Page 49 of Honour Bound
‘No. Is it Moncrieffe?’
I sighed. ‘You lot are very funny. Not.’
They all ignored me, even Brochan. ‘So you’re saying that Byron Moncrieffe will perform first?’
Taylor made a great show of surprise. ‘I suppose he will. But Tegs wouldn’t be interested in watchinghim.’
‘No. She doesn’t go for pretty-boy types. Besides, there’s a good chance he’s working with his father and trying to kill her.’ Lexie grinned.
‘Guys…’
‘Not to mention,’ Speck said, ‘that sooner or later he’s going to notice that his Gift has been, er, stolen.’
‘Only part of his Gift,’ I snapped. ‘And I didn’t mean to do it.’
They threw each other amused looks. ‘Don’t worry, Tegs,’ Lexie said loudly. ‘I have a lot of experience with men who are too sexy for their own good.’ She winked at Speck and he coughed, his cheeks turning scarlet. ‘I’ll hold you back if you can’t stop yourself from rushing him when he walks out with his gold hair ruffling in the wind and his kilt picking up ever so slightly to show off those muscular thighs.’
‘You are hysterical,’ I said flatly.
‘To be fair to Tegs,’ she mused, ‘his eyes are a wonderful shade of green.’
‘More emerald, I’d say.’Taylor rubbed his fingers together.
Brochan winked. ‘And with that tanned skin…’
‘Hey,’ Byron said from behind me, ‘checking up on the competition, are you?’
I froze, my cheeks turning as red as Speck’s. I slowly turned, meeting those very same green eyes. Lexie stifled a giggle.
‘Hi,’ I said stiffly.
Byron frowned, obviously confused. ‘Are you ready for the Artistry challenge?’ he asked.
‘Pretty much,’ I muttered.
‘Hi, Byron,’ Lexie said coyly, hooking her arm through his and smiling up at him.
He scratched his chin. ‘Uh, hi.’
‘Don’t you think Integrity is looking rather wonderful this morning?’
I was going to kill her. Byron’s gaze flicked to me, seeming to understand what was going on. ‘I think she looks stunning. As always.’
‘Her hair is very soft,’ Lexie continued. ‘She has a new shampoo. Touch it.’ She grinned. ‘It smells lovely too.’
I cleared my throat. ‘I am going to get the harp.’
‘Aw, but Tegs, it’s only polite to reciprocate and tell Byron how wonderful he’s looking this morning too.’
I spun on my heel and walked away. Who needed enemies when you had friends like those? Honestly.
*
Dagda’s harp was wrapped in a makeshift case which Taylor had fashioned so there was no need to strap it to my back this time. Bob was pacing up and down in front of it, making a show of keeping guard. Ever since the ‘break-in’, we’d made sure that at least one of us kept an eye on it at all times.
The genie gave a tired salute. ‘’Bout time,’ he grumbled. ‘Deanna Troy will be missing me.’ He blew the harp a kiss. ‘Bye, darling.’ Then he blinked away in a flash of blinding light.
I scooped up the instrument from the corner of the cabin and went to the auditorium where the Artistry challenge was going to be held. I wasn’t due to play until the next day but I wasn’t taking any chances that the powers-that-be would suddenly change their minds and move me up the roster. And I felt better with the harp in my arm where I could keep my eye on it.
