I scratched my head. ‘So, this is what Tipsania Scrymgeour wanted?’

‘Oh yes.’ Shona nodded proudly.

‘She told you that?’ I asked, circling it. It took a good ten seconds to work my way around, even at a brisk pace.

‘She was very explicit in her emails.’

Sure she was. Asking to see those emails would be a step too far, even for the compliant Shona. Anyway, I had everything I needed from her. Whatever was going on, the Bull was fully complicit. I smiled my thanks, retrieved Bob from underneath a scrap of veil that he was admiring himself in and made my escape.

Chapter Three

‘The wedding’s not taking place at the Cruaich,’ Angus MacQuarrie informed me. He joined us as we regrouped down by the windswept dunes of Balmedie beach, where the granite grey city of Aberdeen met the stormy grey North Sea.

That was a surprise. Given Byron’s status as the Steward’s son, I’d assumed the Sidhe seat of power would be the natural choice for a venue. ‘Really?’

‘The invites have only just gone out or I could have come and told you about it in person. It appears that both Clans have decided on neutral ground. It’s happening on Muck.’

‘I take it that you’re referring to the Hebridean island and not that this entire charade is a piece of shite and everyone’s just mucking around?’ I asked drily.

His mouth flattened into a grim line. ‘Tegs,’ he said, sounding worried, ‘word is that Byron wants it to happen there because it’s where his mother was from. He wants to marry the woman he loves there in a homage to his mother.’

I shook my head. ‘Nope. This whole thing has been cooked up between the Bull and Aifric. They probably want it to happen there because it’s the most isolated damn place you’re likely to get. That way neither Tipsy nor Byron is going to run away at the last minute.’

Taylor placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. ‘Tipsania’s already run away.’

I ignored that part. ‘What we still don’t have is motive,’ I mused. ‘Aifric needs the money the Scrymgeours can offer but there must be a reason why he still wants the ceremony to go ahead even though he doesn’t have the bride. And we still don’t know what that reason is.’ I toed at the soft sand. ‘Something’s afoot.’

Taylor remained impassive. ‘Are you sure you’re not getting involved in this because of what’s between you and Byron?’

I ignored Angus’s raised eyebrow. ‘Nothing’s going on between me and Byron. He thinks I’m dead. And it’s not just me who thinks this is worth the risk. Morna reckons it should be investigated.’ I paused. ‘And Tipsania is my guest. It’s my duty to protect her.’ I didn’t meet his eyes; I was starting to feel that I was protesting too much.

Taylor gazed at me, our decade and a half long relationship reflected in the knowing wisdom in his eyes. ‘Don’t kid a kidder, Tegs. And don’t kid yourself either.’