Page 86 of Not All Himbos Wear Capes

Wait, what?

How can I give him power I don’t have?

Glacial Girl scoffed and rolled her eyes, but her full attention was on her husband. “Well, Franco was an idiot to think switching sides would save him. Regardless, Siren survived his death at Vortexio’s hand. Xanny will live through this, too.”

Butch had my hand in a death grip, and I willed myself to somehow send the unfamiliar energy fizzing through my veins his way, praying I was doing it correctly. I gasped as a blast of power was returned to me, ten times stronger than before, buzzing beneath my skin like angry hornets, ready to swarm and sting.

My father’s gaze snapped to where Butch and I were joined, as if he sensed what was happening. “Stop,” he commanded—hisimmeasurable power now thrumming through the workshop, making my teeth chatter.

I almost laughed at how absurd it all was—howIwas suddenly facing down one of the deadliest villains who’d ever lived, father or not. Apocalypto Man casually lifted his hand to destroy us, and I tensed before realizing I could finally take him on.

This is not how it ends.

“No,” I repeated, raising my hand as well. His infamous cryonic power hit me like a freight train, dry ice and antifreeze blasting into my veins, but somehow, I tossed it right back at him.

Apocalypto Man’s eyes widened in alarm, his mouth forming a comical o-shape as his body froze in place, although his mind would continue to scream from its eternal prison.

Fuck around and find out, dad.

“How DARE you!”my mother shrieked as she unleashed a jagged wall of solid ice in my direction.

I threw dozens of ice daggers in return, slicing through her wall and embedding in her skin, sending her screaming to the workshop floor.

My siblings scattered in the chaos. The twins fled from the room—rightfully assuming they were next—Baltasar backed away with his hands raised in surrender, and Violentia ran to Glacial Girl’s side to tend to her injuries.

Spinning, I prepared to fight off Wolfgang next, but his predatory gaze was fixed on our mother. Specifically, on the blood dripping from her wounds.

Wounds I gave her.

“Xan,” Butch croaked, and I looked down to find him pale and sweating, still afflicted by my brother’s energy drain. “I’m not strong enough to get us out of here. You’re going to have to do it.”

“What am I supposed to do?” I hissed, even as I somehow melted the straps from his body with only my fingertips. He weakly sat up and clung to me, his fresh air scent and the achingly familiar feel of his muscles against mine making me shudder.

“Blast a hole through the wall and fly us out of here,” he murmured against my neck. “Take everything you need from me.”

“I-I don’t know how,” I stammered, noticing my mother rallying for another round with murder in her eyes.

“You do,” he whispered, his enormous body going slack as his remaining strength faded. “You’re myinventus.”

Maybe it was my vast knowledge of Latin, but the word sent a bolt of recognition straight into my core. Trusting my instincts—and knowing Butch was counting on me to escape—I used all our points of contact to somehow siphon his famous firepower, feeling it fill my veins with red-hot lava.

Holy shit, this is incredible!

With a flick of my wrist, I sent a massive fireball through the wall, carving a path to freedom. Turning, I shot a smaller fireball at my ray gun. I cringed as my hard work went up in flames, but the last thing I wanted was for something I invented to be used to hurt Butch—or anyone who didn’t deserve it.

I guess I have some morals, after all.

Taking one last look around my father’s workshop of horrors, I met Wolfgang’s gleeful gaze, unsure what to make of the salute he sent me as I somehow levitated—holding Butch in my arms—and flew us the fuck out of there.

CHAPTER39

BUTCH

I woke up with a groan on an unfamiliar cot before frantically patting the bed around me for Xander.

Is he alive?!

“Everything’s okay, baby. You’re safe.”