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When she had chosen to continue with her plan and take the helmet, it had felt like a betrayal of Callum and all his annoying goodness. It had also felt like a betrayal of some small part of herself. The part of herself that still sometimes dreamed of living a life without vengeance. A life where she and Adrian had a future. Maybe, even, a life of peace.
Danna’s face crumpled apologetically. “I’m so sorry, Adrian, but … it’s her.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Nova is Nightmare.”
“Evidence of your crimes against society and the Renegades.” He winced, as though he were in physical pain, when he said, “You’re under arrest … Nightmare.”
“She kissed me,” he interrupted. “She made me think that I…” He trailed off, just short of confessing the brutal words that had been clinging to him since the moment he’d found out the truth. I could be in love with her.
“What was that?” Nova yelled, reaching for the burning spot on her back. She felt something hard embedded into her skin. “Tracker,” said the guard in a bored voice, setting the gun to the side. “Prisoners used to try and escape. Now, we almost welcome it. They don’t get far with those, and it can liven things up around here for a day or two.” Nova shoved her arms through the sleeves and did up the buttons. “You could have warned me.” “Oh? And you would have just stood still and said, ‘Thank you, ma’am,’ when I was done? You’d be the first.”
Sweet, compassionate Adrian Everhart. Sketch. A Renegade and, truly now, her enemy.
Nova swallowed. “It was real,” she whispered. “I hope you know that.” He watched her, unflinching, expressionless. Finally, he said, “I wish I could believe that, Nova. But we both know it’s just one more lie.”
His smile was wide and a little crooked. “Means we’re united,” he said. “Villains to the end.”
“Nothing.” He cringed, hating the lie almost as much as he hated the truth. “I was going to say … I just wish I could tell Nova about it. I think she’d be really happy to see him free for a change.”
He didn’t care about any of that. Hope and clarity swelled inside him. Nova was innocent.
In his left hand was a bouquet of flowers—the most vivid sunshine-yellow daisies Nova had ever seen in her life. In his right hand was a tool belt similar to the one Nova had worn over her Renegade uniform.
“Flowers or weaponry?” said Adrian, holding his gifts toward her. “I wasn’t sure which would make for a better apology.”
“It was always real for me, too,” he finally said, his voice barely a whisper. “I hope you know that.”
“Yeah, I am afraid that I’m going to fail again,” she said, still peering into the nothingness of Phobia’s face. “But one cannot be brave who has no fear.”
Max’s crooked grin returned, for real this time. “On the bright side … at least no one thinks your girlfriend happens to be one of the world’s most wanted villains anymore.”
“He created Phobia,” she whispered, taking the child’s drawing from Narcissa and inspecting it with mounting dread. She was startled to find her vision misting as she tried to imagine what Adrian would feel if he knew the truth. “He created the monster that killed his mother.”
“Once you’ve seen as much history as I have, you won’t believe in coincidences anymore.”
No more playing both sides, Nightmare. It’s time to choose whose side you’re really on.”
The boy … The Sentinel … It was Adrian.
He paused and cleared his throat. “Right. Yeah. Sorry. Just saying.” He hesitated, his focus landing on their entwined hands. He gulped. “Just … one more thing?” Ruby faked an exasperated eye roll. “Oh, if you insist.” Oscar lifted his head. “You’re the girl of my dreams.”
He would have preferred to be kissing her again, rather than getting ready to risk his life to ensure the defeat of Ace Anarchy, but he would have been content just to have her there. She was a fierce ally, a strong fighter, and her skills would have put his mind at ease as they prepared to sneak into the cathedral.
“Everyone has a nightmare,” she said. “I guess I’m yours.”
He stopped himself before his thoughts could travel much further down that path, because it raised a series of uncomfortable questions about his own feelings, questions he wasn’t prepared to face. Not when Nova was wearing a black hooded jacket and holding a gun to his side.
And she couldn’t stand there and watch him be killed, either. Not this boy, who had given her a quiet, dreamless sleep. Who had given her a star. Who had given her hope.
When the last rope fell away, Nova dropped the knife and collapsed with a groan. Adrian turned and swept her into his arms. She couldn’t return the embrace beyond burying her head into the space between his throat and his chest. She was crying again.
Adrian cupped her face in his hands. “I know. And when this is all over, we are going to have a serious talk about keeping secrets from each other.”
“We’ve got nothing else to lie about, right? You’re Nightmare. I’m the Sentinel. Ace Anarchy is your uncle. You and I might be archenemies. And yet…” He shrugged, a little hapless. “Somehow, I still want to kiss you.”
Everyone has a nightmare.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “Maybe I want you to be mine.”
“Ace can’t control your dad’s weapons, can he?” asked Nova. Adrian shook his head. “He never could. They aren’t made of normal metal.” “Yeah, I know. Your family is kind of scary.” Adrian gawked at her. “My family?”
Oscar’s voice cutting through the gloom. “That was simultaneously the bravest and stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Sudden anger eclipsed the Captain’s boyish features. He bared his teeth at Ace. “Does she know?” “Know what?” Ace said. Quietly. Harshly. The Captain bellowed, “Does she know you killed her family?” Nova stumbled back a step. “What?” She swiveled toward Ace, but he was watching his enemy.
“I’m sorry, Nova,” Hugh said again. “I failed you. I failed your whole family. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t regretted it.”
With an exhausted grin, he wiped an arm across his brow. “I once swore to protect you. I’m sorry it came so late.”
“What would you think if … if a villain happened to fall in love with your son?”
WE WERE ALL heroes in the end.
