Nova was more awed by the rush of electricity at his touch. It was hardly the first time he’d touched her, so how did it still affect her this way?
“Did you know it would fit the bracelet? I mean, was the bracelet part of the dream you had?”
“No,” she said. “I had no idea it was going to…” She peered at the star, not sure how to explain what had happened. “I went back into the room to see it, after you fell asleep. I just wanted to touch it, to see if it would do anything. And it … flashed, sort of? And the next thing I knew, it was there, in my bracelet.” She grimaced apologetically. “I probably should have told you, it’s just … it was in your house. It felt a little bit like stealing.”
“As far as I’m concerned, that room was made for you,” said Adrian. “You’re welcome to anything in it. The parrots, the wildflowers, the noise-canceling headphones…”
She flushed, remembering all too well the muted sound of their heartbeats falling into sync as she drifted off to sleep for the first time in ten years. It was quite possibly the most magical moment of her life. There were still times when she wondered if she’d imagined it all, sure that it had been too fantastical, too surreal, to have actually happened.
But Adrian was here, his fingers laced with hers, their toes practically touching, and it had happened.
“Well, thank you,” she said, inching just a bit closer to him. “I have become a little attached to the star, and … it really does seem like it was made for this bracelet.”
“I’m glad you like it. It was my first time giving a girl jewelry, which is sort of a big deal, so…”
She squinted one eye at him. “You didn’t give me jewelry. You gave me a jungle.”
He laughed. “That, and almost a full day of blissful sleep.”
“Okay, stop fishing for compliments. I admit, you’re a pretty good gift giver.” She leaned forward, lifting up onto her toes.
“I’m trying,” Adrian said, bending down to meet her.
The kiss was everything she remembered. Warmth tingling through her limbs. Shooting stars glinting behind her eyelids. Somehow being so perfectly content, while still yearning for more.
A crash startled them both—something heavy falling to the hard floor. They jumped apart and spun toward the darkened subway tunnels where they had come from.
Nova’s pulse raced beneath her skin, and she knew that it had been the helmet. Had the blackmailer realized it was a fake? Had they thrown it?
“Just a rat, probably,” she said, breathless for more reason than one.
“I don’t think that was a rat.” Still holding her hand, Adrian started back toward Honey’s room.
Nova dug in her heels. The last thing she needed was a run-in with someone who knew her secrets and wouldn’t hesitate to give them up, especially to Adrian Everhart himself. “Hold on! What if it’s … what if it’s Nightmare? Or another Anarchist? Shouldn’t we call for backup?”
Adrian shot her a baffled look, and even in the dim lighting she could see his confusion. “You want to wait for backup?”
He was right. It didn’t sound like her at all.
“It’s just…” She swept her other hand toward him. “You’re not wearing your uniform!”
His head shifted to one side, briefly, then he shook it and started dragging her again. “Come on.”
She cursed inwardly and followed. She would play dumb. She would deny anything the blackmailer said. If she had to, she would take desperate measures, silencing him or her before anything could be given away.
Or maybe she could knock Adrian out, right now, before he saw them and had a chance to learn anything. She eyed the bare flesh at the back of his neck. She could make up a story—say that it was Nightmare in the tunnels, and she jumped out from the shadows and put them both to sleep before Nova could stop her.
Yeah … that might work …
Her fingers twitched. They were nearly to the maintenance closet where she’d left the helmet. Adrian was rounding the corner. There was no sign of anyone yet, not even the beam of a flashlight or the thud of footsteps running away. Just the scuffle of their own feet along the tracks.
Was the blackmailer still in Honey’s room?
The door was still closed, just as Nova had left it. Adrian nudged it open, gripping his marker in one hand. Nova hadn’t seen him take it out.
Biting down on her lower lip, she reached for the back of his neck. But something made her stop. A movement in the room. A shadow moving toward them.
Adrian ducked, then flew forward, sending his fist at the attacker.
A crash reverberated through the room. Adrian let out a stream of curses. Nova shone the flashlight toward him.
There was no attacker, no blackmailer. Their assailant had been Adrian’s own reflection in the dresser mirror, which had shattered from the punch.
“Okay,” he grunted, cradling his hand against his chest, face twisted with pain. “I’m officially done attacking people before I get a good look at them.”
“That might be for the best,” said Nova, but her words were distracted.
Her attention had snagged on the top of the dresser, where a few chunks of broken mirror had fallen to the surface.
The helmet was gone.
CHAPTER EIGHT
ADRIAN PACED AROUND the waiting room. Simon was sitting at the edge of one of the sofas, his hands clasped and his fingers twitching against his knuckles. They hadn’t spoken much since their arrival at the hospital. Hugh had gone ahead to see Max, as the only one who was immune to him. The only one who was supposed to be immune to him. Adrian’s confession had been on the tip of his tongue ever since.
It was so frustrating to be out here when there was no reason that he couldn’t be in the room with Max right now. His tattoo would protect him. All he needed to do was tell his dads about the tattoos, explain that, actually, he was immune to Max’s power, too, and he could be back there with his brother.
But the words wouldn’t come. There would be too many questions. Explanations he wasn’t ready to give.
So instead he paced. Back and forth. Past the fake potted plants. The tables full of fashion and celebrity magazines—one, he noticed, had his dads’ faces in a small box on the cover, but Adrian didn’t read the headline. Nothing mattered right now except Max.
Sweet rot, why wasn’t he back there with him?
It felt like hours before finally, finally, Hugh emerged through the swinging double doors, a smile plastered across his face. Hope surged through Adrian’s veins. Simon launched to his feet.
“He’s going to be okay,” said Hugh.
It was all he managed to say before they were embracing one another. Hugh pulled Adrian against him, squeezing tight around his shoulders, and then Simon had his arms around them both. Adrian fought to hold back the tears of relief that threatened to spill over. He ducked away, letting his dads hold each other a moment longer while he gathered himself.
“The doctor says he’s been through the worst now,” Hugh continued, his voice rough with emotion. “They expect a full recovery, though there will be a scar that I’m sure he’ll be proud to show off for the rest of his life. And Max is … He’s good. Weak still, but good. He’s in high spirits. If things weren’t in such disarray at headquarters, we could probably take him back by the end of the month.”