Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4) - Michelle Hercules Page 0,114

My mother steps close to him and places a hand on his back in support. They remain silent for a long while, just looking ahead. My eyes begin to prickle, forcing me to look away. I can’t become overwhelmed by my emotions. I need to remain strong for Daisy.

I sense Erebus’s presence near the jungle. He’s watching Mom from the shadows, and for the first time, I wonder if he ever loved her.

“Yes I did. I still do,” he answers in my head.

“I didn’t know you could read minds,” I reply, annoyed.

“I can when you ask me a question directly.”

“Did she love you back?”

He doesn’t answer right away, but when he does, it’s not what I expect from a fucking god. “It’s complicated.”

I snort, earning questioning glances from Rufio and Phoenix. I raise my index finger, asking for a moment.

“Well, her husband is a piece of shit. If you still love her, maybe you should do something about that.”

“What makes you think I’m better than him?”

“I know you are.”

“Hmm.”

“Shit. Is that Andromeda and Stephan?” Phoenix points in the distance.

I glance toward the duo, who are walking toward us with difficulty, clutching each other. Stephan looks worse for the wear, with lacerations all over his face.

“What are they doing here?” Soren takes off to meet them halfway.

I want to know as well, since I didn’t have time to ask Stephan why Nathaniel brought Andromeda here. But Daisy and Toby are finally heading back to us, and that gets my undivided attention. They veer in Bryce’s direction, who’s sitting next to Renata, hugging his knees with his head hanging low. She’s asleep but alive. Bryce was able to heal her, which means he must be on the verge of passing out.

The ground shakes suddenly, and the small hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Xavier and Mom let out gasps of terror. I follow their line of vision, getting caught in their distress. A giant tsunami wave is fast approaching the island. It’ll hit us in less than a minute. My stomach bottoms out. Fuck!

“You need to go,” Erebus tells me. “Now that Chaos is gone, there’s no need for this island anymore.”

“What about the village?”

“It doesn’t exist on this plane. It won’t be affected.”

“Can’t you send us back like before?”

He sighs heavily. “Yes. So can you.”

“I don’t know how, and we don’t have time for me to learn!”

“Fine. I’ll do it this once, but you have to practice, son.”

“I need a teacher,” I say, hoping he knows I’m talking about him.

“We’ll see. Now gather your friends.”

“Come on, guys. Form a circle.” I wave them over with urgency toward where Bryce and Renata are.

“What are you doing?” Soren asks.

“Getting us out of here.” I look in the distance, locking gazes with my father. He nods, and a moment later, we’re standing in front of Poppy’s Joint.

It’s still in one piece, even though it’s smack in the middle of Norm territory. I can’t believe it survived the destruction and looting whereas every single building in the vicinity was raided. When a beacon of light shines over the diner’s neon sign, I recognize the deity responsible for the preservation of this place. Gaia.

44

Daisy

Five days have gone by, during which I didn’t leave my assigned room in Xavier’s real home except to eat. Without Chaos at our backs, and with the Neo Gods’ movement pretty much extinguished, there was no need to go to a safe house.

Begrudgingly, Xavier procured a second queen-sized bed to squeeze in the room so I could sleep with all my boyfriends. Then he muttered something about obtaining noise-canceling earphones stat. We did sleep, but we also made love a lot. I guess his grumpiness was kind of warranted.

I wake up on the sixth day of my reclusion, knowing it’s time to face the world. I’m literally surrounded in the middle of the bed by the loves of my life, which means I can’t get up without waking them. Bryce and Rufio are on each of my sides, sleeping at ninety-degree angles from me so Phoenix and Morpheus could get a piece too. Bryce’s arm is across my breasts, and Rufio’s curls around my waist. Morpheus and Phoenix are using my legs as pillows.

I squirm, trying to get my upper body free, but the slight movement disturbs Phoenix’s sleep. With his eyes still closed, he kisses my thigh and then slowly slinks upward. My sex clenches in anticipation. I know where this is going. But I’m suddenly antsy to