“I tire of you.”
With a slap, she sent Janet flying. Wyatt jumped up, catching her. He snatched Orion’s hand and flew toward us. He landed next to my right, unsure of what to do next. I had an idea. Far-fetched, and who knew if it would work. It’s not like we had many options left.
“She’s too strong,” Wyatt said.
“I hate to admit it.” Janet rubbed the side of her face. “I agree with him.”
Keyes laughed, bordering on maniacal. Any chance of redemption had vanished as she embraced her role as a villain. When she stopped, I caught the shift in her eyes. A quick glimpse at Booker wiped the grin off her face. In an interview, it would have been the tell he needed before baiting the interviewee into spilling their guts.
“You think you can stop me?”
“I will kick your ass!” Janet shouted.
Keyes took a deep breath. The glow turned brighter as her heels left the ground. “I could drink you in all day.”
“I’ll admit it,” Janet said, “I’m turned on.”
Booker had fallen to his knees. None of us had landed a finishing blow. She thought she’d skin the flesh from our bones, but Booker had stopped her in the office. If she could weaponize emotion?—
I dropped to a knee, arm wrapped over his shoulder. “Can you do what she does?”
“Maybe? I think so.”
“Want to save the day?”
He scoffed. “I’m not that powerful.”
I took his hand, fingers lacing together. With a tight squeeze, I helped him to his feet. “Take my rage.” He might not be powerful enough to stop the Queen of Chaos, but he reminded me this wasn’t about me. None of us was alone.
Booker’s face turned blank. I almost repeated myself when my chest tightened. The heat flowed through my body, but the anger didn’t rise to the surface. He siphoned something calmer. I would follow this man to the ends of the earth. I imagined a backpack filled with books and travel journals as we searched for new adventures. On the nights I needed to escape down the fire escape, he’d give me a kiss and make me promise to come home. I glanced from his hand to his eyes. Booker understood me before I understood myself.
Booker found my trust, my affection… my love.
Holding up his free hand, I could see the glimmer of azure and cobalt. There was no hiding as he manifested my desires in his hand.
“Isn’t that beautiful?” Keyes didn’t seem impressed with the tiny mustering of power. “At least you won’t die alone.”
She thrust her palms forward with a flash of yellow. I flinched as Booker threw up his hand. The yellow exploded into a shower of cerulean sparks. I didn’t understand what happened, but the angled brows on Keyes said it was something in our favor.
“Feel Vanguard’s chaos.”
She hovered in the air as she hissed, sucking in air. Her entire body flared as she converted the chaos into power. Screaming, the blast was bright enough that my eyes narrowed. Booker’s hand thrust forward. For a second, he pushed it back, her scream growing louder.
“She’s too strong,” he growled.
An oversized mitt clasped my free hand. I turned to see Wyatt’s stoic face. He didn’t speak, but I could almost hear his voice in my head. It had taken Wyatt longer than most to discover bravery, but I could almost taste his desire to be a hero. His insecurities held a sour note, drowning under the copper of loyalty. I almost laughed as I experienced his unyielding love for chocolate.
I wanted to ask Booker if this is what he experienced every day.
The blue grew brighter.
A surge of confidence pushed through my limbs as Orion joined our chain of heroes. I always believed him to be a skeptic. It didn’t come from distrust. When he shook my hand, it was him saying he trusted me without reservation. I had gone from the conspiracy board to confidant.
When Janet joined, I feared her chaotic nature would be a detriment. Booker’s hands had turned a rich blue, and the energy pushed back against Keyes. Janet’s fierce loyalty to the people she cared about pulsed through my muscles. Each of them would do everything in their power to protectthe city… no, I had to admit it. They wanted to protect Booker and me. The city was the byproduct of their friendship.
Booker’s growl grew into a roar. Keyes screeched as she lost the tug-of-war. The blue beam smashed against her chest, enveloping her. She collapsed to her knees, staring at her hands. She thrust them out, screaming. Unable to summon her power, we had emerged victorious.
“Try inner peace for a change,” Booker said, body slumping. “Oh… and you’re fired.”
