Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4) - Michelle Hercules Page 0,13

parents?” I cross my arms.

She finally wakes from her stupor and sighs. “He’s a sneaky weasel. He tricked my father into becoming his business partner. It wasn’t enough that he got me to pledge myself to his disgusting cause and put a torture device on me. He also had to bring my folks into the picture. You know, for extra leverage.”

“What are we supposed to do now? Let Andromeda go, just like that?” Soren turns to his father.

Mr. Silverstone rubs his chin, staring hard in her direction. “That wasn’t the plan, but letting Andromeda return to the Neo Gods’ fold will work to our benefit. We need more information.”

“What about him?” He points at me.

“What now?” I frown.

“The Neo Gods know about your involvement with the Knights. You can’t simply waltz into their domain as if you weren’t the enemy.”

“Don’t worry about me. If Andromeda is right and I’m a demigod, I can handle whatever those motherfuckers throw at me.”

“I’ll keep Morpheus safe,” Andromeda declares, amusing me to no end. I chuckle and immediately pick up on her irritation. “What’s so funny? You don’t think I can protect you?”

I raise my hands, palm up. “I believe you. I didn’t mean to offend.”

“Whatever. Let’s get going. Nathaniel is not a patient man. If I don’t arrive at his stupid party when I said I would, he’s going to make my hand burn again.”

“Fine. I can’t linger in Hawk City for much longer anyway. I have to get back to Daisy.”

Andromeda bites her lower lip. “On a scale of one to ten, how pissed off do you think she is at me right now?”

“I don’t think she’s angry at you. Probably shocked. But once she learns the truth, it’ll be fine.”

“No. Under no circumstances are you to tell anyone else about Andromeda,” Mr. Silverstone pipes up.

I give him a droll stare. “No offense, sir, but I’m not lying to my girlfriend or my friends.”

He opens his mouth to no doubt argue with me, but Andromeda butts in. “I’m with Morpheus. Daisy is an ally. She needs to know I didn’t betray her.”

Mr. Silverstone stares at the ceiling and lets out a heavy sigh. “This is what I get for dealing with a bunch of teenagers.”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes, but Soren doesn’t. Our gazes meet, and some kind of understanding exchanges between us. I still think he’s an ass, but maybe we can find a way to work together in peace.

I glance at my casual clothes. “I’m not changing to attend a Neo Gods party.”

Andromeda snorts. “And you thought I was going to?”

6

Rufio

Hollow. That’s how I feel. I never understood what my powers meant until I was stripped of them. They were an intrinsic part of me, and now I’m not even sure who I am anymore. My identity was linked to my abilities, and now that they’re gone, I’m nothing. Vapor.

I’ve been avoiding Daisy. I don’t want her to see that I’m an empty shell, not the man she fell in love with. The old Rufio would hate her for what she did, vow revenge, but there’s not a smidge of animosity in my heart toward her. The ugly feeling is reserved for the real villain in this story: my father and the other sycophants.

It would have been easier if I had gone with my mother, but I can’t bear to stay away from Daisy. Honestly, I don’t know how Bryce was able to make that decision. He has his reasons, and I can’t begrudge him for what was no doubt perceived by Daisy as a traitorous move.

The place Mr. X brought us to is a beach house near Echo Cove. I questioned his choice. The house is the furthest thing from what a secret hideout should be like. It’s right smack in the middle of one of the busiest destinations in Saturn’s Bay. Hiding in plain sight is Mr. X’s strategy.

Nonetheless, it’s a comfortable house with plenty of rooms. I don’t even have to bunk with Phoenix, something I was totally expecting. As soon as we arrived, Mr. X offered us food, but I refused and retired immediately to my new quarters. I wasn’t hungry despite not having eaten anything in hours.

It’s already morning, but since no one was able to shut their eyes on the flight here, the first order of business was to catch some z’s. If only I could shut my eyes and relax. The queen-sized bed looks inviting enough, with its fluffy pillows