‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let’s take you home.’

They turned to leave and once again Cat caught a glimpse of the strange creature. He looked as though he was on the verge of laughter. She felt a tingling on her scalp. Something was wrong. There was a tension in the air. The gifts they had offered hadn’t been good enough, somehow the fairies were still offended. They were almost at the door when the queen’s voice raised above the crowd.

‘And where do you think you are going?’

Cat felt the whole world begin to spin.

‘Your Majesty?’ she said, her voice thin and shaky.

‘I said your siblings were free to leave. I never said anything about either of you.’

Just like that, an invisible force ripped Mikey and Jenny out of their arms and pulled Cat and Shane back toward the stage.

‘How disappointing,’ said a now-familiar voice whispering in her ear. ‘I thought you knew how to play the game.’

Chapter Twenty-One

Through, Between

‘What just happened?’ asked Shane, his voice high and panicked. ‘Where’s Jenny?’

‘I don’t know!’ Cat panted. She was at the very edge of the stage, trying with all her might to jump down, but something held her back. It was maddening. She turned to find the queen smirking at her from her throne. Cat balled her hands into fists and marched toward her but before she could go more than three steps, she found the same invisible force halting her in her tracks.

‘What did you do with our brother and sister?’ she spat the words out.

The queen took a slow sip from her chalice and took her time in answering. ‘I said they were free to go, and I presume they are gone.’

‘They’re children,’ said Shane. ‘Jenny’s only five and Mikey’s still a toddler. They can’t wander out there alone. It isn’t safe for them.’

The queen turned her cool gaze to him and he visibly shrank back.

‘Would you have me bring them back here?’ she asked. ‘I would gladly keep all four of you.’

Shane looked like he wanted to say something else, but Cat shot him a warning glare. It was words that had gotten them into this – messy, unclear words – and anything they said now would only make things worse. She had realised her mistake the moment the queen’s magic pulled them back onto the stage – when she made the trade she had only asked for Mikey and Jenny to be freed. She never specified that she and Shane should be allowed to walk out of the Rath with them. What had the Clurichaun said? ‘Watch out for the wording, that’s how they’ll catch you.’

Shane began pacing back and forth, trying to push their constraints as far as he could.

‘There’s no point,’ Cat said. ‘You won’t get away from her and you’ll only tire yourself out.’

Shane rounded on her, his face a mask of anger. ‘At least I’m trying to do something. I haven’t given up yet!’