Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4) - Michelle Hercules Page 0,115

find out what’s going on in the world. Mind-blowing sex will have to wait.

I press my hand against Phoenix’s shoulders, stopping his caresses. He lifts his head and glances at me through half-open sleepy eyes. “What?”

“I have to use the restroom.”

“Oh.” He slides off me and then, using his gift, pushes everyone else off me too.

There are groans of complaint, but I don’t stay in bed long enough to hear them all. I jump off and then hide in the bathroom. I do have to pee, but it’s not an immediate need. Instead, I put on the bathrobe that’s hanging behind the door, then sneak out through the adjacent guest room that also connects to the bathroom. The pink décor makes it quite obvious this was supposed to be Rosie’s bedroom. A terrible ache flares in my chest, almost turning me into a sobbing mess again. It’s like this every morning. I wake up happy, and then I remember that Rosie is gone, and the pain becomes fresh again.

Fighting back the tears with a clench of my jaw, I head out. Xavier is sitting by the kitchen counter, nursing a coffee mug while he stares at his phone with a stupid grin.

“What’s on that phone that made you so happy?” I ask, making a beeline for the coffeepot.

“Nothing.” Embarrassment washes over his face. He turns the phone facedown so I can’t peer at the screen. Very suspicious.

“Riiight. How is Leticia doing?” I smirk.

Xavier opens and closes his mouth without saying a word. I shake my head and grab a cup to pour some coffee.

“She’s fine. Still helping Ellen with the injured. We’ve now moved them to a proper hospital.”

“Oh, that’s good to know. And what about Theo? Any luck finding his father or other relative?”

Xavier’s face falls. “Not yet. I’m beginning to fear we won’t find anyone to claim him. He’s staying with Leticia for now.”

I close my eyes, trying my best to keep my shit together, but it’s so hard when I hear about more deaths and more kids left without parents.

“Anyway, Leticia and I are going out to dinner tonight.”

My eyebrows arch. “Oh? Is this your first date?”

“Yes, but I’d like to keep that between us. I don’t want Phoenix to know yet.”

My amusement grows by leaps and bounds, making me forget the pain in my chest. “And why is that? Are you afraid he’s going to give you grief?”

“No. I just don’t want to give him leverage over me. I’d like to be able to bust his balls about you for a little longer.”

I snort. “Oh my God.”

“Anyway. How are you feeling today?”

The question is loaded and brings forth the darkness. “No better than yesterday, or the day before. I miss her so much.” I stare into my cup of coffee.

“I know, honey. I do too.”

I could say something ugly to him, like he can’t possibly miss someone he didn’t know or spend any time with. But hurting Xavier won’t make me feel any better.

“What’s going on in the world? Is it still in shambles?”

Xavier’s gaze turns hard in a flash. “Wow, I can’t believe those boys managed to keep their mouths shut. I’m in awe.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t want to say anything while you were recovering, but there’ve been new developments.”

I move closer to the counter, clutching the mug tighter. “You’re making me nervous.”

The doorbell rings, interrupting our conversation. Xavier moves to rise from his seat, but a second later, Felicity’s voice echoes in the entry foyer. “Hello? Everyone still asleep here?”

She joins us in the kitchen, carrying bags of delicious breakfast food. I smell bacon, cheese, sausage, and pancakes. My stomach grumbles, but I won’t let food distract me from Xavier’s imminent revelation.

“Hi, hon. It’s nice to see you up so early.” She smiles kindly at me.

“Yeah,” I reply half-heartedly.

The guys slowly trickle down from the bedroom, drawn by the smell of food. They’re always hungry. Bryce stops behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist to lean his chin on my shoulder. “What do we have here?”

“I brought everything we have on the menu,” Felicity replies.

“Including pie?” Bryce asks hopefully.

“Pie is not breakfast food, bro.” Rufio reaches for a bag.

Bryce steps around me. “Whatever. Hand me one of those.”

“Will you boys wait until I can unpack everything? Geez,” Felicity says, exasperated.

I cut my eyes to Xavier. “What were you going to tell me?”

Everyone freezes, and a sudden tension fills the air.

“Somehow when Chaos was vanquished, all the Idols not on the