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thought you were invisible."
    "O' course we're not invisible! You see us, don't you? But most full-blooded humans don't take us in somehow--us or what we carry."
    "Psychics see us," Maxwell offered. "And drunks, although no one ever believes them. Most of them don't believe it themselves, once they sober up."
    "I can sympathize."
    "Lucky for us," Balthazar said, "true psychics are rare, and your average drunk can't catch his own elbow. Still, there's always the danger o' crossing paths with another lepling. They're more common than you might think, especially in California. Not that a body has to see us to trample us. And let's not forget their dogs! Why do humans always raise such snarling, ill-mannered mutts? Do you know that a great vicious beast chased us off your front porch right through your neighbor's lawn fountain? Make no mistake, Lil, all manner o' dangerous creatures see us plain as pumpkins."
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    "You should have stayed home, then, safe and sound," I said. "That would have been A-OK with me."
    Balthazar took a deep breath and let it out slowly, determined not to be baited. "Ach, Lil. When we get to the Meadows, you'll change your tune. The whole clan is waiting to welcome you home. You are going to be one very important girl."
    "Yeah? What's a keeper do anyway? Am I some sort of leprechaun queen?"
    "Our queen!" Balthazar's braying laughter echoed through the cave. "Oh me, that's rich. Caspar! Fizz! Lil thinks she's our queen!"
    I glared at him in a fury. I was missing my thirteenth birthday because of him, and now he was making fun of me too. No dinner, no movie, no ice cream, no Kendall ...
    "I want to go home," I said, a sudden quaver in my voice. "You guys are mean, and you made me miss my party."
    Balthazar stopped braying and put on a conciliatory tone. "Now, Lil, don't be upset. Someday we'll laugh about this, you and I. And as far as parties go, aren't we throwing you one this very night?"
    "You're throwing me a party," I said, not believing a single word. "And who's going to be there?"
    "Why, everyone, o' course! The entire Clan o' Green. Do you like cheese and doughnuts, Lil? O' course you do--you're a Green, aren't you?" he went on before I could
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    answer. "And we couldn't have a party without piping. The acoustics in Green Field are the envy o' the clans! You'll see, Lilybet. You'll see it all."
    "You said if I went with you, we'd come right back, and we've already been gone for hours," I accused, not exactly sure how long I'd been unconscious. "You lied. You all did."
    "Aye, perhaps a wee bit," he admitted with an unrepentant grin. "But trust me on this, Lil: your grandmother wanted you with us today more than anything in the world."
    I stared him down, on the verge of tears. The leprechauns obviously had no intention of taking me home, and how could I trust what they said about Gigi when they'd lied about everything else? Sinking back on the grass, I closed my eyes and tried to think.
    I would have to get home on my own. But how?
    I didn't have a clue.
    Silent tears seeped out and dripped off my cheeks. I hated myself for being so weak and scared and useless. Ainsley Williams had never been abducted and held by leprechauns--I felt certain of that.
    The dog cart rumbled on. With every turn of its wheels, I was getting farther from home, but instead of inspiring me to some brilliant plan, the stress turned my brain to mush. Hours passed. My mom was going to be worried sick, my explanation of where I'd been would probably get
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    me grounded for life, and I still couldn't think of a single way to help myself.
    "Almost there now," Balthazar sang out, abruptly breaking the silence. "You won't want to miss this, Lil."
    My body swayed as the cart made a hard right turn.
    "Hie! Hie! Home!" Fizz called excitedly.
    The dogs broke into a run, creating a breeze that blew out both lanterns. We charged onward through darkness so dense I couldn't see my own hands. I screamed, certain we were about to