“Fly your ass right on out of here.”

It took a second before I stopped grinding my teeth. How did Lady Cleo know I could fly? Had they seen my costume? I ran through the list of statements Arthur provided for these situations.

“I can’t fly.” Not exactly what he suggested, but it did the trick. Lady Cleo wouldn’t suspect a thing.

Girl, don’t lie to a mind reader.

My eyes widened as the god-like voice echoed in my head. When I glanced over, they stood in a slow and graceful manner. They held out a hand with nails long enough to be weapons, each covered in tiny diamonds. I took their hand, standing so we were almost chest-to-chest.

“I can feel the love,” they said. “Go save the day.”

“But what if?—”

Lady Cleo shook their head. “Life doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle. For that hunk? Be the hero you are.”

I reached over to the dryer, opened the lid and pulled out a damp suit. There was no point in being discreet, not with a mind reader. Telepaths could read our every thought, as if they were tuning in like a car radio. If they wanted, they could shuffle through every thought and memory. They most likely knew I was a superhero the moment they walked in.

“Hardly,” they said. “The utility belt. It’s a dead giveaway.”

Oh. I slid my legs into the suit, feet poking out through the holes. When I got it over my shoulder, I reached around and zipped it up. With a quick clip of the cape, I was ready to resume my duty as Mr. Supreme. I hated a damp suit, but not as much as I cared for Dustin.

With a quick salute, my feet left the ceramic tile. A second later, I was out the door and soaring through the door.Thank you. I thought the words as if I were yelling in my head. Lady Cleo’s giggle echoed like wind chimes in a storm.

Give him a spanking for me. The bad guy… and the boyfriend.

21

Orion:Are we positive about this name?

Janet: Janet and her Coven, sounds perfect.

Drew: Uhm…

Orion: How did Janet get in this group chat?

Janet: New company policy.

Janet: I wrote it today.

Janet: You shall now refer to me as queen.

Orion:

I growled. “Disaster.”

Citizens of Vanguard had posted photos on the HeroApp™ of the battle between Discord and Disaster. The mad scientist had upgraded since we saw him last. Underneath that lab coat, he hid a growing arsenal. When we first met, he had found a way to protect himself from Discord’s abilities. Now, he took down my partner. If he could do that, then what did he have in store for me?

Had Zaster figured out my weakness?

I soared high above Vanguard, leaving the chaos of cars honking and people yelling behind. I needed the silence to sortout where Zaster might have taken Dustin. Where would an evil scientist take his subject? Perhaps there were clues in the?—

The giant V appeared on the phone’s screen. With a quick click, an alert appeared. Disaster had been spotted at the Synergy building. In the notes, it mentioned that he may have already defeated a hero this evening. It labeled him as extremely dangerous and suggested a team of heroes intercede.

“Click.” With the press of my thumb, I claimed Disaster as my own. When I swapped over to the photo of Dustin strapped to the table, I spotted a cage in the background. Sampson had taken an interest in Zaster’s experiment. He toyed with me. This had gone from a random villain attack to something personal. I didn’t need to be a veteran hero to know a trap lay waiting for me.

“I don’t care,” I mumbled. Dustin needed me. Myboyfriendneeded me.

I’d be the hero Dustin deserved.