“The linens are in this closet,” Harry points out. “They’re clean, but perhaps a little dusty.”
“It’s fine. We really appreciate the hospitality,” Felicity replies.
He nods. “I will leave you to get settled. You all look like you need a good night’s rest.”
No sooner does the man leave than Rosie strides toward one of the bunk beds. “I’ll take the top.”
Felicity veers toward the closet and winces when she opens the door. “Clean, he said?” She pulls out one gray sheet and shakes it open, creating a cloud of dust.
Rosie starts to sneeze, and I’m close too. Once Felicity is done shaking off the dust from the fabric, I can see it’s actually white, not gray.
“I wonder what he considers filthy, then?” I say.
“Well, did you pay attention to their clothes? It looked like they hadn’t been washed in months.” Renata scrunches her nose.
“Well, maybe they can’t afford the laundromat. Not everyone in the world swims in money,” Rosie retorts.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend anyone.”
“It’s best if you don’t make comments, girlie. You’re out of your element here,” Felicity says.
Her tone isn’t as harsh as Rosie’s was, but she’s not keen on sharing the roof with Renata either.
“Let’s make the beds and go to sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow,” I tell them.
20
Daisy
Getting comfortable enough to sleep took a while, but I know I’ve finally succumbed to slumber when I find myself in the cozy chalet in the mountains that Phoenix brought me to once in his dreams. Snow is falling outside, just like the last time. He’s waiting for me in front of the crackling fireplace. When he looks over his shoulder, the bright smile that splits his face makes me all fuzzy and warm inside.
“Hello, love. Sorry to invade your dreams again.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s a welcome invasion.”
I breach the distance between us, immediately seeking the comfort of his embrace. His arms snake around my back as his head dips. His lips are warm and taste like apples. I lean into him, tilting my head to the side to deepen the kiss. Quickly, my body responds to our proximity, and yearning hits me hard. I want our clothes gone so I can connect to him skin to skin.
But he pulls back, leaving me bereft. “I didn’t come here for sexy times. You need to wake up.”
My eyebrow furrows. “Why? What’s going on?”
“Impromptu secret meeting. Join us by the lake shore in five minutes.”
The dream disintegrates like a beautiful sandcastle destroyed by the sea. I wake up to a void that smells faintly of mildew and old furniture. I’m back in the old bungalow with the lumpy mattress. However, my lips still tingle from kissing Phoenix in the dream, and desire dances around my hips, teasing my sex. I’m so turned on right now it’s not even funny.
At first, I see nothing. It’s pitch black inside the room with the light turned off and the windows shut. I wait a minute for my eyesight to adjust, then slowly swing my legs to the side of the bed and get up.
I slept with my street clothes on because this place is too dirty and cold to undress. But I’m barefoot save for my socks. Blindly, I get to my knees and search for my boots. I know I left them by the side of the bed last night. When I find them, I grab the pair and get ready to leave. I’ll put them on outside. But the jacket is another story. I have no idea where it ended up, and I’m not going to look for it in the dark and risk bumping into something.
I check on Rosie first. She’s on her belly, her favorite sleeping position. The steady rise and fall of her back tell me she’s out cold. Felicity took the bunk bed across from us for herself. She’s snoring, which means she won’t wake up until morning. Renata is the only wildcard here. I don’t know her sleeping patterns, so I can’t figure out if she’s in deep slumber or not. She took the third bunk bed, the farthest one from us.
Well, there’s nothing for it. I have to move if I want to get out of here.
Walking on my tiptoes, I veer toward the door. The old wooden floor creaks as I put weight on the boards, making me wince. Renata sighs in her sleep, slinging her arm across her face. I freeze and wait for one, two seconds before I continue. I finally make it across the room, but now comes the hardest part. The door hinges are old and mega noisy. We also latched the door last night.
