“Why did you follow me?”
“Because you’re angry, and I want to understand why.”
“Were you always this thick, or is being obtuse a trait of your demigod status?”
His eyes darken and his shadows coil around his body. “That was a low blow, Daisy.”
“Was it? I mean, you must know why I’m angry. You left without saying a word, made the decision to destroy all the lightning-glass reserves without talking to the rest of us first, and now you want to go on a solo mission again. Did I miss anything?”
“Yeah, you damn well missed something.” He flies across the room to invade my personal space. “I’ve done all this to protect everyone. You saw what those fanatics were up to. Lightning-glass weapons in the hands of criminals could be devastating. It was the right call to make.”
“Maybe. But you should have talked to us first instead of letting your ego take over.”
“My ego…” He steps back, threading his fingers through his hair. “That wasn’t it, Daisy. I wanted to make those assholes pay for trying to hurt you.”
“Did you?”
“I didn’t kill every single person in the camp if that’s what you’re asking. I’m not a monster.”
Guilt pierces my chest. “I’m not saying you are.”
“Really? Could have fooled me.”
“Morpheus.” I step closer. “I don’t want to fight with you.”
The angry storm vanishes from his eyes. “I don’t want to fight with you either.”
“Then stop being so stubborn.”
His eyebrows shoot to the heavens. “I’m being stubborn? Pot, meet kettle.”
My anger returns. It’s clear we can’t have a normal conversation right now without arguing. I turn around before I say something I’ll regret, but Morpheus doesn’t allow me to take a step. He’s in front of me, blocking my path.
“Don’t walk away from me.”
“Like you did?” I lift my chin in defiance.
His eyes are once again otherworldly, and the power radiating from him vibrates against my skin. Goose bumps break out on my arms, and crazy enough, wisps of desire curl around the base of my spine.
His brows furrow while regret shines in his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He reaches for the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my hair. “I shouldn’t have left. I was… overwhelmed. I still am.”
His confession deflates my anger. With a sigh, I move closer to him and cup his cheek. “Let me help you.”
He leans down, pressing his forehead against mine. “I don’t know how anymore.”
Rising on my tiptoes, I bring my lips to his. His response is immediate. He twists a lock of my hair, keeping my head in place while he invades my mouth with his tongue. My skin tingles all over, a reaction that’s completely new and exciting. My powers respond to his, flowing through my veins effervescently.
I’m suddenly floating on air as light as a feather. I latch on to his body, wrapping my legs around his hips. Our clothes vanish like magic, and with the barriers gone, Morpheus’s erection teases my center.
“How did you do that?” I ask against his mouth.
“I’m not sure, to be honest. I just wanted our clothes gone, and poof.”
“You’d better learn how to bring them—” My back meets the wall, and Morpheus slides all the way in, scrambling all my thoughts.
He captures my lips again, unraveling me completely as his tongue teases mine. My head is light, as if it’s filled with cotton candy. Euphoria makes me feel like I’m high. Maybe I am. Kissing Morpheus is like tasting the nectar of the gods, literally.
He’s moving between my legs, unmerciful, and with each trust, it becomes harder to maintain my grip on reality. I’m slowly but surely becoming detached from body, untethered to the constraints of the physical world. I know I’m forgetting something, but I can’t fathom what.
Our bodies are slick, our breathing coming out in bursts but in sync. I’m terribly close to release, and I know Morpheus is too. When it finally hits us, it’s like we turn into smoke, quickly mixing together to become one.
39
Morpheus
I’m not sure how it happened, but somehow during our lovemaking, I was able to peer inside Daisy’s mind. It happened naturally, as if we were connected not only physically but on a spiritual level too. I didn’t mean to snoop around, but the knowledge I wanted was right there in front of me. I couldn’t avoid learning the location to the Neo Gods’ headquarters.
Daisy can’t be angry at me for that, but she can and will be furious that I took off alone to do what I said I would. There’s absolutely no fucking sense or reason to risk everyone’s lives when I can destroy the place alone.
Getting to the Sapphire mountain range where the secret hideout is took me no more than a mere thought. If we had come by car, it would have taken an hour. Another argument for why my coming alone was the right call.
Then why the hell do I feel so guilty about it?
I’m standing in front of the side of a mountain. There’s a narrow road that leads to a dead end, which means the entrance is there, hidden. I narrow my eyes, and with ease I can see the shape of a steel gate underneath the stony wall. It’s reinforced by lightning-glass, a precaution in case someone tries to use their powers to forcibly open it.
Expanding my awareness further, I count around fifty people inside the facility, which has three levels. The majority of the Neo Gods are on the first level, right on the other side of the gate. I’m concealed from the security cameras, and I’ll remain like that until I can strike everyone in one fell swoop. For that, I want to be on the other side so I can witness their reaction when they die.
I let the shadows consume me, taking their form, and then I zap through the cracks of the hidden entrance. When I rematerialize, I keep the shadows around me and observe the motherfuckers who will soon become dead meat.
They’re busy loading trucks and vans with assault weapons and explosives concealed inside black boxes, and part of their uniform includes vests that I’m sure protects them from Idol attacks. There are no Fringes in the mix, meaning this is a high-level operation. I can’t imagine what kind of destruction was next on their agenda, but it’s clear they don’t intend to rely on their powers only. This is war.
I’m about to unleash my wrath on them when the elevator at the far end of the room opens and an ancient creature walks out. He oozes power despite his age and the fact that he requires a cane to move. One of the soldiers turns his attention to him, saluting the man as if he was a general.
“Everything ready for phase two?” the old man asks.
“Yes, Master. All explosives have been loaded in the trunks.”
“Good, good. I don’t want one brick left standing in any of the Norm and Fringe neighborhoods.”
