‘You know,’ Hester said thoughtfully, ‘if you kill Athair and he really is your dad, you’ll be the owner of this place. You can have your own castle, Daisy.’
Property inheritance was the last thing on my mind, and I rolled my eyes at her. ‘We should try and get closer,’ I said. ‘We need to establish that Athair is holed up here.’
Hester started to nod but Otis had frozen in place. ‘Uh, Daisy? There’s somebody else here.’
I followed his gaze. Cumbubbling bollocks, he was right: the stooped figure of a man was skirting the western edge of the castle-cum-mansion. He was keeping close to the walls, and when he reached the first set of windows, he ducked further so he could crawl beneath the windowsill. He clearly didn’t want to be seen.
‘We’re not the only ones spying on Athair,’ I muttered. I squinted harder, trying to catch a glimpse of the man’s face.
‘But is that a friend or a foe?’ Hester asked.
I shielded my eyes from the sun. The man, whoever he was, had a hood pulled up over his head so I couldn’t see his features. He hesitated for a moment and then, still bending low, jogged away from the building towards the trees where we were hiding.
‘He’s coming this way!’ Otis flapped his wings in panic. ‘Run! We have to run!’
The man jerked his head up as if he’d heard and I gasped aloud. Tears pricked at the back of my eyeballs. ‘It can’t be,’ I whispered. ‘It can’t be him.’
Gladys hummed again in her sheath, though it wasn’t her usual desperate plea for blood. She knew who was coming.
Hester stared. ‘Is that … is that … is that … grown-up Hugo?’
A tremulous smile lit up my face. ‘Yes, it is.’
Chapter
Nineteen
As Hugo jogged towards us, I ran my fingers through my hair, straightened my top and licked my dry lips.
Hester frowned. ‘What are you doing, Daisy?’
‘She’s making herself look pretty for Hugo,’ Otis told her.
Hester snorted; when I glared at her, she pulled a face. ‘You always look pretty,’ she told me, with an expression that suggested just the opposite.
I gave up on my efforts; instead I drew further back into the dense trees and watched and waited.Act casual, Daisy,I told myself.
When he drew level, I called out softly, ‘Well, well, well. Fancy meeting you of all people here.’
Hugo froze for a moment before turning slowly in my direction. A broad smile spread across his face, displaying his dimple in all its glory. ‘I thought I heard something,’ he grinned.
He smoothed down his tawny hair, stepped off the road and walked through the trees until we were facing each other. He paused, looked at me expectantly – and then lunged forward to pull me into a tight hug. ‘I found you,’ he breathed into my hair.
‘I think,’ I said in a muffled voice, ‘thatIfoundyou.’
His voice was emotional and he didn’t try to argue. ‘Daisy Carter, you are a sight for sore eyes.’
I clung to him for several long seconds. I felt wild magic surging deep inside my belly but I did everything I could to tamp it down; Hugo was here and that was what mattered. I burrowed my head against his chest and inhaled his warm, familiar scent. Suddenly I felt certain that everything would be alright.
Eventually we moved apart and gazed at each other like idiots. ‘I was planning to play it cool when you finally showed up,’ he said. ‘So much for that plan.’
‘Are you telling me that I make you lose your cool?’ I asked archly.
His voice was low and gruff. ‘You know you do.’
Hester zipped into the space between us. ‘Hello? We’re here too, you know. Aren’t you pleased to see us as well?’
Hugo smiled at her. ‘Of course, I am.’
