Page 85 of Honour Bound
‘Fine. Abracadabra.’
Bob grinned and snapped his fingers. A half second later I was bloody freezing all over again. I gazed down at my body. A gold bikini might have suited Carrie Fisher but I had milk-white skin. It was just as well no one else could see me.
There was a knock from outside and Bob shouted out. ‘Come in!’
The door opened before I could yelp a word of warning. Byron’s face went stiff when he caught sight of me. I could be embarrassed or I could brazen this out. No choice, really.
‘Hi honey!’ I said cheerily. ‘Pool party?’
He glanced past me into the cabin’s plush interior, which Bob hadn’t bothered to return to its spartan chill. ‘No wonder you didn’t want to move. The genie did all this?’
I nodded. ‘Yep.’
From one of the red velvet cushions, Bob waved enthusiastically. ‘Hi Byron!’ he gushed. ‘It’s great to finally meet you! Uh Integrity wouldn’t let me show myself before but now that the whole world knows my name, there’s no point in staying hidden.’
Byron ran a hand through his bronzed hair. ‘Whatisyour name?’
Bob was suddenly crestfallen. ‘You don’t know? It must be because the sight of Uh Integrity in that bikini has surprised you into forgetting.’
Byron flicked a look at me. ‘Nothing Integrity does surprises me these days,’ he said. He kept his eyes firmly on my face. I was tempted to do a little jiggle, perhaps even a belly dance, but it probably wasn’t a good time. I cleared my throat.
‘It’s Bob the Brave!’ the genie interjected before I could speak. ‘That’s spelt B – O…’
Byron held up his hand. ‘I got it. Thanks.’ He paused, taking Bob’s measure. ‘You did a wonderful thing by helping everyone out of the loch and directing them away from the water.’
Bob folded his arms and smiled smugly. ‘I know.’
Byron stared at him for another moment. Finally he spoke again. ‘Do you think you could give us a moment or two so I can speak privately to Integrity?’
‘Your wish is my command!’ Bob swept a bow and vanished in a blinding flash of light before I could warn Byron to cover his eyes. He winced, blinking rapidly to clear his vision.
‘I didn’t make a wish,’ he said.
‘I know,’ I reassured him. ‘Bob knows too.’
‘Because using a genie and making wishes is incredibly dangerous, Integrity. Tempting as it may be, you would do better to get rid of the genie before something bad happens.’
Something bad like someone trying to kill me? I gave a tight smile. ‘I’m not an idiot.’ I tossed back my hair. At least I’d not yet put it up into those silly coils. ‘Is that why you’re here? To warn me about the risks that Bob poses?’ I grinned. ‘Why did the genie cross the road?’
He sighed. ‘Please don’t.’
‘Fine. If you’re not here for my keen wit, what are you here for?’
He met my eyes. ‘I’m sorry about what happened.’ Our kiss. It hadn’t taken him long to regret that little dalliance. ‘It wasn’t fair for those points to be deducted,’ he continued, surprising me yet again. ‘There are wards in place to prevent competitors from seeking outside help of a magical nature. I checked the list and genie magic is included. The Carnegies already knew you hadn’t cheated.’
I blinked. ‘Oh. Um, thanks.’
A tiny furrow marred his perfect brow. I dropped my gaze from his vivid eyes and focused on the little scar on his cheekbone. I needed something to distract me.
‘You don’t seem that bothered,’ he said.
‘It’s the sort of behaviour I’ve come to expect from the Sidhe.’
‘We’re not all bad.’
I shrugged. ‘Perhaps not. You’re not all honourable either, no matter how much you protest otherwise.’
‘I’ve spoken to my father. He’s going to do whatever he can to impress on the Carnegies that they need to deal with you fairly.’
