‘Of course,’ Shane said. ‘They have my sister. I have to.’

‘Right, well, OK then. We’ll leave now, but first we need some supplies. Follow me.’

Cat grabbed her schoolbag from the hallway and led Shane into the kitchen. She dumped the contents of her bag out onto the table and started piling stuff into it – more iron nails, the talisman Granny had made, a bottle of cola and a few packets of crisps for sustenance. She checked the junk drawer and found a small torch that still seemed to work. She added that to bag. Next, they went to her bedroom and, making sure to block it from Shane’s view, Cat popped open the secret drawer. She grabbed the Book of Secrets and placed it carefully in her backpack. She had a feeling it would prove useful later. She also withdrew a little wooden jewellery box that contained a single item – the necklace her dad had given her. She ran the delicate gold chain between her finger and her thumb. This was the final piece of her dad, the last thing she had to remind her he really did exist. That he had cared about her once. She hated to part with it, but what else could she do? She had to offer the queen something and this was the most valuable thing she could think of.

For Mikey. She thought as slipped the chain around her neck.

She turned to find Shane watching her with an expression she didn’t understand. He looked away quickly and his eyes fell on her battered old teddy bear, Bed Bud. He snorted.

‘You still have this thing?’

‘Yeah, so?’ Cat said, defensively. ‘I bet you still have Snuffles somewhere.’

‘Do not!’ said Shane, ‘And it’s Mr Snuffles to you.’

Suddenly they stopped, awkwardness slamming up between them like a wall. It felt almost natural to be joking with him again, but Cat had to remember they weren’t friends any more.

‘Do we need to stop by your house to pick up something for the exchange?’ Cat asked.

Shane shook his head. ‘No. I’ve got something with me that’ll work.’

‘Are you sure? It needs to be valuable, remember.’

‘I’m sure.’

‘What about your mam? Don’t you need to tell her something?’

Shane hesitated for a second. ‘No,’ he said, not meeting Cat’s eyes. ‘She won’t even notice I’m gone.’

Cat looked away. She thought she should say something encouraging, but what was there to say?

One problem at a time, Cat, she thought to herself.

She gestured to Shane to follow her down the stairs. As she zipped up her coat, her thoughts turned to Granny. What would she say if she could see her now? Would she be mad at Cat for going back on her promise to stay inside? She didn’t know. All she knew was that, as scared as she was, the thought of losing Mikey forever was worse. She took a deep breath and opened the front door.