Archenemies (Renegades #2)(54)

After that, her goals were a little more vague. Get close to Adrian. Earn the Council’s trust. Find out more about Agent N. Figure out how to weaponize Agent N against the Renegades.

And of course, above all else … get Ace his helmet. Everything would fall into place, she knew, if only she could restore that helmet to its rightful owner.

As far as she could tell, Adrian Everhart was her best hope. He thought his powers could get into that box. Then Nova would find a way to make it happen. She would not be rejected again. Something had passed between them at the park. She knew she wasn’t imagining the way his breathing had shallowed. The way his gaze had seared into her.

There was still something there. Maybe she had hurt him at the carnival, and maybe all the walls he’d put up these past weeks were a result of her rejection, and maybe it was going to take time and persistence to bring those walls down.

But Nova liked a challenge.

Squaring her shoulders, she started down one of the narrow staircases toward the training area. Adrian glanced up and noticed her. He started to smile, a reflex, she knew. He smiled at everyone.

And yet—

With her focus on Adrian, Nova lost track of how many steps she had taken. She misjudged the last stair and started to fall forward, barely catching herself on the rail.

She jolted upright, cheeks already burning.

Startled, Adrian jogged toward her. “You okay?”

“Fine,” she spat, tugging down the wrists of her uniform. “I’m fine.”

Adrian’s grin broadened and he looked like he wanted to tease her, but he refrained.

Standing up again, Nova plastered a brilliant smile to her own face, freezing him in place. “So—how did it go with the Puppeteer?”

Adrian blinked, and immediately Nova could tell she had to reel in the enthusiasm. She toned down her cheer and wrapped a hand around Adrian’s elbow. He tensed, but didn’t resist as she pulled him into the shadow of the catwalk, away from the waiting patrol units. “Did he say anything … useful?”

He was contemplating her hand, still on his elbow, and then he was pulling away. It was a subtle shift, but not subtle enough. Nova’s heart squeezed.

“Not … exactly,” he said.

“Oh?”

His attention fixated on her, and Nova realized he hadn’t planned on telling her how the meeting with Winston had gone. Her gut clenched. What did that mean? What had Winston said?

“Actually…,” he said, slowly, “remember when I said that I wasn’t entirely convinced that Nightmare is dead?”

Her skin went cold. “Y-yeah?”

“Well.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Winston Pratt agrees.”

Her mouth moved, but no words came out.

“He told me that Nightmare isn’t dead. He seemed really sure about it. But … after I brought it up to my dads, they pointed out that he’s been in prison since before her death and there’s no way that he could know whether or not she’s still alive. So … it seems that I’ve been duped.”

She blinked. “Oh … really?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. He was so convincing. But obviously, he knew that Nightmare being alive would distract me, given our interrogation last time. The more I think about it, the more likely it seems that he was just toying with me. Like”—he rolled his eyes—“a puppet.”

“Wow,” mused Nova, pressing a hand to his forearm. “Adrian, I’m … I’m so sorry.”

And so, so relieved, she thought.

Adrian peered at her, and this time, he didn’t immediately pull away from her touch. “It’s not a complete loss. If I hadn’t come to the artifacts department, I never would have known about that Vitality Charm. I’ve done some research, and it’s amazing what it can do.”

“Oh yeah? You should come spend a day with me in the vault sometime. There’s a lot of neat stuff in there. I’m not an expert on it all like Callum is, but … I could point out some of the highlights.”

Adrian’s smile widened, and there it was again. The faintly drooping eyelashes. The current of electricity that seemed to spark where her hand rested on his arm.

“I’d like that,” he said.

Nova grinned. “Me, too.”

“Uh-oh,” came Oscar’s voice.

Nova jerked away. She spun around to see Oscar, Ruby, and Danna standing beside the staircase. Oscar wriggled a finger in Nova and Adrian’s direction. “Is this a moment? It looks like a moment.”

“Seeking privacy under the catwalk?” said Danna, smirking. “Definitely a moment.”

“We should give them some space.” Ruby swooped her arms around Oscar and Danna, turning them away.

“Very funny, guys,” said Adrian, jogging after them. “We were just talking.”

“That’s not what it looked—” Oscar started, but then stopped. “Actually, that is what it looked like.”

Sighing, Nova followed.

“Are you excited?” asked Danna. Though her expression was neutral, Nova immediately felt her body attuned to her, as if assessing a threat. Ever since the meeting when Agent N had been revealed, she had sensed a change in Danna. A suspicion, a distance, an entrapment in her words. The way her eyes seemed to follow Nova whenever they were together.