Chapter 516

Shermaine helped Joshua out of his shirt. “Go wash up.”

Joshua smiled, a wild, predatory look that made Shermaine’s pulse spike. In one smooth motion, he scooped her up with his uninjured arm. “Not enough.”

“You’re hurt.”

“My arm is injured, not other parts.”

“Can’t you wait until it heals?”

“I missed you.”

It had been too long since their last intimacy in the mecha.

The bathroom’s steam cleared. For a long, lingering moment, the shower stopped running. Joshua emerged with just a towel slung low on his hips, putting Shermaine onto the bed. Then, he slipped under the blanket.

The villa was a temporary residence. It had been hastily cleaned before their arrival. The new blanket still smelled of detergent.

Shermaine’s lips were rosy, like roses in full bloom.

Joshua, insatiable, braced himself over her, muscles taut. He kissed her deeply, as if savoring a rare delicacy.

“Did your wound reopen?” Shermaine asked.

“No.” Joshua nipped her lips.

“I miss Gracie.”

“You won’t have room to think of anyone but me soon.”

After swimming laps in the lake, Dave caught a fish. Hugging his prize, he flew toward the villa, shouting, “Sheary, I want fried fish!”

Before Shermaine could respond, Joshua hurled a pillow.

Dave tumbled mid-air, dropping the fish, which flopped on the ground. Sighing, Dave released it back into the lake. No grilled fish tonight.

After their intimate moment, neither Shermaine nor Joshua felt sleepy. Instead, they were hungry.

Shermaine booted up Orthish, fingers flying over the holographic keyboard. Shirley’s location blinked on the map. Her fleet was halfway across the sea, a week from Summerbank.

Joshua headed downstairs to cook, Dave hovering eagerly nearby.

The next morning, Judy’s search yielded nothing. Harry’s investigation into the royal advisors also came up empty.

Harry thought it was weird. He couldn’t believe Shermaine and Joshua were this untraceable.

At Ivy’s home, she woke with a start, her face ashen. The Control Soul Insect might be gone, but its effects lingered. She remembered everything.

She thought, ‘Damn it! If Judy finds out I leaked information, I’ll be doomed. My mistake cost Judy the only leverage against Shermaine and Joshua. There will be no mercy.’

Just as these thoughts raced through her mind, a cold breeze swept through the room.

“You’re awake.” Shermaine’s voice cut through the silence.

Ivy whirled around, furious. “You dare show your face?”

Shermaine smiled, “We’re allies now. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Allies? If I capture you, I might still salvage this.”

“Do you think you can?”

Ivy hesitated. Was the insect’s influence truly gone? Could she trust her own body? She wasn’t sure.

Shermaine’s tone softened, almost persuasive. “Be smart. You never truly served Judy. Why die for her?”

The words were tempting. Ivy had no real loyalty. But betraying Judy was risky. One misstep, and Ivy would lose her life.

Ivy countered, “Judy may be simple and arrogant, but she has Apocalypse by her side. What chance do you and Shirley have?”

Shermaine’s gaze hardened. “Apocalypse belongs to my husband’s family. We will reclaim it.”

Ivy’s lips pressed into a thin line. She thought, ‘So the man who killed the mutant is the royal family’s descendant. That changes everything. Apocalypse only obeys true lineage. Judy’s advantage was crumbling. It makes sense. Judy isn’t on the same level as them.’

After a pause, Ivy asked, “What do you want from me?”

Shermaine didn’t mince words. “Summerbank’s defenses are tighter now. I can’t move freely. But for someone like you, retrieving the city defense map shouldn’t be difficult.”

For Ivy, it wasn’t difficult, but far from easy, especially now.

Judy had swapped the real map to prevent theft, never expecting Shermaine would bypass direct action and manipulate Ivy into stealing it for her. But Ivy had no idea where the real map was hidden.

“Not difficult?” Ivy snorted.

Shermaine smiled, “You’re capable. I have faith in you.”

Ivy scoffed, “Flattery won’t help.” Yet she was exceptional. Her rise to power proved that.

Shermaine arched a brow. “You have one week. I’ll come then.”

As Shermaine left, Ivy thought, ‘What a cunning woman.’

Judy would never dream Shermaine would use Ivy as the thief.

Time flew by in a flash. One week later, under the cover of night, a warship emerged offshore. Shirley’s forces had reached Summerbank’s waters, undetected by radar.

Shermaine went to Ivy’s home. Hours passed before Ivy arrived, tossing the map at her. Ivy said, “Get it done before Judy notices.”

Shermaine caught it smoothly. “Shirley’s fleet is nearby. Join her. She knows you’re with us now.”

They parted just as Harry stormed in with guards.

An hour later, fireworks exploded in the sky. It was Shermaine’s signal.

On the warship, Shirley commanded, battle ready, “Advance.”