‘Get back!’ I shouted. ‘The flags are here. Take the shortest route or you’ll freeze to death.’

Most of them ignored me. I didn’t have time to worry about them – I had to get out. I grimaced. ‘Bob, go and tell them to stop being idiots.’

‘I thought you didn’t want anyone to see me.’

‘Better they see you than that they end up drowning or dying of hypothermia,’ I grunted, starting to swim for shore.

‘If you make a wish, I could…’

‘Bob, just warn them. Please?’

‘Pretty please?’ he asked. ‘Pretty please with…’

I swam as fast as I could before I had to deal with any other silly demands.

‘Where are you going, Uh Integrity?’

‘I have to get out now or I’ll freeze to death.’

Bob didn’t say any more. I heaved a sigh of relief as Angus pulled on the rope and helped me out. Considering how much of the ice had now broken as a result of the enthusiastic competitors, his assistance was welcome.

As I fell onto the bank, I rolled onto my back, panting. Angus grabbed me and yanked me upwards, wrapping himself around my body. ‘You’re freezing,’ he muttered. ‘I’ll help you warm you up before I go in for my flag.’

I’d never felt cold like this. ‘No need,’ I said, teeth chattering. ‘I’ve got yours too.’ I held up both flags.

‘Integrity Adair,’ Angus murmured. ‘You are amazing.’

I looked over Angus’s shoulder, beyond grateful for the heat of his body, as Bob yelled something at a bunch of stunned Sidhe. A few feet away, glowering at me, was Byron. He turned on his heel and faced the ice, using pyrokinesis to melt as much of it as possible and help those who were stranded under the surface.

‘We need to get out of here, Angus,’ I said. ‘Everyone else has caught up.’

‘Then,’ he grinned, ‘let’s go and win this thing.’

Chapter Seventeen

We knew where the finish line was, directly behind the row of illusory flags. Bob continued squawking, even though those who had plunged into the freezing loch were now being helped by Byron’s efforts. Angus and I silently agreed to compete against each other. He took off around the left side of the water’s edge and I went right.

Chaos reigned. The drones were buzzing manically as energy and adrenaline overtook everyone. Some ran past me, heading towards the side where I’d started my swim; others were splashing in the water, gasping for breath. I estimated there was probably less than a mile to the end of the race. Now that everything was lit up, I could see Angus pulling ahead of me on the opposite bank. I put my head down, blotted out everything else and ran – and that was almost my undoing.

As soon as I passed the far end of the loch itself, a shadow fell across my path. I should have been alerted by the drone following my progress closely from overhead but stupidly I assumed it was there because I was about to win. Instead I almost crashed into the hairy giant who was blocking my way, only just managing to pull myself up in time.