Page 18 of The Falconer

I swear that I was nearly faestruck, an awful thing that happens to humans when they’re in the presence of one of thedaoine sìth. They become bewitched, lulled by power, and compliant enough to do anything a faery wants. I’d rather die than have that happen to me.

‘Even so, I didn’t manipulate you, Kam. You yielded.’ He leans closer and whispers, ‘Or did I misinterpret that neck arch?’

Confound it, my face is burning. How humiliating.

‘Again.’ I raise my chin. ‘I challenge you again, MacKay.’ I’ll beat him without the thistle. I’ll fight until I’m too tired to move if I have to.

Kiaran stares at me for the longest time. He says, ‘Your lip is bleeding.’ Then he turns and strides towards the other end of the close.

Damnation!‘Wait!’ I wipe my mouth with my sleeve and start after him, but he doesn’t slow. ‘MacKay, we’re not finished.’

He leans down and plucks theseilgflùrnecklace from the ground. I hear his sharp intake of breath as he hands it to me. ‘Here.’ When I don’t take it immediately, he frowns. ‘You’re sulking.’

‘I’mnotsulking.’ Although that’s exactly what I’m doing.

‘Kam, take the bloody thistle before it burns a hole through my hand.’

I snatch the thistle from him. The seared skin of his palm is visible only for an instant before he stuffs his hands in his trouser pockets.

‘If I were a cruel woman, I would have wrapped the thistle around your neck when I leaped on you.’

Kiaran’s mouth twitches into an almost-smile. ‘If you had, you might have won.’

We exit the close in silence and walk back to the High Street. I suppress a shiver. Now that the excitement has worn off, the winter breeze pierces my damp clothes.

The street is entirely desolate now, silent. A few of the gas lamps have been extinguished and the road in front of us is shadowed. A baleful howl of wind gusts through the cathedral as we slip down the stairs to the Cowgate.

‘I don’t like it when you do that,’ I say quietly.

‘What?’

‘Take away theseilgflùr.’

He doesn’t spare me a glance. ‘I know.’

‘Especially when I came close to winning.’

‘On the contrary,’ he says smoothly. ‘That’s exactly when you need it taken.’

I clench my jaw. I hate that without the necklace, I’m just as vulnerable as Lord Hepburn. Kiaran proved that back in the alley.

‘You certainly enjoy reminding me that I can’t see you without it, don’t you?’

‘Enjoyment has little to do with it. The day will come when you have to fight without the thistle,’ he says. He looks at me with that ancient, alien gaze. ‘And you shouldn’t expect any mercy.’

Chapter 9

With his faery powers of mental influence, Kiaran could live anywhere he wants – even in a house in New Town, one more extravagant than mine. Instead, he chooses to live in the Cowgate, one of the worst areas of the city.

We walk between the cramped, tiny tenements. Nearly every home is filled to the brim with large, impoverished families. They must have so little breathing room.

The old buildings are in such disrepair that some are beginning to crumble. I’ll never become accustomed to the ever-present stench of human excrement here. A few residences are still illuminated, even at this late hour. Inside one of them, a group bursts into laughter. A door slams in the distance. The sound of glass breaking echoes through the street, followed by a harsh scream. I wince.

Kiaran guides me up the narrow stairway to his dwelling. His place is clean, albeit barren. The only furniture in the room, aside from a few cabinets, is a small table and two wooden chairs. It’s dark despite the candlelight, and so very cold. The winter air settles in these stone walls and never leaves.

I shiver, unable to help myself. My skin prickles beneath my coat.

Sometimes I’m tempted to ask Kiaran why he took up residence among humans, but I never do. I’ve decided I don’t want to know.

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