Page 16 of Villainous Rise

It would seem tonight’s bout between Razorwire and the Mechanic was drawing a decent crowd despite their Miscreant rankings. Both were rising stars in the League, nothing like Cipher’s level, but entertaining performers in that “car crash you can’t look away from” kind of way.

“Annie!”

I turned to see Dawn waving, her curly red hair bouncing with an energy I wished I could bottle and sell. She hurried toward me with Hunter in tow.

“I have a surprise!” Dawn’s eyes lit up as she linked her arm with Hunter’s. “Hunter pulled some strings and got us special seating.”

“Special seating?” I raised an eyebrow, instantly suspicious. Last I’d checked, our tickets were only for general seating.

Hunter shifted his weight, suddenly finding the illuminated pathway fascinating. “Just a private box I managed to secure through some work connections.”

“It’s one of those luxury boxes, Annie! With the food service and everything!”

“How nice,” I said, trying and probably failing to sound excited for her. “And where exactly is this box located?”

Hunter cleared his throat. “North quadrant, upper level.”

The north quadrant. Of course. That section housed the designated viewing areas for higher-ranking League members who weren’t participating in the evening’s entertainment. My stomach knotted as Hunter guided us through a private entrance, bypassing the regular security screening.

The corridor lights pulsed with a subtle rhythm that matched the bass from the arena’s sound system and I could already taste the tang of adrenaline in the air. Or maybe that was just my fight-or-flight response kicking in.

Dawn broke away from us, drifting toward the edge of a platform we came across to gaze at the arena below. The moment she was out of earshot, I leaned closer to Hunter, keeping my voice low.

“Is this really a good idea? Bringing her to your actual box? What if someone tries to talk to you?”

Hunter’s expression softened as he watched Dawn lean over the railing.

“I want tonight to be perfect for her. Before I tell her everything.”

I sighed, feeling my resolve weaken. I really wished I could dislike Hunter more. It would make everything so much simpler if I could just file him under “Villain” and be done with it. Especially considering who his best friend was.

But watching Hunter’s eyes follow Dawn with such genuine adoration made that impossible. He loved her. Really loved her with a real, messy, terrifying kind of love that made people stupid and brave in equal measure.

“She’s going to freak out when you tell her, you know,” I murmured, but there was no heat behind my words.

We reached the wide hall lined on one side with private boxes, each entrance marked with subtle League rankings. We stopped at a door with a simple “V.” Villain-level access. How fancy.

Dawn gasped as we entered the box with its panoramic view of the arena. “Isn’t this amazing?”

I had to admit, the space was impressive. The seating looked comfortable and would beat general admission any day. There was a private top-shelf bar and all around were holographic displays showing fighter statistics.

Dawn and Hunter settled into their seats looking disgustingly happy together. I took the open seat next to Dawn, but my attention drifted to the conspicuously empty box next door.

I silently cursed myself for not checking the marking on that door. Given its size, it had to be reserved for someone important. Likely a Super Villain.

Hunter followed my gaze and when I caught him looking, he quickly turned away, pretending to read combatant stats on one of the displays.

“Hunter, who has the box next to this one?” I asked, but the announcer’s voice conveniently boomed through the Nexus, welcoming everyone to the night’s fight. Dawn cheered, capturing Hunter’s attention, but his shoulders were stiff.

He definitely didn’t want to answer my question.

My eyes kept returning to the empty box, my sense of doom growing with each passing second. It was like watching a horror movie where you know the monster is about to appear, but you can’t look away.

“You okay?” Dawn whispered, squeezing my arm. “You seem tense.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, forcing myself to look away from the box just as the crowd erupted in deafening cheers, drawing my attention to the display screens suspended above the arena.

My entire body went rigid as Cipher’s face filled the screens. Well, not his face exactly. Just that infuriatingly perfect mouth visible beneath his mask. His suit gleamed under the arena lights, the subtle glowing accent lines tracing his powerful frame as cameras tracked his entrance into the Nexus.