Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4) - Michelle Hercules Page 0,45
healing part.”
He rips Xavier’s shirt open, and then with his hand raised above the bullet’s entry point, he furrows his forehead in concentration. Xavier grunts, and fuck me, I completely forgot to suggest we give him something for the pain. I’m not sure what though.
It takes a minute for Phoenix to remove the bullet. He had to go slow, and that probably made the experience much more painful. But the damn thing is finally out.
“Is it a normal bullet?” Rufio asks.
“What do you mean, ‘a normal bullet’?” I look at him.
“Xavier had a gun loaded with lightning-glass bullets.”
“Are you shitting me? I thought you could only make blades with those.”
“It’s a prototype that Gunther has been working on for a while. Those bullets are difficult to make, impossible to mass produce,” Xavier replies.
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not,” Rufio mutters.
“It killed Agent Torrance, so right now, I’m glad it exists,” Phoenix pipes up.
I shake my head, attempting to regain my focus. I’m going to need every bit of concentration and strength if I’m going to save Xavier from dying in front of us. I place my hand next to the wound. Warmth concentrates on my palm, and then it spreads up my arm. But the light that comes with my healing gift is weak, dim. Shit.
“It’s not working,” Rosie whimpers.
“Shh. Don’t distract him,” Daisy replies.
She’s right, it’s not working. There’s only one thing I can try. If that doesn’t help, then I’ll fail.
I close my eyes to search inside of myself for the flame that represents my power. It’s small now, but it still flickers brightly. I’m not sure what the lightning-glass poison did to it, but if I use my gift to heal it back to its full capacity, then maybe Xavier will have a chance.
I imagine a bright light enveloping the flame, filling it with more power. It begins to grow and burn brighter little by little, infusing me with hope. As the flame rises, my strength returns. I keep going until the flame itself surpasses the bubble of light.
My hand on Xavier becomes much warmer, and I feel the flow of energy whooshing from my fingertips. I don’t dare move a muscle until the entire room is enveloped in a big ball of light. I lose track of time, but slowly, the light begins to fade, my power recedes, and I open my eyes. Xavier’s wound is closed, completely healed.
I turn to Daisy, cracking a smile. Then she vanishes from my sight, and darkness takes over everything.
18
Daisy
I can’t believe my eyes. Bryce, despite being weakened by lightning-glass poison, just healed Xavier completely. Elations surges within me, only to be crushed when Bryce collapses.
“No!” I yell.
Phoenix, who was standing right next to him, stops the fall, catching him in his arms.
“I knew he should haven’t done that. He could barely walk an hour ago,” Toby says.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me!” I shout.
“How could I? If he didn’t try, you would lose your uncle. How could I possibly put you in the position to choose?”
“Maybe he will come back with the smell of a freshly baked blueberry pie,” Felicity suggests.
I throw him a hard look, hoping he catches the message in my eyes to shut up. Felicity is just trying to help. He does clench his jaw, but he stares right back at me with guiltless eyes.
“Sure, Fefe. We can try the pie. He’ll be hungry anyway when he wakes up.”
My dear friend hurries back to the kitchen. Poppy’s Joint claims their pies are fresh, but the truth is they buy them from a baker and keep some frozen just in case they run out. If Bryce ever finds out, he’ll be crushed.
“Where should I put him?” Phoenix asks.
“He can take my place.” Xavier slides off the table.
Phoenix sets Bryce there. He’s so pale that he looks like a ghost—or a person who already has one foot in the grave. Shut up, pessimistic thoughts. Bryce is not going to die. I cup his cheek, which is cold to the touch. “Oh, Bryce. You should have told me the truth. I can’t lose you.”
His eyebrows furrow together, and a moan escapes his lips.
“How can he build an army of Idols if every time he uses his healing abilities, he collapses like that?” Rosie asks.
“I don’t know.” I shake my head, fighting the tears in my eyes.
“Do we really need an army of new Idols?” Rufio pipes up.