Page 30 of Supernova

Ruby’s mom set down the tray, which held a bowl of broth, some bread, a large glass of water, and a damp washcloth. “Any change?” she asked, putting the cloth on Danna’s brow.

“I’ll do that, Mama.” Ruby took the washcloth from her and tended to Danna, her face twisted with worry. “Is it weird that she’s so… twitchy? I mean, people don’t usually dream when they pass out like this, do they?”

“I don’t know,” said Adrian, frowning at the way Danna’s chest rose sporadically.

“She’s been through an ordeal,” said Mrs. Tucker. “But she’s a Renegade. She’ll pull through. And I must say, I won’t miss having our butterfly friends crowding up the apartment anymore. She’s always welcome, but it was a little disconcerting.” She winked. “I’m going to leave the tray here. You let me know if anything changes.”

“Should we take her to HQ?” said Oscar once Mrs. Tucker had gone. “Or the hospital? Or call a healer?”

“Yeah,” said Adrian. “The Council will want to know she’s back, too.”

He started to reach for his wristband, but Ruby stopped him. “I don’t know. She said to call you, no one else. It seemed—the way she looked—that seemed really important.”

“But why me? What can I do for her?”

Ruby didn’t have an answer. Her lips pursed with indecision.

Suddenly Danna dragged in a shuddering gasp. They all turned their attention back to her.

“Danna?” said Ruby, running the cloth over her cheeks. “Can you hear me?”

Danna’s eyelids fluttered and slowly opened. Her breaths were still ragged, but they seemed to slow as her gaze darted around theroom, alighting first on Ruby, then Adrian, then Oscar. A tiny smile flickered over her face.

“Great skies,” she croaked, then cringed as a fit of coughing worked its way up her throat. She grabbed Ruby’s arm and tried to pull herself up, but Ruby and Adrian both pressed down on her shoulders.

“It’s okay,” said Ruby. “You need to calm down. And rest.”

The coughing fit passed and Danna collapsed back into the pillow, still wheezing. “I thought I’d never…” She cleared her throat again. “It’s so good to see you guys through just one set of eyes.”

Ruby beamed through her unshed tears. “What happened?”

Danna became serious and she tried to sit up again, shoving Adrian’s hand away when again he urged her to relax. “Is anyone else here?” she said, her scratchy voice lowering to a near whisper.

“Just my mom and grandma and brothers,” said Ruby. “Actually—I need to tell Mom you’re okay. She wanted to—” She started to climb off the bed, but Danna grabbed her wrist.

“Wait,” she said. “Shut the door. I need to tell you something.”

Ruby blinked at her. “It can wait, Danna. You need to eat and rest and—”

“Itcan’twait.”

Adrian went to the door and shut it. “What is it, Danna?”

She fixed her attention on him. “Adrian…,” she murmured, and there was a flash of sympathy that made him go still. He saw her grip tighten around Ruby’s arm. “Where’s Nova?”

Adrian stilled, immediately nervous at the way she said Nova’s name, with something akin to fear. “I don’t know—home, I guess. Or maybe headquarters.” He went back to the bed. Oscar climbed down the ladder, joining them at Danna’s side. “Why? Is something wrong? Is she in danger?”

“Adrian,” she said again, and it sounded like it hurt her to say it. His chest squeezed. Already he was planning the route in his mind, the quickest way to Nova’s house. “I was following her. I thought… It’s just that she’d been acting weird, suspicious. I needed to know for sure, so I followed her and—”

“Danna, what’s going on?” he said, his tone harsher than he intended. “What did you see?”

Danna’s face crumpled apologetically. “I’m so sorry, Adrian, but… it’s her.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Nova is Nightmare.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THOUGH THEY HADdiscussed a contingency plan for what they would do when Nova’s secrets were discovered, Nova had hoped they would never have to enact it. She had hoped to leave the Renegades when she was ready, not because they’d finally figured out who she was.

There was no time to dwell on it, though. She had to focus on gathering the things she needed and getting out of this house before the Renegades arrived.

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