Someone screeched beside us. It was the sneaky little British man. He had flown at us while our backs were turned, but Tyler had leaped at him and apparently had made contact with his face because his skin was smoking and bubbling.

"Enough!" Esmeralda screamed. Her ruined arm was hanging uselessly at her side. "Alexis, you've left Epic Cu and forfeited your bargain with the Elder Council."

Alexis chuckled. "Esmeralda, it has been many years; centuries in fact, since ...