Holding my breath, I slide the latch to the side slowly. It clicks as it releases, and I hold my breath. Renata mumbles something in her sleep. It’s too incoherent for me to understand. She rolls toward the wall, curling into a ball. I wait another beat, and when the room remains quiet, I open the door. I can’t do anything about the noise besides hoping all my companions remain in dreamland.
My heart is beating a little faster, and my stomach is twisted in anticipation by the time I’m finally out of the bungalow. It must be the exhilaration of doing something sneakily. I put on my boots first, then hurry down the steps toward the path down to the lake. Before I reach the end, four shapes appear in my field of vision. My boyfriends. It seems like forever since we all hung out together after our relationship solidified. I’m not sure how the dynamics are going to work out. If my heart was beating fast before, now it’s racing.
“Hey,” I say. “What’s going on?”
Bryce turns to me, his expression solemn and hard. “I need to tell you what happened at school.”
“Oh.” I’m a little disappointed. I think after the sexy dream with Phoenix, I was expecting something else. “It couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”
“I don’t think tomorrow we’ll have much time.”
“Why not?”
“I’m sure Harry and Artex will be banging on your door at the crack of dawn,” Morpheus replies. “I wish we didn’t need their help. They rub me the wrong way.”
“I don’t like or trust them either,” Phoenix adds.
“Same here,” Rufio chimes in. “It’s like they don’t see you, Daisy. They have you on a pedestal.”
“We don’t have much choice in the matter. If their organization is providing lightning-glass to the Knights, we have to work with them,” I say.
“Daisy is right. We have to collaborate with them, even if they act a little strange,” Bryce pipes up.
“You’re just saying that because those weirdos think you and Daisy together will bring forth the God-killer,” Rufio retorts.
I raise my hands. “Guys. Please don’t argue. We’ll keep our shields up when we’re around them. It’s the best we can do.” I focus on Bryce. “Now tell me what happened at school.”
“My mother got fired, and the new principal is a Neo God member, high up in the ranks. Rufio and I met him when those fuckers put the mind gag in our brains.”
“I can’t believe she didn’t see that coming.”
“She got cocky and thought she was untouchable. She forgot that my father’s connections run much deeper than hers.”
“So, we lost Gifted Academy to the Neo Gods. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yep. The first mandate from the new principal was to lock down all Fringe students. To what purpose, I don’t know. He also armed some of the students with throwing stars made of lightning-glass.”
“I’d really like to know who is supplying those weapons to the Neo Gods.” Phoenix kicks a loose pebble.
“Well, the Knights had a mole, and they lost a transport of weapons. Gunther told me before I left to attend Nathaniel’s party.” Morpheus’s tone drips with contempt.
Oh yeah. With all the running for our lives, I forgot about that other hand grenade ready to detonate. I hope the Silverstones can handle Morpheus’s asshole half brother.
“Okay, but one lost transport wouldn’t account for the number of weapons we’ve seen in the hands of Neo Gods and Fringe gangs,” Rufio rebuffs. “They must be getting their supply from someplace else.”
“Do you think maybe they’ve found another source
of raw lightning-glass?” I ask.
No one speaks for several beats. It seems my question has dropped like a bomb.
“If they did, then they also have Norms working for them. I can’t think why any Norm would do that,” Bryce says.
“Maybe they’re been forced to.” Phoenix crosses his arms.
Hell. Norms working as slaves for the Neo Gods? The idea alone brings bile to my mouth.
“This is only going to get worse, isn’t it?” I say, feeling miserable.
Morpheus squeezes my shoulder. “Yes, but we’re going to win in the end.”
I look into his eyes, afraid of the answer I might find there. “How do you know? Have you foreseen it?”
He shakes his head. “No. I haven’t had any premonitions in a while. It seems now that I’ve mastered my gift and unlocked my demigod powers, I’ve lost the sight.”
“Anyway,” Bryce interjects. “Back to the events that happened at school yesterday. We were able to free all Fringe students the new principal had locked down. The majority took off, but some stayed behind with Mom.”
