Page 137 of Supernova

NOVA STUMBLED BACKfrom the window, at the same moment Adrian shoved his shoulder against her side, knocking her to the floor. The javelin flew over Adrian’s head, missing him by inches, and lodged itself into one of the wooden beams supporting the bells. A cloud of dust exploded across the belfry.

Dizzy with the rush of adrenaline, Nova pushed herself onto her elbows and gaped at Adrian.

He stared back at her, seemingly as surprised as she was.

Honey Harper laughed. “What wasthat? Did you just save her life? Oh, darling, if you weren’t so disgustingly noble, I’d be half in love with you myself.”

Adrian didn’t look away from Nova. “She saved my life once,” he said. “A few times, actually.”

Nova swallowed. Outside, she heard the Captain, still screaming. The sound was rife with anger and fear and the promise that he would annihilate anyone who laid a finger on his son.

Catching her breath, Nova forced herself to turn away from Adrian and all the emotions scrawled across his face. The intensity, the openness.

She saved my life once…

She had not dropped the gun, though her hand was trembling as she climbed back to her feet and returned to the window. The Captain was sprinting toward the entrance of the cathedral. The villains stood motionless on the western towers, watching him come. Nova couldn’t tell if they were nervous that this supposedly invincible superhero was ready to demolish the church in search of Adrian, but they did still have strength in numbers, and the advantage of the higher ground, and familiarity with the cathedral, and… Ace.

They still had Ace.

But Ace wasn’t paying any attention to his archenemy, Nova realized with a start. He was watchingher.His mouth moved, but in the burgeoning noise, she could no longer hear him. He frowned and beckoned to Megaphone at his side.

A moment later, Megaphone’s voice boomed through the enclosed space. “You did want to see an execution, didn’t you? Then so be it!”

Ace nodded at Nova.

Shivering, she lifted the gun. Adrian didn’t move as she angled it against his temple again.

Her heart ricocheted inside her chest.

Captain Chromium released another war cry. Dragging the chain behind him as he ran, it seemed like he intended to tear the church apart stone by stone. Anything to stop Nova. Anything to keep Adrian safe.

He was halted as a series of wooden timbers dislodged from the arched dome and crashed in front of him.

He roared, and with a single punch, the first beam splintered. The Captain grabbed another and heaved it aside, then planted his palm on the third beam and launched himself over it like a hurdle. But for every obstacle he crossed, another was ready to take its place. Rubber tires. Iron gates. Cinder blocks.

Ace was toying with him. He wasn’t worried that his longtime rival was using all his strength to get to the church, to get to Adrian.

Ace cast Nova another questioning look, this one tinged with suspicion.

She adjusted the gun in her hand. Put the barrel against Adrian’s skin. He was facing forward, his focus locked on the struggle below. His glasses had slipped slightly down his nose. Nova watched the dip of his lashes as he blinked. The steady rise and fall of his shoulders.

Pull the trigger, Nova.

The gun became heavy. The handle felt slick in her palm.

Adrian’s lips parted. His gaze shifted in her direction. He was still shirtless, his wounds still bleeding through the gauze, and she knew he must be in pain. And yet, he was so still. So steady.

Just waiting.

Pull the trigger.

“His father made the choice for you, little Nightmare.”

She startled. Ace had taken to the air. He was levitating over the nave’s steep roof.

“And now,” he continued, “we must keep our word. We do not make idle threats.”

She tried to nod, but wasn’t sure she succeeded. This time, she didn’t look down at Adrian. That would make it easier. To not seehim. To not feel his breaths moving through her. To not remember the steady drum of his heartbeat as she’d once rested her head on his chest.

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