Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4) - Michelle Hercules Page 0,33

the terrifying god. Chaos.

13

Bryce

“How many times do I have to tell you not to move?” Ellen barks at me.

“When you stop digging into my arm with that pincer of yours.” I glower back at her.

“There are still lightning-glass shards embedded in your muscle. I have to remove everything, or the poison will keep spreading.” She pulls out a minuscule piece, then sets it on the tray next to the couch.

Mom’s secret hideout turned out to be underneath the school grounds. That’s how she was able to return to the building and rescue the Fringe students. She claims she’s the only person alive who knows about the location. The knowledge is passed down from principal to principal, but she burned the book with the information long ago. Meaning my father’s friend won’t acquire the intel.

“Okay, last one,” Ellen announces.

Toby comes near and inspects the tray. “How do you know that’s the last piece?”

“I’ve got X-ray vision, kid. Don’t you remember?”

He twists his face into a grimace while he rubs the arm Renata broke. The girl who had been part of Drusilla’s posse and dead set on torturing Daisy drops her gaze to the floor.

“I’m really sorry about all the awful things I did to you, Toby.”

He keeps staring at her in silence for the longest time. His ginger eyebrows furrow as if he’s concentrating hard.

“Okay,” he says finally.

“Really? You’re going to forgive her just like that?” I ask.

“She is sorry. I read it in her mind.”

Renata whips her face up, looking at Toby bug-eyed. “You can read thoughts?”

“Well, kind of. I can’t read the exact thoughts of Idols, just their intentions. Like I could tell you weren’t bullshitting me. With Norms and Fringes, I can actually hear entire sentences. It’s freaky as hell.”

“Shit, that’s a dangerous gift, kid,” Ellen chimes in.

“And mega useful to my mother,” I add bitterly.

When I healed Toby, he went from Norm to Fringe. As the time passed, his powers increased. Now he’s a level ten Idol. I wonder if he’ll get even stronger and what that will do to his psyche. A sense of unease lingers inside of me. Still reeling from the aftermath of our showdown with my father in Hawk City, I was quick to agree to help my mother create an army of new Idols. Now, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. We don’t know yet if there are any side effects to those I change.

“How is Bryce?” Mom enters the common room Ellen used as a treatment area.

“He’ll live. I already dabbed every entry wound with the antidote for the poison.”

I watch her closely. There’s not even an ounce of emotion in her eyes. As cold as ever. I could have died today, but I’m pretty sure she’d mourn the loss of her weapon more than that of her son. I shouldn’t care, but I’m no longer the dispassionate person I was before. Daisy has woken my heart to love, and now I know I’ve been denied that my entire life.

“How long until he’s completely healed?” she continues her interrogation.

“My advice is to rest for at least forty-eight hours.”

“That’s too long. We don’t have that much time. I’d like Bryce to work on the new recruits as soon as possible.”

Ellen stares at my mother as if she’s gone crazy. “Asking him to use his gift so soon is not advisable, Jodie. It’s foolish.”

Mom turns to me. “You’ve seen what the Neo Gods are capable of, Bryce. You know what they did to Rufio. It’s only going to get worse. They’re mobilizing their forces as we speak. They’ll attack the weak without mercy to draw Daisy out of hiding. We need the numbers.”

“We don’t even know if I’ll be able to make more Idols,” I retort, hating that I’m falling for her fearmonger speech.

“One more reason to attempt it as soon as possible.”

“Fine. Let’s do it now.” I get up, but immediately the room begins to spin. Shit. I guess I do need more time to heal.

Ellen holds my arm, stabilizing me. “Sit your ass back down. Maybe you can try tomorrow.”

I throw my head back, resting it against the couch. “Do you know what the Knights are planning to do?”

Toby’s cell phone pings, diverting my attention to him. He must be texting Rosie. I should call Daisy. On the way here, I was only able to text Rufio. I was in too much agony. Plus, I knew that if she heard my pain-laced voice, she’d want to come to Gifted