Archenemies (Renegades #2)(67)

Adrian’s expression was so endearing Nova felt a little guilty for contemplating how the charm could serve her purposes over Max’s.

“I know it doesn’t change everything,” said Adrian. “You’re still stuck in the quarantine. You still can’t go out into the world. But … it’s something, right?”

“It’s a lot,” said Max. “Even just…” As he gestured between himself and Adrian, his control over his emotions started to crumble. “This has been … This is…”

Adrian wrapped an arm around Max’s shoulders and pulled the kid against his side.

Nova turned away. She felt like she was intruding. Not just because she wasn’t a part of their family, but because she wasn’t even really a Renegade. She didn’t deserve to enjoy this moment with them.

The velociraptor, who had disappeared into his nest, emerged and made a melancholy cooing sound, poking at Max’s ankle with its needlelike talons. Wiping his eyes, Max stooped and picked it up, pointedly avoiding Nova’s gaze.

“Max,” she said, hesitantly, “why … why don’t you just live with a non-prodigy family?”

Adrian flinched. “I’ve thought that, too, but…” His face was tight with pain, but Max only shrugged.

“It’s okay,” he said, resigned. “I’m fine here.”

“No, you’re not,” said Nova. Her fists clenched. “You’re a prisoner! You’re a—a—”

Adrian shot her a warning look and she bit back the words on the tip of her tongue.

You’re a science project to these people.

“It’s not safe for me to be out in the world,” said Max, letting the tiny dinosaur nibble at the tip of his thumb. “I could cross paths with a prodigy at any time, and it wouldn’t be fair to them. And also, if news ever got out about who I am and what I can do … it would make me a target. There are still villains out there who would want to use me for their own purposes—”

“Or anti-prodigy zealots who would love to get their hands on a kid who can wipe out superpowers,” added Adrian.

“And also…,” Max said, his voice distant. “I’m needed here.”

Nova ground her teeth. Though there might be some truth to what Max was saying, she couldn’t help but feel that it was also a whole lot of fear propaganda, intended to keep him a compliant prisoner.

“For Agent N?” she asked.

Max nodded.

“How long have you known about it?” said Nova. “Did you know what they were doing with your DNA samples all this time?”

“Not … exactly,” Max said, tucking Turbo into his pocket. “For a long time I thought they were trying to find a way to neutralize me. So they wouldn’t have to be keep me separate from everyone anymore. Eventually, I realized it was more than that, though. I figured it was something like Agent N, but I didn’t know for sure.”

“Skies, Max, maybe it would work on you,” said Adrian, eyes brightening again. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it until now. I was so excited about the charm, but … why couldn’t we just inject you with Agent N? You wouldn’t be a prodigy anymore! You could…” His words dwindled off as Max shook his head.

“They tried that already,” he said. “It doesn’t work on me.”

“They tried to take away your powers?” Nova gasped. “Why? Because you’re a threat?”

Max laughed at her obvious disgust. “No, because I asked them to. After they had their first few successes on prodigies at Cragmoor and it didn’t, you know, turn them into big piles of radioactive sludge or anything, I asked them to use it on me. I wanted it to work. It’s not really that much fun to be a prodigy when you’re trapped in a place like this.” He gestured around at his glass prison.

“Oh,” said Nova. Her vehement anger on Max’s behalf faded. “I guess I can understand that.”

“Nova is concerned with prodigy rights,” explained Adrian. “She’s worried we’re going to start abusing the power of Agent N.”

“If I recall correctly,” said Nova, “you weren’t exactly convinced that it would be handled with the utmost responsibility either.”

“Why?” asked Max. “It’s only for bad guys. They would never neutralize a Renegade.”

Every muscle in Nova’s body tightened, eager to argue the distinction between Renegade and bad guys. “They’re planning to dole it out to every patrol unit, to be used however we see fit. I guarantee mistakes will be made and this power will be mishandled. How long before innocent prodigies are being threatened or blackmailed, just because they haven’t been conscripted into the Renegades yet? This life isn’t for everyone, you know.”

“Threatened and blackmailed?” said Max. “By who?”

“I don’t know, how about Frostbite and her goons?” said Nova, remembering a time, not long ago, when she had witnessed Frostbite trying to bully Ingrid into making a false confession. “Or thieves like Magpie? Not every Renegade is as chivalrous and upstanding as Adrian.”

She made the mistake of glancing at Adrian as she said it and saw surprised flattery flash across his face. She jutted a finger at him. “Don’t take that the wrong way.”