‘Oh yeah?’ I said, putting my hands on my hips. ‘Well, expect a lot more from now on, darling.’

Bob coughed. ‘Helloooo? I’m still here, you know.’

I turned round. ‘Bob,’ I began.

‘Tegs, don’t.’

I held up my finger. ‘I’ve got this.’

Bob smacked his palms together in glee. ‘Yes, Uh Integrity? I think I’m going to cream my pants in anticipation.’

Speck winced. ‘Don’t. Just … don’t.’

‘I wish…’ Brochan interrupted with three loud successive sneezes. Speck and Lexie jumped nervously but I stayed on track. ‘I wish to know who’s responsible for trying to kill me with the stoor worm and the fireballs.’ I smiled to myself. As wishes went, that was pretty much perfect. I’d kept things as simple and specific as possible.

Bob beamed. He snapped his fingers. ‘Uh Integrity, your wish is granted.’

There was a strange buzzing in the air. My muscles felt tight and tingly, then it was like I was being pulled. Pulled very painfully. Oh shite. ‘No!’ I yelled as I realised what was happening. ‘I want to know! Not see! Bob!’

He shook his head sadly, ‘Sorry Uh Integrity. The wishes do what the wishes want to do.’

I braced myself. As cool as teleportation was, this could be very, very bad. With one final sharp tug on every molecule in my body, my vision went blurry. My stomach lurched and, for a brief second, I was convinced I was going to throw up. Blinking hard to keep as much control of my senses as possible, I clenched my fists. At least I’d know what it felt like to be teleported before I ended up in a bodybag, I thought dully.

When my eyes focused and I saw the stunned face of the Bull staring at me, I groaned. I might have known.

‘You … you…’ he stammered. ‘Your gift is teleportation?’

I squashed down my terror and smiled nastily. It was time to lie for my life. ‘One of them. I have several. I am Clan Adair, after all.’

The Bull swallowed. All I could think was ‘oh shite’.

Chapter Seventeen

It took the Bull less time to recover from my sudden appearance than I anticipated. He flung back his head and roared. It was a deafening sound. If his intention was to scare me, it worked. When his eyes fell on a point beyond my shoulder, however, I realised he’d done it for a different reason. Behind me was a door. He was calling for back up.