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With my other hand, I guide myself inside her.

We fuck quickly and hungrily. She slams back onto me, grips the wall, scratching it with her fingernails, and shouts my name while she plays with her clit; her super-quick fingers bringing her to a fast, shuddering climax. Sparks flutter up into the brightening sky. As we come, I tug her hair, so she jerks backward, then hold her against me. Her body tenses, every muscle vibrating with pleasure, while mine does the opposite. Coming inside her, I turn into a ball of mush; the sensations so intense that I’m barely able to stand up, barely able to keep hold of her.

We collapse into a heap, our bodies half slumped over the wall, breathing in jagged gasps.

Nova spins beneath me and hooks her arms around my neck. “Hi,” she says, smiling.

“Hey.” I kiss her nose.

“I love you.” She pushes my untidy hair from my face.

“I love you too, Little Star.” I’m focusing on her face, about to tell her I almost broke without her by my side, but something moves in my peripheral vision. I shift my gaze to the street below. “Nova… look.”

Untucking herself from beneath me, Nova turns to look down. “They saw the video,” she whispers, reaching for my hand. “They saw it. I knew they would.”

On the sidewalk beneath us, the supers of Phoenix Falls are emerging from the shadows. They are answering Nova’s call.

33

LUTHER

Nova and Tanner hurtle into the apartment. Their cheeks are flushed and, even though I’ve never been jealous of the others and their time with Nova, something inside me somersaults uncomfortably at the thought I just missed out on being with her again.

“It worked.” She runs over to me, grabs my hand, and pulls me to the window. Tearing open the curtains, she points excitedly down at the sidewalks of Main Street. “They’re gathering in the square.”

Mack emerges from the bathroom, sees Nova, and heads straight for her. Before he can speak, he clocks the movement below us and scrapes his fingers through his hair. He’s wearing nothing but a towel, chest dimpled with water droplets, suave as fuck.

Nova glances at him, then does a double take. Her eyes flicker with heat, and she runs her hand up his arm. “You kept your hair longer,” she says approvingly. “But I’m glad you tamed the beard.”

“Snow too,” Mack replies, tweaking his index finger under her chin and planting a deep, searching kiss on her lips. “It was itchy.”

“Did you call Annalise?”

“I called. She said she’ll do her best but—” Mack doesn’t bother finishing his sentence; we all knew Annalise wouldn’t be able to make anyone take action.

Nova kisses Mack’s cheek. “We need to get to the square. Hurry, everyone.”

We’re in the midst of locating our clothes and shoes when the bedroom door opens. Nico stops in the doorway. I haven’t seen him since Rev ushered him into the bathroom yesterday, not long before Nova came flying down from outer space. He’s cleaner than he was, and a little less vacant in his expression. When he spots Nova, his face visibly pales.

He searches for Sam, who crosses the room quickly and takes his brother’s hand. “It’s Nova.” Sam looks at our girl, smiling. “She came back, Nico. Like you did. Like I did.”

Nico presses his lips together. “Sam returned, Nico stayed.”

Sam’s jaw twitches. “No, Nico. You came back too.”

Interjecting, from the kitchen Rev says, “He’s still getting acclimatized. I’ll stay here with him.” She looks past us at the brightening sky beyond the window. “But you should go. All of you. Whatever you need to do, people are waiting.”

“Sarah?” Sam asks, glancing at the other bedroom door.

“Sam, she’s having a hard time with…” Rev trails off, purposefully not looking in Nico’s direction.

“With what I am,” Nico whispers. “She doesn’t like what I am.”

“Unelementals are terrified of demons, Nico. They have very few defenses against them.” Rev squeezes his arm. “It’s not your fault. She’ll come around.”

“I’m sorry,” Nova interjects. She hasn’t acknowledged Nico properly but is almost at the door already. “We have to go. We’ll be back soon.” She pauses just outside and looks back at Rev. “Keep him safe while we’re gone.”

Rev nods but before she can ask from what, Nova is disappearing down the stairs.