I almost grinned. I could believe a great deal of Byron: I could believe he wanted to marry Tipsania to get the money his Clan needed so badly; I could believe he was now working with his father against Candy; I could even believe he was sneaking into his own house even though I didn’t know why. But I couldn’t believe he was that kind of violent person. He’d threaten and bluster but he wouldn’t physically hurt me. Not to that extent anyway.

His voice was low and dangerous. ‘Are you amused?’ His fury seemed to grow. ‘Do I amuse you?’ He flicked his wrist, sending out a stream of magic in my direction that bound itself round my chest and lifted me into the air. I hovered there, still wearing the ridiculous police uniform. ‘I don’t have time for this,’ he muttered, as much to himself as to me.

‘You’re very angry,’ I told him.

He glared at me in disbelief. ‘Angry? You have no idea. Angry doesn’t even begin to cover it.’

I continued to watch him. I didn’t want to play games but I had to ease my way in. Right now, he looked as if he were about to have an aneurysm. ‘You wanted me back at the Haven,’ I said carefully. ‘You were … turned on.’

The magic binding me tightened slightly. Careful, Byron.

‘I was not,’ he said through gritted teeth.

My veins buzzed with the lie. I licked my lips. ‘Does Tipsania make you feel that way?’

His eyes hardened even more. ‘No one makes me feel that way.’ There was an edge to his voice I’d never heard before.

‘Someone must have rocked your world once,’ I said softly.

He stared at me, something indefinable in his expression. Come on, Byron, you can puzzle this out. ‘The only person who ever made me feel anything,’ he said, ‘is dead. And that’s what will happen to you if you don’t start answering my questions.’

‘You desired me,’ I told him, my heart in my mouth. ‘You wanted me. Maybe you still do. Byron…’

‘Shut up,’ he ground out. ‘Shut the hell up.’

My stomach churned. He was too focused on the Illusion to work out what was going on. There was no other way around this – it was time for the truth. All the truth. I took a deep breath, reached down into myself and extinguished the Illusion. My long dark hair transformed into pure white. The tan I’d so admired disappeared back into my milk-pale skin and my body shifted. There, I was Integrity again. I’d miss those breasts though.

Byron blinked. ‘What the fuck?’ He peered at me and blinked again. He took a step back, swallowed and balled up his fists. ‘What is this?’ he snarled. ‘You think you can taunt me? You’re obviously a Sidhe. Which Clan are you?’

‘It’s me, Byron. It’s Integrity.’

His emerald eyes flashed. ‘Integrity is dead. Just because you have powerful Illusion magic doesn’t mean I’m an idiot.’ His neck muscles were straining as he held himself back. Held himself back from what, I wasn’t entirely sure.