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“It’s kind of irritating how much he cares about you,” Owen said. “Seriously, watching the two of you fumble around each other was embarrassing.”

“Hey!”

“But it doesn’t matter,” Owen said, squaring his shoulders. “Because today is the day that I bring about the end of Pyro Storm. You’re right. He’ll come for you. And it’ll be the last thing he ever does.”

“Would youstop quoting my fan—”

“What about me?” Rebecca Firestone asked, and Nick again was unimpressed by her. She always tried to make it about herself. It was really an unattractive quality to have.

“You’ll tell my story,” Owen said, rising higher. In the distance,Nick thought he could hear the sounds of approaching sirens. “This city will love me. You’ll make sure of it.”

“And if I don’t?”

Owen shrugged. “I’ll kill you and find someone else.”

“I’m on board, then,” she said quickly. “I’m thinking we try to go national. A sit-down interview. We need to meet therealShadow Star. The boy—themanbehind the mask.”

“What about your scruples?” Nick demanded. “Your moral integrity? You’re areporter.You’re supposed to be unbiased!”

She snorted. “Kid, I don’t know what in the hell is going on, but I don’t want to die. I would also like a Pulitzer.”

“I will never watch Action News again! You hear me? Never!”

“Is he always this loud?” she asked Owen.

“Yes. Always. And filled with outrage over the weirdest things. This one time, I—”

But whatever example Owen was about to give was cut off as he exploded.

Notliterally,but Nick didn’t know that, at least not right away. One moment he was standing on a pillar of shadows above them, and the next, there was a bright burst of fire engulfing him. Nick shouted in terror, turning his face away from the immense heat that rolled over his skin. He felt the shadows binding him begin to loosen, and he slipped a little down the spire, shirt riding up on his back and pressing against cold metal. He heard Rebecca Firestone cry out across from him, and he managed to open his eyes in time to see her sliding down her own spire, feet dangling into nothing. Her other shoe fell off, a sharp wind blowing it out into the river.

Nick looked down and saw a dozen police cars screeching to a halt, their lights spinning. He was dizzy at the sight of them so far away. He couldn’t even make out the sound of the doors flying open.

He lifted his head toward the sky.

Owen had been knocked off his shadow pedestal and was clinging to the top of Nick’s spire, costume smoking, embers smoldering on his shoulder. He looked out, face twisted in fury.

Nick followed his gaze.

There, high above Nova City, cape billowing around him, was Pyro Storm.

“Quite the entrance,” Owen said. “I’m impressed.” He brushed off the embers on his shoulder. They winked out as they fell.

“This is over,” Pyro Storm said, and Nick shivered at the steel in his voice. “I should’ve stopped you a long time ago. Everything you’ve done in the last few days, the people that were hurt, thatdied—that’s all on me. I’ll never forgive myself for that. But you shouldn’t have touched Aaron Bell. And you shouldn’t have touched Nick. Those weren’t your first mistakes, but they’re going to be your last.”

Owen laughed wildly. “Always comes back to Nick, doesn’t it? You talk about justice and saving people, but it was always about him. It’s sad.” He looked down at Nick. “Isn’t it sad, Nicky? Almost as sad as your pathetic little crush on an Extraordinary who was right in front of you all this time.”

Nick ground his teeth together. He thought the spire behind him started shaking, but he hoped it was just his imagination. It was the last thing he needed at the moment. “You’re a dick, Owen. Had I known it was you, I never would have liked anything about Shadow Star.”

“You weren’t saying that last spring. In fact, I distinctly remember hearingOwen, please more. Owen, right there, yeah.”

“What do you think is gonna happen here?” Pyro Storm asked him. “You know this is the end.”

“I don’t think it is,” Owen said, holding onto the spire with one hand as he reached toward Pyro Storm. “You see, you need me as much as I need you. A hero is only as good as his villain. Think about it. You’re nothing without me. And I do enjoy this dance we do.” He smiled cruelly. “No matter where you go or what you do, I’ll be there right behind you.”

“Let Nick go,” Pyro Storm ordered.

Owen shrugged. “Okay.”