“What do you mean, they stayed behind?” I ask.
“There’s a secret facility right under the school grounds.”
“Your mom took me to a secret chamber once, but it was high up, not underground. I thought that was it.”
“I guess not.”
“How was she able to get there if the school was under the Neo Gods’ control?”
“There’s a tunnel that leads there. The entrance is hidden in the forest by a powerful camouflage spell.”
Man, and the surprises keep piling up.
“Why is she keeping those Fringes with her?” I ask, but I can already guess the reason.
“They don’t have anywhere to go since their families are from out of town, but she also wanted me to change them into Idols.”
“Assuming they want to be changed into Idols. Did she ask them?” Rufio poses the question that was also in my mind.
Bryce gives him a droll stare. “Do you think she cares about what they want? Convincing them to become Idols in the aftermath of their ordeal would be child’s play for her. No wonder she wanted me to work on them right away.”
“But you got hurt and couldn’t do it,” I say, relieved that Jodie’s plan was thwarted.
“And then when Toby and I tried to reach you and couldn’t get through, we knew something bad had happened. We snuck out, disobeying my mother’s orders. She must be furious right now.”
“Let her be furious.” Rufio snorts.
Feeling restless, I break away from their circle to pace in front of the lake. “We need to rethink your agreement with your mother.”
“What do you mean?”
“You can’t start making Idols left and right. I think the reason it drains you so much is because you’re not meant to do it.”
“I’ve only done it three times, to save your life and the lives of your loved ones.” He sounds defensive. “Are you saying I shouldn’t have done 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 as heat creeps up my cheeks. Morpheus and Phoenix are standing behind Bryce, utterly still, but the desire in their gazes can’t be missed. Morpheus’s eyes are actually the color of liquid gold now.
Bryce lifts his face to mine. “We want to be with you, Daisy.”
“All at the same time?” I squeak.
“Why not?” Phoenix smiles. “You’re our girlfriend.”
Deep down, I knew our relationship would evolve to this. It’s the natural course of th
ings. But the old me who couldn’t have ever dreamed of being involved with four incredible guys at once is balking at the idea.
“If you don’t want to or you’re not ready, it’s okay,” Rufio whispers softly.
The two occasions where he and Phoenix took turns playing the voyeurism card comes to the forefront of my mind. It was a little embarrassing, but also hot as hell. My pussy throbs, already on board with the idea of a sausage party. My head is the problem.
“I’m afraid,” I confess.
“Afraid of what, darling?” Bryce looks into my eyes.
“That I’ll fuck it up.”
Phoenix chuckles. “Impossible.”
“You can’t know that. This is all new to me.”
“Do you think we’ve done this before?” Bryce asks, fighting a smirk.
I push him back, then get back on my feet. “I don’t know.”
Phoenix chuckles. “We were never willing to share a girl before you came into our lives.”
“Oh,” I say like an idiot.
Bryce steps closer, invading my personal space. His intentions are clear; he wants to restart things. I press my palm against his chest, halting him. I can’t believe I’m about to say this when my heart feels like it’s about to leapfrog out of my chest.
“I’m game.”
21
Daisy
“But not here. We’re not going to have an orgy out in the open where anyone can catch us.”
Morpheus glances in the direction of the bungalows. “We can find a place to go.”
Bryce laces our hands together. “Come on, love.”
My heart is hammering in the confines of my chest as we make our way back up the path. With each step closer to the bungalows, it drums faster. I’m on the verge of a heart attack while we wait for Phoenix to work the lock of the building farthest from Harry and Artex’s trailer.
Opening an empty bungalow is child’s play for him. He probably didn’t even have to concentrate. He goes in first, not bothering to turn on the light. We walk in the dark, and in the dark we stay. We don’t want to let anyone know we’re here.
Broken Knights: A Paranormal High School Bully Romance (Gifted Academy Book 4) Page 14
