Archenemies

THE RENEGADES: SKETCH’S TEAM

SKETCH — Adrian Everhart

Can bring his drawings and artwork to life

MONARCH — Danna Bell

Transforms into a swarm of monarch butterflies

RED ASSASSIN — Ruby Tucker

When wounded, her blood crystallizes into weaponry; signature weapon is a grappling hook formed from a bloodstone SMOKESCREEN — Oscar Silva

Summons smoke and vapor at will

THE RENEGADES: FROSTBITE’S TEAM

FROSTBITE — Genissa Clark

Creates weapons of ice from water molecules in the air AFTERSHOCK — Mack Baxter

Causes the ground to move with earthquake-like force GARGOYLE — Trevor Dunn

Mutates all or parts of his body into solid stone STINGRAY — Raymond Stern

Delivers venom via a barbed tail

THE ANARCHISTS

NIGHTMARE — Nova Artino

Never sleeps, and can put others to sleep with her touch THE DETONATOR — Ingrid Thompson

Creates explosives from the air that can be detonated at will PHOBIA — True Name Unknown

Transforms his body and scythe into the embodiment of various fears

THE PUPPETEER — Winston Pratt

Turns people into mindless puppets who do his bidding QUEEN BEE — Honey Harper

Exerts control over all bees, hornets, and wasps CYANIDE — Leroy Flinn

Generates acidic poisons through his skin

HAWTHORN — Name unknown

Wields deadly thorn-covered tentacles

THE RENEGADE COUNCIL

CAPTAIN CHROMIUM — Hugh Everhart

Has superstrength and is nearly invincible to physical attacks; can generate chromium weaponry

THE DREAD WARDEN — Simon Westwood

Can turn invisible

TSUNAMI — Kasumi Hasegawa

Generates and manipulates water

THUNDERBIRD — Tamaya Rae

Generates thunder and lightning; can fly

BLACKLIGHT — Evander Wade

Creates and manipulates light and darkness

The kiss escalated fast. Hesitant curiosity and then, from nowhere, a desperate, unfulfilled need. To be closer. To kiss deeper. To touch his face, his neck, his hair.

Nova?” he said, so quietly she almost thought she imagined it.

She turned her head up.

Adrian held her gaze for all of half a second, before he leaned down and kissed her.

“The gala. If you’re going and I’m going and … Would you like to go together? As a date, I mean. Officially, this time.”

Drawing in a stabilizing breath, Nova inched closer to Adrian and settled her head on his shoulder. He tensed, but it was brief. Then he slid his arm around her and she sank against his side. She urged her body not to get comfortable. Not to enjoy his warmth or the subtle strength in that arm, or the smell of pine that might have been soap or aftershave.

This time, her own calculating thoughts were louder than his heartbeat. The ticking clock in her mind was faster than her pulse.

He turned his head enough that he could meet her eyes again. “You want me to ignore everything else?”

She held his gaze, but her confidence was swept away. He watched as color bloomed across her cheeks. Great skies, she was beautiful.

tense up every time you fire.”

But he couldn’t think of anything beyond the closeness of her. Her hand between his shoulder blades. Her arm grazing his. He found himself wanting to stall. Wanting to draw out this moment just a little longer. He inhaled and it carried a bit of a shiver with it.

He felt her go still.

He was grinning—that open, heart-stopping smile that she absolutely loathed.

She met Adrian’s gaze, and for the briefest of moments all he could think about was how her blue eyes were brighter than usual,
from the morning air or the exercise or maybe there was just really good lighting on this floor, and …

He really needed to stop thinking about it

It will still be better off than it was in the hands of the villains,” said Danna.
Scowling, Nova forced herself to meet her gaze and hold it this time. “And once they”—she paused—“once we have total power, what’s to keep us from becoming villains ourselves?”