In the gym of the Long Island villa, a weight plate hit the rubber floor with a dull thud.
Cate wore a workout tank top, a thin sheen of sweat covering her fair skin. Sparring with Lucian, she was getting used to her soaring strength. Not only was her mind stable now, but her body had also moved completely beyond the realm of a fragile mage.
Lucian handed her a towel.
The phone on the bench beside them vibrated.
The screen showed an unsaved number, but Lucian knew who it was.
"Talk." He answered the call.
"We picked the place." Butcher's rasping voice came through. "An old weapons depot south of the abandoned power plant in Rochester. Big enough, and remote enough. When can you get here?"
"Half an hour." Lucian hung up immediately.
He took a deep breath and picked up the jacket draped over the back of a chair, readying himself to face Homelander if he showed up.
Finally.
In the past, against Homelander, he could at most rely on his endless array of powers to hold his own and stay alive. But things were different now.
The Heat Vision that kid Ryan had been born with, combined with its power after fusion.
He wanted to see just how far he could go at full power, too.
"You're leaving?" Cate tossed down the towel and blocked the doorway.
"Something to take care of." Lucian picked up the jacket from the back of the chair. "Butcher's getting ready to close the net. I'm going to keep an eye on things."
"I want to help you, too." Cate stopped what she was doing and stared straight at him.
"Not this time." Lucian looked into her eyes. "We'll most likely face Homelander today, and things could spiral completely out of control.