The air crackled beside me, my sister stepping through. She was laughing.

"Heard that one before," she said.

I almost laughed with her as Xeoniteridone, clearly furious with my sister's appearance and jab at his plans, threw up a large, vibrating shield between himself and her.

"You really need to learn to mind your own business," he said. "You're not as important as you seem to think you are." His glittering eyes settled on Max who had slipped through ...