Dan brought her stilettos up between his legs in a vicious punch. The Raven recoiled with an inhuman yelp. The teammates to either side of him grimaced and cringed away. They were quick to avert their eyes from their half-crumpled colleague.

"Yeah, Hennessey," Dan said, sounding calmer than Neil thought she should in the face of such treatment. "Treats you right if you're willing to pay and will fuck you over the morning after if you're not nice enough to her. Sorry, but this bottle's got a name on it. Hope you feel that one for a while, you lowlife asshole."

She didn't wait for a response but turned back and folded herself against Matt's side. Neil didn't know if Dan's tight grip was apology for leaving Matt out of it or gratitude for letting her handle it. Either way her embrace did nothing to ease the rigid set of Matt's shoulders.

Neil couldn't help it. "What happened to being polite, Dan?"

Dan laughed. "Do as I say, not as I do, rookie."

"Kevin Day," a booming voice said, and all the Ravens turned to look.

Neil followed their stares to the man now standing at the apex of their triangle. The chill that shivered down his spine made all the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

Coach Tetsuji Moriyama was unarguably the most powerful man in Exy—as he should be, considering he and Kevin's mother, Kayleigh Day, were the two to invent the sport thirty years ago. He'd handpicked Edgar Allan to be home of the first NCAA Exy stadium and had been coaching the Ravens ever since. He was the founder of the Exy Rules and Regulations Committee, a consultant for the international committee, and owner of two professional teams. He was a legend.

He was also a demon: Riko's abusive uncle and the younger brother of the Moriyama yakuza boss.

"Master," Kevin said, voice catching with fear. "It's been a while."

Moriyama motioned to the Ravens, and they broke formation at last. They filled in the gaps between the Foxes, a wall of black suits and cold faces. Neil lost sight of Matt and Dan when the strikers bodily shifted him out of the way. He barely noticed, more intent on watching Moriyama and Kevin. Moriyama held out his hand, and Kevin obediently set his left hand in it. Moriyama lifted it to inspect Kevin's ragged white scars.

"Butcher," a quiet voice called in French.