Tattletale went on, “Garotte, honey, you had my team’s back at the Cauldron HQ. I don’t want to sling mud at you, but anyone who knows you knows you’re dangerous and you’ve hurt a lot of people.”

“Anyone who knows her wouldn’t fault her for it,” I said. “I can fault you for knowing full well what you were setting in motion.”

Sveta spoke, “I have never, not once, wanted anyone to die,” Sveta said, her voice firm, even tight.

“You and I both know that’s a lie,” Tattletale said.

“Death happened,” Sveta said. She was glowering. “If I’d had the choice, I would have spared even her. My body was wounded, I was as freaked out as I’ve ever been, and someone needed to die. I’ve made peace with the fact that I was able to make that someone be her.”

“Convenient,” Tattletale’s word was barely audible.

“Honey,” Sveta replied, and the word was only venom. “Don’t say you don’t want to sling mud at me and then go for the jugular. We’re not stupid. If you’re going to be vicious with someone who has saved the lives of several people here, don’t coat it in that ‘honey’.”

“Throwing everything you’ve got at the wall and seeing what sticks, Tattletale?” I asked. “Desperate.”

“I’m tired,” Tattletale said.

“You skipped me, by the way,” Looksee said.

“I skipped you because you’re prepubescent and I’m not that big of a bitch.”

“I can take it. I don’t want special treatment.”

“I’m tired, Victoria,” Tattletale said. “I’ve spent two years trying to do my part to keep the world standing upright. Parian, Foil, Imp, Rachel, you guys know the kind of thing I’ve been doing.”

“Ignoring me is bitchier than whatever you were going to say,” Looksee said.

“What if I told you there was nothing?” Tattletale asked, exasperated.

“I’d say you were being condescending, which is super bitchy.”

“Kiddo, you fucking raised the bar by not only blazing an accelerant-soaked trail of destruction through your cape life, but your civilian life too. You did more damage casually than some do intentionally. There’s a reason I ignored your calls. You proved me right when you bricked my good phone with the incessant attempts to get my attention.”

“Can confirm,” Imp remarked. “Tats went mute mid-mission while she scrambled to get a new phone. She was pissed. It was great.”

Looksee paused, digesting that, then answered Tattletale at a lower volume than before. “I automated it, so you know.”

“I figured. Point stands.”

“It’ll unbrick if you reply to one of the messages. That was the point, if you read any of the warnings or the last message sent.”

Tattletale shook her head. “Where was I?”