Jenny.”
Every kiss they shared was a knife to my stomach. He taught her to control the new powers and gave her plenty of opportunities to experiment as he dragged her into the supervillain underworld. The more power Jenny took, the more her life crumbled, and it took a long time before all that pain gave her wisdom.
When she finally realized he was manipulating her, she left him, but Drake had never let go. He’d used his power to shield her from prying eyes, always intending to return and claim what was his.
As her past finished fast-forwarding, Jenny’s eyes snapped open, only Jenny wasn’t home.
The air condensed around her, and shadows twisted in her hate-filled gaze. I clutched her to me, but the door burst open before I could start to pull her back.
Two minutes were up. Drake and his follower stood panting in the doorway.
Jenny gave a cruel, cold smile and pushed me away. I hit the opposite wall before I could process what was happening.
She was out of control, and she had more power than I could stop.
We were all screwed.
Chapter Eleven
The truth seared through me, waking powers I’d forgotten and a strength I’d never known I had. The pain was fresh as ever.
I’d killed the man who tried to rape me, discovering a power I couldn’t understand. It wasn’t long until a glimpse of me flying triggered Mom’s stroke. My life was on the brink when I heard about Drake. I thought he was saving me, but he’d pulled me further into the darkness, taking advantage of me at my most vulnerable.
With me to take down his enemies, he’d gone from untenured professor to criminal mastermind in a matter of months. He’d been right about one thing. No one could stand against our powers together.
I’d followed him, mistaking sex for love, and though I’d forgotten what he did to me, I’d never escaped. The rush of memories burned so hot I tasted metal.
“Jenny.” Drake was covered in soot, his sleeve torn, but he smiled. “You remembered.”
Shadows boiled at the edges of the room. They darted out at my will, binding Drake and his goateed minion wrist and ankle. It was strange to feel so hot and cold at the same time. I craved revenge, and I’d do my worst to get it.
Black and silver lightning sparked along my arms, and a tear grew in the fabric of space in front of the two men. A life in Hell was exactly what they deserved.
“Jenny…” Drake’s smile faded. “Don’t do this.”
The building shook as the portal widened, and demonic screams carried the scent of sulfur in their wake. Strong arms wrapped my shoulders. Tank. “Don’t, Jenny.”
I pushed him away. He careened into the desk, slipping on the ice that spread across the floor. I frowned. I hadn’t meant to use that much strength.
The portal screamed louder, drawing my attention. Phantom arms reached through, and the two men trembled. Spectral flames reflected in their eyes. I felt powerful.
Invincible.
Tank grabbed me again, this time, adding his power to the hold. The portal guttered for a second, but I slipped his mental hold. He couldn’t contain me anymore.
I lifted a hand to shoo him away for good, but he grabbed my wrist and snuck under my guard for a kiss. Warmth shot through me, with a heady blast of emotional feedback. Tank’s screaming worry. The depth of his concern, and an all-encompassing love that brought sunshine to the shadows in my mind.
I gasped.
The powers slipped my hold. As the hell portal flickered away, the shadow bonds dropped Drake and Sam, and the other leaking abilities receded. The building stopped shaking.
“Shh.” Tank stroked my hair as he cradled me. “No harm done.”
My face was damp. I wiped the tears, both bitter and glad that he’d stopped me. “I want to kill him.”
“Me too,” Tank said. “But that’s not what heroes do.”
“I’m not—” I began.
“You are.” He squeezed me tighter. I didn’t really agree, considering I’d just tried to send two men to Hell, but
Every kiss they shared was a knife to my stomach. He taught her to control the new powers and gave her plenty of opportunities to experiment as he dragged her into the supervillain underworld. The more power Jenny took, the more her life crumbled, and it took a long time before all that pain gave her wisdom.
When she finally realized he was manipulating her, she left him, but Drake had never let go. He’d used his power to shield her from prying eyes, always intending to return and claim what was his.
As her past finished fast-forwarding, Jenny’s eyes snapped open, only Jenny wasn’t home.
The air condensed around her, and shadows twisted in her hate-filled gaze. I clutched her to me, but the door burst open before I could start to pull her back.
Two minutes were up. Drake and his follower stood panting in the doorway.
Jenny gave a cruel, cold smile and pushed me away. I hit the opposite wall before I could process what was happening.
She was out of control, and she had more power than I could stop.
We were all screwed.
Chapter Eleven
The truth seared through me, waking powers I’d forgotten and a strength I’d never known I had. The pain was fresh as ever.
I’d killed the man who tried to rape me, discovering a power I couldn’t understand. It wasn’t long until a glimpse of me flying triggered Mom’s stroke. My life was on the brink when I heard about Drake. I thought he was saving me, but he’d pulled me further into the darkness, taking advantage of me at my most vulnerable.
With me to take down his enemies, he’d gone from untenured professor to criminal mastermind in a matter of months. He’d been right about one thing. No one could stand against our powers together.
I’d followed him, mistaking sex for love, and though I’d forgotten what he did to me, I’d never escaped. The rush of memories burned so hot I tasted metal.
“Jenny.” Drake was covered in soot, his sleeve torn, but he smiled. “You remembered.”
Shadows boiled at the edges of the room. They darted out at my will, binding Drake and his goateed minion wrist and ankle. It was strange to feel so hot and cold at the same time. I craved revenge, and I’d do my worst to get it.
Black and silver lightning sparked along my arms, and a tear grew in the fabric of space in front of the two men. A life in Hell was exactly what they deserved.
“Jenny…” Drake’s smile faded. “Don’t do this.”
The building shook as the portal widened, and demonic screams carried the scent of sulfur in their wake. Strong arms wrapped my shoulders. Tank. “Don’t, Jenny.”
I pushed him away. He careened into the desk, slipping on the ice that spread across the floor. I frowned. I hadn’t meant to use that much strength.
The portal screamed louder, drawing my attention. Phantom arms reached through, and the two men trembled. Spectral flames reflected in their eyes. I felt powerful.
Invincible.
Tank grabbed me again, this time, adding his power to the hold. The portal guttered for a second, but I slipped his mental hold. He couldn’t contain me anymore.
I lifted a hand to shoo him away for good, but he grabbed my wrist and snuck under my guard for a kiss. Warmth shot through me, with a heady blast of emotional feedback. Tank’s screaming worry. The depth of his concern, and an all-encompassing love that brought sunshine to the shadows in my mind.
I gasped.
The powers slipped my hold. As the hell portal flickered away, the shadow bonds dropped Drake and Sam, and the other leaking abilities receded. The building stopped shaking.
“Shh.” Tank stroked my hair as he cradled me. “No harm done.”
My face was damp. I wiped the tears, both bitter and glad that he’d stopped me. “I want to kill him.”
“Me too,” Tank said. “But that’s not what heroes do.”
“I’m not—” I began.
“You are.” He squeezed me tighter. I didn’t really agree, considering I’d just tried to send two men to Hell, but
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