Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4) - Michelle Hercules Page 0,17

you wanted them. Desperate for a way to fight back.”

“You speak as if I knew you would develop the ability to create Idols.”

I whip my face to her. “Didn’t you?”

She meets my stare without flinching. “Of course I didn’t know. Go on now. I have to get to work.”

Yeah, like I believe your lies.

I get out, but before I close the door, I lean in. “Oh, I forgot to mention this earlier. Your assistant, Bethany Walkers, is a Neo God.”

Mom’s eyes grow rounder. “How do you know?”

“She had the same odd glint in her eyes as a Neo God woman I met in Hawk City.”

Who disappeared in the crowd once the tide turned on her. The memory makes me bitter. Amanda was working for my father there. I wonder if she’ll follow him here.

By the time I get onto the curb and grab my bags, Toby is already halfway toward his dorm building, which is not the same as mine. I run to catch up with him, reaching the guy in seconds.

He jumps back, startled. His head must have been stuck in the clouds if he didn’t hear my approach.

“Shit, Bryce. You startled me.”

“Sorry. I want to ask if you’d like to move in my apartment. Now that Rufio and Phoenix aren’t returning to school, I have two spare bedrooms.”

“What about Morpheus? Do think he’ll join us or choose to stay with Daisy?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I’m sure that if he decides to return, he won’t mind you moving in.”

Toby rubs the back of his neck, then glances away. “Hmm. Can I think about it?”

Damn. I didn’t expect him to hesitate like that. I wonder if he’s afraid of me or something.

“Yeah, of course. Take your time. I guess I’ll see you later, then.”

As much as I’d like to brush off Toby’s response as being of no consequence, I’m still annoyed by it when I reach my floor. The feeling changes to something completely different when I walk in front of Daisy’s old dorm room. My heart squeezes so tightly in my chest that I can’t breathe right for a moment. My steps falter, and then I completely freeze and stare at her door.

The spell is broken when a door at the end of the corridor bangs shut. Three seniors, all high-level Idols, are walking toward me. They’re all wearing their school uniforms, even though class won’t start for another hour. I veer for my apartment, crossing paths with them. At first, I don’t think they’ll let me pass. They’re projecting their powers to the max. I also can’t miss their aggressive stance aimed at me.

“Is there a fucking problem?” I ask, leveling up my powers too. I can play this game all day, suckers.

“No, no problem at all. Yet,” one of them sneers.

I laugh without humor. “Seriously, after all these years attending the same school, now you decide to test your luck?”

“Your days of supremacy are over, Norm-lover,” the second idiot spits out.

I curl my hands into fists, trying my best not to fall for their baiting. I could take these three bullies easily. They’re powerful but no match for me. I just don’t want to deal with the aftermath, which will include more one-on-one time with my mother.

I snort. “Whatever.”

Using my telekinesis, I shove them out of my way as hard as I can. The idiot who spoke last hits his shoulder against the wall and lets out a growl. Oh, goodie. I triggered his gift, which is the ability to shift into some kind of beast. No wonder his nickname is Monster.

“You’ll get what’s coming for you, as—”

I snap my fingers, cutting off his tirade. The gesture is only for show—my mind is all I need to bend the air around the guy’s throat to do my will, which is to block his airways. Not all telekinetics are able to do that.

“You were saying?” I ask.

One of his friends lifts his arms, displaying steely knives instead of fists. “Let him go.”

“Are you for real? Do you think you can harm me with those pitiful makeshift weapons?”

Monster boy is turning purple, and his other friend doesn’t seem inclined to help. I let him go, sick of the whole scene already.

“Run along. Your presence is nauseating.”

The three clowns scurry away with their tails between their legs. I watch them disappear around the corridor, and then I enter my apartment. My stomach is still a mess. I wasn’t kidding when I said I was nauseated. But it wasn’t because of