Page 68 of Supernova

She seemed borderline apologetic, though not apologetic enough.

Could it be a trick?

Nova’s hands kept twitching to touch the guards and put them to sleep before they could lead her into whatever trap was waiting, but she held back the urge.

Because what if this was real? What if her name had really been cleared?

And if so…how?

Her skin prickled with gooseflesh, in part spurred by the wind that threw her bangs into her face, but also by the anticipation of an ambush. Maybe her execution was to come early. Maybe they didn’t want it to be public after all. She almost expected a bullet in her back at any second, but when she glanced up at the guard towers posted to either side of the gate, she saw their rifles pointing toward the sky. One of them gave her a salute, without expression. The other was focused on the choppy waves of the sea and the hazy fog that hid the distant city skyline from view.

The small island felt like it was a part of another universe entirely, and the sensation chilled Nova to her core.

The small terrain vehicle took her and her entourage back down to the dock, where an armored boat rocked in the turbulent water, where the same captain and set of guards who had delivered Nova to this island now waited to take her back.

And then she saw him.

He was waiting on the dock, a heavy wool coat, a black knit cap, jeans.

Adrian Everhart, looking too good to be true in this dank, dreary place.

In his left hand was a bouquet of flowers—the most vivid sunshine-yellow daisies Nova had ever seen in her life. In his right hand was a tool belt similar to the one Nova had worn over her Renegade uniform.

Nova didn’t realize she’d stopped walking until the guard with the black eyes politely cleared her throat. Nova started down the uneven wooden steps, past the jagged black rocks that shone with gathered mist, their surfaces studded with barnacles and kelp.

She came to stand in front of Adrian, her hair becoming damp from the spray, the taste of salt on her tongue.

“Flowers or weaponry?” said Adrian, holding his gifts toward her. “I wasn’t sure which would make for a better apology.”

Nova’s attention dipped to the daisies, then to the belt, before regarding Adrian again. Though his tone had been cheerful, she could see the anxiety underneath.

“I’m assuming your inventions were destroyed in the explosion,” he said. “I thought maybe a new tool belt could be a… new beginning?”

His hands drooped when Nova still didn’t take his offerings. “I’m sorry,” he said, with the full weight of a thousand apologies. “I shouldhave believed you. I should have trusted you. I failed you when you needed me to be an advocate, and I know that officially makes me the worst boyfriend in the history of the world, and as much as I want to make it up to you, I will understand if you don’t want to have anything to do with me. But if… if you can possibly forgive me, then I will do everything I can to make this up to you. I know I can’t change what you’ve been through, but… I still care for you, Nova. I never stopped caring for you, and I realize what an incredible jerk I was. I’m mortified when I think of the things that I said to you, the way I treated you in there… how I didn’t stand up for you, not once, even when you kept insisting you weren’t Nightmare. I should have…” He grimaced and shook his head. “I should have believed you. I’m so, so sorry.” He hesitated, his eyes shining with words still left unspoken.

He was met with silence. Wind gusts. Sea spray.

Finally, he whispered, “Please say something.”

Nova swallowed. “Where’s my bracelet?”

Adrian’s shoulders sank, as if this were the very question he’d been hoping she wouldn’t ask.

“It was given to Magpie,” he said, and Nova had the distinct impression he was dodging liability. “I’m sure she turned it in at headquarters.”

One of Nova’s eyebrows shot upward. She was equally sure that the little thief had kept it for herself.

No matter. She could deal with that later.

“Did you draw the flowers?” she asked.

Adrian shook his head. “Bought them with actual money, at an actual florist.”

“Hmm.” Reaching forward, Nova took the belt from him and snapped it around her hips. “Well, this is the better apology. But…” She snatched the flowers away. “I’ll take these, too.”

He grinned, but it was fleeting. “You’ll see there’s another gift there,” he said, indicating a pouch on the belt. “From the Council, actually.”

With a twinge of suspicion, Nova opened the pouch and pulled out…

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