Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4) - Michelle Hercules Page 0,54
it then?”
Shame takes me over. Yeah, I’m being a hypocrite.
“I don’t think that’s what Daisy is saying at all, bro,” Phoenix comes to my defense.
Ignoring him, Bryce continues. “Does that speech have anything to do with what Harry said about the natural order of things?”
“A little, but most importantly, it has to do with your health. I won’t stand back and watch you suffer, not even if that could win us the war.”
“Creating more Idols is not going to win us the war,” Morpheus says solemnly.
“How do you know?” Phoenix asks. “You haven’t had a vision in a while.”
Morpheus meets his gaze. “True. But I know who’s behind all this mess.”
“Chaos,” I say.
He nods. “He’s not the only one to blame. The gods made a clusterfuck of things when they mingled with mortals and created the demigods and Idols. All Chaos did was pit us against one another. Destruction and violence are what give him power.”
“I thought he was bound to his island though. The war between Idols and everyone else has been raging for centuries,” I say.
“I think I know what happened, and why he wants to destroy you.”
“Come on, dude. Don’t leave us hanging,” Phoenix urges him.
“It was Magia. I think that when she returned her gift, she weakened Chaos to the point he became bound to his island of horrors. But with the growing amount of violence and the impending war, he’s gained strength again.”
My throat closes up as the gravity of our situation bears down on me. I don’t want to sink into despair, but it’s pretty hard when the odds of winning against Chaos are slim.
“Those are a lot of assumptions there, Morpheus,” Rufio rebuffs.
“Shit, the antique book. I completely forgot about it.” I smack my forehead. “Do you think it has information useful to us about Chaos, Magia, and these foretold events everyone keeps talking about?”
“Are you speaking of the book that told you how to block me from invading your mind?” Phoenix asks.
“Yeah. I left in my dorm room.”
“I’m afraid your room has been ransacked by now by the new principal. He has a master key,” Bryce replies somberly, my mood sinking to the pits of despair. There goes the slim hope that I could find a way to restore Rufio’s powers.
“Another god spoke to me when I was battling Chaos,” Morpheus resumes his story. “She told me the only way to win against him was to be what he’s not.”
“What other god?” I ask, remembering the woman’s voice that spoke in my mind.
“A woman. She didn’t say who she was, only that she was family.”
Phoenix snorts. “With the way those gods liked to fuck around, that narrows down to nothing.”
Morpheus sighs out loud. “I know.”
“Okay, but can we assume that the goddess speaking to Morpheus and Daisy are the same person?” Bryce asks.
“She spoke to me in riddles, refused to give straight answers. Annoying as fuck,” Morpheus replies.
“Same with me,” I tell him. “What did she tell you?”
“That the key to beating Chaos is to do the opposite of what he wants. We have to be his opposite.”
“She told me there’s strength in numbers.” Phoenix gives him a droll look. “Not very helpful, I know.”
“Your dad showed up twice now to save you from Chaos. Why can’t he just appear when Bad Grandpa isn’t trying to kill you? Answers would be extremely helpful.” Rufio folds his arms and glances at the lake.
Frustrated, I find a boulder near the shore and sit down. Maybe if I gaze at the serene waters, I’ll get a revelation.
Rufio approaches—I know it’s him because of the lack of powers. He massages my shoulders for a moment and leans close to my ear. “It will be okay, babe.”
I was already melting at his touch alone, but when he kisses me on the neck just below my ear, I dissolve completely. The fire that Phoenix started in the dream reignites. Rufio keeps peppering my skin with open kisses, leaving a trail of goose bumps. I don’t want to think about our problems anymore. I just want to spend a worry-free evening with the men I love. I close my eyes, but I can still sense when Bryce and Morpheus close in.
Someone drops in front of me, parting my legs. The flux of energy that flows into me has Bryce’s signature. He runs his fingers up my legs, stopping just inches from my sex. Then he kisses me between my breasts, and everything becomes intense fast. My eyes fly open