“Except, apparently, this one’s been going on for a few hundred years. And I think it’s different from how it is with people. It’s not like fairies need jobs. And I get the sense that the whole concept of a homeland means a lot more to them than it does to human beings.”

“What about Ireland and the Middle East? And that’s just for starters.”

Lizzie shook her head. “That’s political. I think their idea of home runs a lot deeper.”

“Okay,” Siobhan said, laughing. “So down with all the nasty invading fairies, then. We should start putting up signs at our shows: ‘Fairies go home.’ Maybe we could make up T-shirts and bumper stickers.”

“I don’t think you should be saying stuff like that,” Lizzie said as she gave a worried look around the room. “Didn’t Pappy used to tell us that you’re only supposed to refer to them as the Good Neighbours—or something like that—and if you didn’t, you’d attract their unwelcome attention? And let me tell you, it can be pretty unwelcome. I don’t ever want to see those bogans again.”

“Do you think they’re watching us right now?”

“I don’t know. When they disappear, they go into some place called the between, but what does that mean? I’ll bet they can see us from there if they want to.”

“Now that’s just creepy,” Siobhan said.

Lizzie nodded. “I wish I hadn’t thought of it.”

They fell silent for a moment, then Siobhan got up from the bed.

“Well, screw them,” she said. “Let’s go join the boys for a whiskey and a few tunes.”

Lizzie followed her cousin out of the room, pausing in the doorway to look back inside. Were there really invisible presences watching them, listening to their conversation? Pappy’s stories were one thing, but having actually seen the bogans for herself . . . that put a whole new spin on how dangerous they could be.

“Are you coming?” Siobhan asked. “Or did you see someone interesting in there? Maybe tall, handsome, and Native?”

Lizzie glanced at where her cousin leaned against the wall, arms folded, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

“Hardly,” she said.

She shut the door and let Siobhan usher her down the stairs. Halfway down, Siobhan made a startled cry from behind her. Lizzie started to turn, but her cousin was already tumbling into her and the two fell down the remaining stairs. Lizzie managed to grab hold of the banister and banged up against the wall, shaken but unhurt. Siobhan wasn’t so lucky. She twisted as she fell and landed hard on her arm.

Lizzie got her balance and hurried down the last few steps to help her cousin.

“Ow, ow, ow!” Siobhan cried.

“Are you okay—no, that’s stupid. Of course you’re not okay. Can you sit up?”