Chapter 23
There was only a split second to decide. Did I rescue Aiden or did I stop Smoke from summoning a demon to destroy mankind? I didn’t want to live in a world without Aiden.
There was no decision. The suit agreed.
I flew downward, speeding toward the icy river hundreds of feet below. Aiden didn’t scream. He did nothing other than close his eyes. As he plummeted toward his death, I hope the flashes of his life included me. I wanted to be one of the fond memories that made him smile.
“Aiden,” I shouted as I reached him. Waving a quick hand over the ropes, they burned away. I cradled him, matching his speed as to not break his back. We slowed until we hovered several stories above the water.
He opened one eye, not convinced I had rescued him. I pushed the flames from my arms and torso, concentrating them along my legs to prevent him from being startled. He turned his head, looking at the water below.
“I don’t want to cut this short…” I really didn’t. Part of me wanted to whisk him away to some tropical island and live happily ever after.
“Right now, you’re one of the most powerful men on the planet and you’re asking me for permission?”
I looked up, studying the damage done to the bridge. Being a hypocrite could be a topic of discussion. I promised him to seek help, and here I was imagining my fist knocking the teeth from William’s mouth.
“Yeah. I guess I am.”
“Face it, we’re not always going to agree.”
“This isn’t debating which direction the toilet paper should go.”
“Front, we all know that.” He patted the side of my face. Leaning his head against my shoulder, I think being the damsel had already grown on him. “We’re going to fight. You have the heart of a lion. Follow it and do what’s right. I’ll understand.”
“I want to beat that—” That was the old Xander speaking. What did this improved version of me want? Aiden requested I follow my heart. I turned from the bridge to see his gentle features.
“I want to be a hero.” I choked up at the confession. “The one you deserve.”
“The hero I deserve would show the asshole that nearly killed me who was boss.”
Could he handle seeing the ferocity? If I had to see the look of horror on his face again, I’m not sure I’d survive.
“Do what’s necessary.” Permission granted.
“Hold on.” I rocketed upward. Flying toward the hole in the bridge, I clutched Aiden.
He held his eyes closed, not appreciating the gift of flight.
We had our moment, the promise of another chance to make things right.
It only required me stopping a demon from destroying the planet. Typical relationship issues.
“Smoke!” I screamed his name as we passed through the hole. I wanted the man’s attention, wanted him seeing that Aiden and I had emerged victorious.
“Heroes, you’re all stupid. You could have saved the world, but you decided on a few minutes with him?”
“Worth every second.”
“Fool. Why don’t you hand him to me? I’ll make sure Beleth puts him to good use.”
It was my turn to laugh. It bordered on cackling until Aiden finally covered my mouth with his hand. I took a hint and stopped. Flying overhead, Smoke watched, fixated.
“I thought I might leave him with them.” I gestured down the bridge with my chin.
The heroes of Vanguard had assembled.
Smoke turned to Hellcat, holding her staff in hand. Alone, she might not have been impressive. But it was the hundred costumed vigilantes lining the bridge behind her that caused my heart to surge.
Aiden gasped, “Is that—”
“The depowered.” Lei had put out the call for anybody capable of fighting to converge at the bridge. I had expected the tech-savvy vigilantes or those with gadgets and fancy martial art skills. What I didn’t expect, even without their powers, the heroes had come at the call.
“Why are they—”
“Somebody reminded me, heroes can’t do this alone.”
I flew over Smoke, landing at the front lines. Hellcat gave me a nod. “Your partner said you needed some help, and I quote,” —she made air quotes— “‘He needs help to save a sexy beast of a man.’”
I rolled my eyes while Aiden snickered. I don’t know what she said that convinced them, but Lei had a way about her. Behind a trio of the Machinist’s metal suits, I spotted the Centurions, Vanguard’s resident elite.
Hellcat leaned in, whispering. “They came for you, Xander.”
“Wait? She knows?” Aiden asked.
“Sorry, kid. It’s a superhero thing. I told him not to tell you, so…” She gestured toward Smoke. “You wouldn’t get kidnapped.”
“Epic fail.”
I ignored their banter. “They came for me?”
“We protect our own,” she said.
One of Machinist’s suits landed next to Aiden. Its hands reached out, hooking Aiden from under the armpits. He shook his head. “No, I’m staying here.”
I leaned in to kiss him when I realized there were at least a hundred pairs of eyes watching. Screw it. I pressed against him, wrapping a hand behind his head, pressing my lips against his. He resisted for a moment before relaxing and returning it with vigor.
“At least you’ll be alive to be mad.” With a smack on the arm, the suit launched into the air, taking Aiden with him.
“He’s going to be so pissed,” Hellcat said.
Ignoring her, I turned around to see Smoke hovering in the middle of his circle. The specters around the outside lifted into the air, seeping into the darkness around the villain.
“You should have stopped me,” he shouted. “It’s done.”
“This can’t be good,” Hellcat added.
“It’s just one guy…”
The circle glowed, arms reaching up from inside. A second later, hundreds of shadows shot up into the air. I could have stopped him from completing the spell, but it’d have cost Aiden his life. I had made the right decision. My heart knew it.
“You’re too late, Blaze,” he cackled, raising his arms in the air as he basked in his sorcery. “He’s here.”
“We’ve got your back,” Hellcat said, glancing over her shoulder at the agitated group of heroes.
The flames poured out of my body with a growl. The flesh of my hands disappeared under the fire. I inspected the other three hands. It took a second to realize that there was no flesh left. I was a living torch.
“The name’s Lionheart.”