‘The point, old friend, is to have a bit of fun. And hasn’t it been fun so far?’

‘If you say so.’

The Pooka clapped his hands. ‘Oh, but I do. Now, shall we join the party? I think it’s high time I introduced myself to our young guests.’

Chapter Twenty

A Bad Bargain

The mood in the hall had changed. The music and dancing had stopped and an excited murmur rippled through the crowd like electricity. Most of the fairies now seemed to be crowded around the stage, upon which sat two ornate wooden thrones.

‘What’s going on?’ asked Shane.

Cat shook her head. ‘I don’t know.’

She was about to suggest that they try to get closer when the whole room erupted in cheers as two of the most beautiful people Cat had ever seen stepped onto the stage. They moved like swans on still water – graceful and effortless. One was a man, tall and slim, with shoulder-length hair the colour of rust and skin of rich copper. He was dressed in robes of forest green that looked as though they had been woven from living leaves. On his head was a crown of hawthorn. Though he was mesmerising in his own right, it was the woman that walked beside him who drew Cat’s eye. Her hair was as dark as the wings of a raven and her lips stood out red against her pale, white skin. Like her companion, her dress also appeared to be made of leaves, but these were the red and gold leaves of autumn. The crown she wore was made of holly. The king and queen of the fairies took their seats on their thrones and gestured for silence. When the cheering finally died down to a low murmur, the king began to speak.

‘Gentlefolk of the Sídhe, let me welcome you once again to an Ráth Glas, the Green Rath, our ancient home. It has been many long years since we celebrated the arrival of Samhain here but–’

‘Cat!’ Shane said, tugging her sleeve. ‘Look.’

Cat followed his gaze and saw a stooped and aged fairy woman emerge from a door to the side of the stage. Trailing behind her were two children – Jenny and Mikey. They were really here. Something inside her gave way, some unknown fear she had been carrying from the moment she confronted the changeling in Mikey’s room. Their siblings were alive and as long as they were alive that meant there was hope.

The old fairy woman ushered the children onto the stage and waited until they had settled themselves at the foot of the queen’s throne. Hope turned to horror as Cat watched the queen bend forward to tuck a stray curl behind Jenny’s ear and pat her on the head though she were greeting her favourite puppy. Nancy had been right; the queen really was smitten with her new playthings. Getting the children back might not be as straightforward as she had hoped.