Page 215 of Villainous Rise

“I didn’t lose anything that matters,” Cipher said quietly. “Not compared to what I could have lost.”

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. His hand came up to tangle in my hair, holding me close as he deepened the kiss, his mouth warm and insistent against mine.

When we finally broke apart, his eyes had darkened.

“Do you think the doctor would allow me to have sex?” he asked, his voice dropping to that low, seductive tone that never failed to send a shiver down my spine. “Surely that wouldn’t break any rules.”

I laughed, glancing pointedly at the various monitors he was connected to. “I think it might set off some of the alarms they’ve got you hooked up to,” I said, running my finger along one of the wires attached to his chest. “Besides, you can go home tomorrow. The doctor said so this morning.”

“Tomorrow,” he repeated. His hand found mine, fingers intertwining as he tugged me closer. “So does that mean we can have sex tomorrow? Or are you going to make me ‘rest’?” He said the last word with such disdain that I couldn’t help but smile.

I didn’t answer, just shifted carefully until I was lying beside him, my head resting against his shoulder. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head as I settled against him, his arm wrapping around me.

“Have you heard anything more about Helios?” Cipher asked.

I shook my head slightly. “Nothing we didn’t already know.”

What I didn’t say was that Havoc had decided to handle the situation in his own way. The official record would show that Helios had been compromised by an unknown entity, not Halcyon since there was no way to prove it was him, and was receiving treatment at a secure Alliance facility. The murders would be attributed to this “unknown influence.”

Havoc wouldn’t let Halcyon’s corruption destroy Helios’s life or reputation. He’d been adamant about that when we’d discussed it.

“The boy deserves a second chance,” Havoc had said. “He was a victim in this, not a willing participant.”

I’d watched as Havoc had paced, energy crackling around him in agitation. “I’m still going to mentor him personally when he recovers. He’ll need guidance to process what happened, to understand it wasn’t his fault.”

What had surprised me most was Havoc’s next statement, delivered with absolute certainty: “Helios will be my successor one day. I knew it the second I chose him.”

The conviction in his voice had been startling. Havoc rarely spoke about legacy or the future, yet he seemed certain about Helios’s place in it.

I hadn’t argued. If anyone could help Helios recover from Halcyon’s influence and the trauma of being used as a weapon, it was Havoc.

“Any word on our favorite fucking asshole?” Cipher asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

I sighed. “Nothing new. Just that Valor is already in talks with the League about switching sides.” I shrugged one shoulder.

Cipher’s mouth twitched. “I’m sure the League will appreciate his unique approach to villainy.”

“I have no idea how Alliance PR is going to spin this,” I said, feeling a headache forming behind my eyes at the mere thought. “Probably some nonsense about him going undercover or having a temporary breakdown from the stress of heroism.”

The memory of Valor’s face twisted in rage as he’d grabbed me made my stomach clench. His fingers had left bruises on my arm that were only now fading to yellow-green smudges.

“Can we not talk about him?” I asked. “I’d rather focus on literally anything else.”

“Of course. What did you and Dawn talk about while you were out?” Cipher asked, his fingers playing with a strand of my hair.

At least I hadn’t fallen asleep before Dawn and I had had a chance to do some catching up. I didn’t want Cipher to know that I’d literally fallen asleep sitting up.

“Wedding plans, mostly,” I replied, smiling at the memory of Dawn’s excitement. “She and Hunter have already decided on cake flavors, strawberry and vanilla. She was showing me pictures of different designs.”

Cipher made a face, his nose wrinkling slightly. “Strawberry and vanilla? Amateur choices.”

“Not everyone has your refined palate,” I teased.

“Clearly. Everyone knows lemon is the superior cake option.”

I laughed at his cake snobbery. “I actually like strawberry cake,” I admitted.

Cipher’s expression shifted to one of exaggerated horror. “You’re a heathen,” he declared, pulling back slightly to look at me properly. “I can’t believe I love someone with such terrible taste in baked goods.”