‘You didn’t think to mention them before?’ I asked mildly.

He shrugged, the very picture of ambivalence. ‘Only Sidhe can enter them and you didn’t want anything to do with your kin, so I didn’t pay much attention to Sidhe competitions. And considering how rarely they’re held, it’s a miracle I can even remember the last ones.’

Lexie’s eyes were shining. ‘You can ask for anything?’

‘If you win,’ I said.

She nodded distractedly. ‘Yes but anything?’

I glanced at Speck for confirmation. He pushed up his glasses and gave a wide grin. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘That’s what Tegs’s crush told us.’

I threw him a nasty look. He didn’t even notice.

‘It’s a shame that only Sidhe can enter,’ Brochan said, helpfully drawing attention away from me. ‘Although it’s probably just as well.’ He gestured at Lexie and Speck. ‘These two would probably get themselves killed, especially if one of the challenges involves that spider.’

Lexie shuddered. ‘I hate spiders.’

‘Aw, Lex, don’t be like that,’ Speck interjected. ‘Spiders are very clever creatures who deserve respect.’

‘Says the warlock who’s afraid of just about every damn thing in the world,’ she growled.

I held up my palm. ‘Enough. Can we focus on what’s important?’

Taylor smiled. ‘Winning the Games and getting a pot of gold. We could be set for life.’

‘No. It’s not money I’m after.’ His face fell. ‘I’m sorry,’ I apologised. ‘But we can always make more money. There are some things that even the biggest treasure chest can’t offer.’

‘Like what?’ Taylor seemed baffled that I’d even consider anything other than hard cash.

I took a deep breath. ‘The Adair Lands.’

Even Brochan’s jaw dropped at that. ‘You’d ask for your own Clan Lands? But technically they already belong to you, don’t they?’

‘First of all,’ I said ticking off the points on my fingers, ‘the Lands were destroyed by being covered in salt and then confiscated. They’ve been lying empty ever since…’ I didn’t finish the sentence. ‘If I asked for them back, every single Sidhe would have to recognise my Clan again and I’d be in a better position to find out what really happened to my parents.’ And to get my revenge.

‘But you’re the only member of Clan Adair,’ said Speck.

I grinned. ‘Didn’t you all say you were working for me?’ The Sidhe might run the Clans but there was no law against getting others to work for them.

‘I love you Tegs but I’m not swearing fealty.’ Lexie flipped back her hair.

I rolled my eyes. ‘You know I wouldn’t ask you for that. I’m sure we could come to an alternative arrangement.’

A gleam lit Taylor’s eyes. ‘It would be like throwing sand in the other clans’ faces.’

‘Not sand,’ Speck said thoughtfully. ‘A whole lot of our sweet-smelling shit.’

‘And we’d rub their faces in it,’ grinned Taylor.

‘Not to mention,’ Bob’s voice piped up as Brochan sneezed, ‘we could leave this town and go somewhere more civilised.’