Nova’s power surged to the surface of her skin, tingling with the temptation to nullify this threat, to knock him out before he could harm her. But he wasn’t hurting her, if that was his intention. Rather, he was embracing her like …
Well. Like family.
“Uncle?” she tried.
He pulled away, but kept his hands on Nova’s shoulders. “I tried to come visit after they took you away, but all our papers were destroyed in the explosion and I had no way to prove who I was. They didn’t believe me. And with them thinking you were that … that villain…” He spat the word, his nostrils flaring with disgust. “They had you under so much security, there was no way they would let me get close to you. I’m so sorry. It’s been killing me to think of you in there, all alone. I didn’t want you to think I’d abandoned you, but I couldn’t—”
“It’s okay,” she stammered. “I’m fine. I’m—” She glanced at Adrian. “I’m free, now.”
“I know. I couldn’t believe it when I heard, but at the same time, I knew this would all be sorted out. I knew they couldn’t go on believing those lies about you forever, not after everything you’ve done for them.” Releasing her shoulders, he returned his focus to Adrian. “I was so proud of her when she went to the trials and got chosen. Being a Renegade’s been a lifelong dream of hers.”
Adrian smiled, the wariness in his expression slowly fading. “We’ve been lucky to have her. I can’t possibly express how sorry we all are about this mistake. Nova deserved better from us.”
“It’s all in the past.” Reaching out, the man patted Nova on the top of her head, and she couldn’t resist snarling and ducking away. “Come on. Let’s get you home so you can have a rest. Well … not home, obviously. The explosion and all. But I’ve rented us a decent little apartment that’ll do until we can figure something out. It’s not so bad. We’ll make do, just like we always have.”
“The Renegades could provide you with temporary housing,” Adrian suggested. “It’s the least we could do, considering…”
“No, no,” said the man. “That’s very generous, but there are people in this city who need the charity more than we do. Thank you so much, but my Nova and I will be just fine.”
He started to guide Nova toward the waiting taxi, but Adrian calling her name made her pause and turn back.
He looked suddenly shy, his breaths fogging the air between them. He seemed to struggle with words he wasn’t sure how to say, while Nova waited, her heart tumbling. The world dimmed—the city, the journalists, her false uncle—everything vanishing but for Adrian and his nervous stare boring into her.
“It was always real for me, too,” he finally said, his voice barely a whisper. “I hope you know that.”
Nova shivered. Before she could talk herself out of it, she thrust the bouquet of flowers at the strange man, then closed the distance between herself and Adrian. She reached her arms around his neck, pulling him to her. Cameras flashed and journalists peppered them with eager, prying questions, but Nova barely noticed them over the sense of fullness that was coursing through her body, from her flushing cheeks to her happily curling toes. All she cared about was conveying in this moment, with this kiss, what she might never have another chance to say.
This was real. In spite of everything, her feelings for Adrian Everhart were real, and she was going to keep this moment pinned inside her heart for the rest of her life. No matter what the future held, she would cherish this kiss, and his words, forever.
Adrian was beaming when she pulled back. Nova allowed herself the luxury of cupping his face in her ice-cold hands and memorizing that smile, those eyes, those elusive, precious dimples.
Then she slipped out of his arms and peeled his coat from her shoulders. Even without it, the heat from the kiss lingered, warming her from the inside out. “Thank you,” she said, handing it back to him and hoping he knew she meant for more than just the coat. “I guess I’ll see you at headquarters.”
Adrian nodded, still grinning. “See you there.”
Without meeting the eye of her pretend uncle, Nova took back her flowers and headed across the street to the cab.
She sank into the back seat and waited for the door to shut before