me to or not.

‘It’s not going to be difficult. All I have to do is get far enough north to get a signal and call the Bull. He’ll tell me what’s what.’ I smiled at Tipsania. ‘I can make sure he cancels the wedding.’ I had his true name, after all; I could make him dance the merengue with a stoor worm if I so wished.

‘You can’t compel him unless you’re face to face, and you can’t do that without him realising that you’re still alive.’

True. ‘Then I’ll meet him face to face. I’ll command him to keep my resurrection a secret.’

Taylor shook his head. ‘You’re putting too much faith in your ability to bend the Bull to your will. There are ways around those sorts of things. He could still drop enough hints to Aifric to make him doubt your death.’

‘I’m not sure the Bull is that intelligent.’ I realised I was casting aspersions on Tipsania’s father but she wasn’t listening. She was too wrapped up in her own panic and worry, pacing up and down and causing various haggis to flee out of her path with alarmed squeaks.