“Fringes too? Jonathan’s orders were to concentrate on Norm-populated areas,” the soldier argues.
“Yes. That was the original plan, but there have been new developments.”
I wonder if he’s referring to me destroying all the lightning-glass reserves.
“We’ll lose the Fringe support if we turn against them now.”
“They have served their purpose. And yours is not to argue with me. There’s no sense delaying the inevitable. It’s time for the Idol race to reign supreme.”
His hatred snaps my self-control. I’ve heard enough. It’s showtime.
I pull the shadows into me, revealing myself.
“Is it though?” I cock an eyebrow.
Several curses erupt among the soldiers, but none of them attempt to attack. They can’t while they’re trying not to soil themselves. I have everyone present in my grip save for the old fuck. The one they called master.
Slowly, I make my way to him, grinning. The man holds his cane with both hands, stooping over it. He watches with me with curiosity but not fear.
“So, you’re the one behind all this,” I say.
He lifts his chin higher, defiantly. �
�I was expecting you.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“He told me my life would end at the hands of a traitor.”
I narrow my eyes to slits. “Who did?”
“The god I serve, the one who shall be free before this is over. Chaos.”
I grab the man by his neck, lifting him off the ground and letting my shadows slither free to cover the vermin’s body. “You’re one of his minions, then.”
The old man begins to laugh. “Just like you are.”
“You’re wrong. I serve no one.”
“Ah, the arrogance of the young. Go ahead, kill me,” he goads.
There’s no fear in his eyes, only malice. I feel like he’s manipulating me to do something I shouldn’t.
“What’s the matter, Fringe scum? Can’t do it? It must be the blood of that whore mother of yours.”
My rage takes over, clouding everything. I squeeze his throat harder, crushing it as if it were made out of butter. His blood spatters, covering my hand right before I drop him. He flops on the floor like a fish out of water. I watch him with detached curiosity as he slowly suffocates in his own blood.
The head of the Neo Gods is dead, and yet I don’t feel an ounce of satisfaction. This was too easy. And Jonathan Kent isn’t here. Killing him would have been way more interesting, but Rufio or Bryce probably want the pleasure for themselves. It doesn’t matter. Without his boss and resources, smoking him out will be only a matter of time. I glance around, noticing I killed every single soldier around while the master was distracting me. Damn it. Who’s going to set up the explosives now?
Someone behind me shouts, and then a scorching blaze comes barreling my way. I turn into smoke, rising out of its path. Two more Neo Gods have come out of the elevator and boldly decided to attack me. I should end them on the spot, but their arrival is providential. I have a final task for them.
I land in front of the trucks filled to the brim with explosives, and then I tone down my powers.
“It seems you missed,” I taunt them.
Both Idols are fire elementals, level thirteen and fourteen respectively. I don’t know if pretending to be an Idol will fool them, especially considering the carnage I already left in my wake.
“Where are your accomplices?” the tallest of the duo asks.
I shrug. “Gone.”
“So they left you behind, huh? They should have checked the rest of the facility. Can’t expect much from a bunch of dumb fucks.”
His companion glances at the crumpled form of their boss, surrounded by his own blood. “They killed the master.”
Both men twist their expressions in anger before attacking me with everything they’ve got. Perfect. Their fireballs converge, becoming a beauty of destruction. Like before, I turn into smoke and zoom out of its path. It hits the trucks that were behind me, setting off a massive explosion that pulverizes not only the Neo Gods’ facility but also the entire mountain. I continue my ascension to avoid the cloud of debris that quickly forms.
I may not have felt anything when I killed the master, but my ethereal body tingles all over as I watch the entire mountain collapse. But my moment of pleasure is short-lived. I sense his dark presence behind me too late and can’t avoid being swallowed whole by Chaos’s cloud of doom.
DAISY
I wake up alone in the restroom fully dressed. My ears are buzzing, and my head feels light. I’m not sure what exactly happened. Everything is foggy, almost as if I’ve been dreaming and can’t remember the details.
I came here to run away from Morpheus, but he followed me. Did that really happen? I get back onto my feet and turn to the mirror. Besides my tangled hair, there are no other visible signs that I just had sex. That is, until I step closer to the sink and become painstakingly aware of the throb between my legs. I didn’t dream it, then.
With the realization come a million questions, but the most important one is: Why did Morpheus leave me?
“Daisy?” Phoenix asks from outside the restroom. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. You can come in.”
He does, followed by Bryce and Rufio. They scan the small space, maybe to be sure I’m truly alone.
“Where’s mummy boy?” Rufio asks.
“Mummy boy?” I crinkle my forehead.
“That’s what Rufio used to call Morpheus before we became friends. It used to piss him off to no end.” Phoenix glances at the ceiling. “If he’s not down here kicking his ass, he’s definitely left the building.”
I run a shaky hand through my hair. “I don’t understand why he left in a hurry again. Unless…” I glance at the guys. “You didn’t give him the address to the Neo Gods’ facility, did you?”
“We haven’t seen Morpheus since you stormed off and he followed you here,” Bryce replies.
I laugh without humor. “I thought he’d come back for good. I guess he has truly become one of those asshole deities.”
My heart breaks as I utter those words. I wanted to believe we wouldn’t lose him once he embraced his demigod status.
“Don’t be sad, love. Maybe we just need to give him more time.” Phoenix pulls me against his chest and kisses the top of my head.
“You’re right. It has only been a day.” I curl my fingers around his shirt, melting a little in his embrace.
“If we want to catch those sons of bitches before they launch another attack, we need to go now,” Rufio urges, making me tense again.
I ease out of Phoenix’s arms and stare at Rufio and Bryce. “Let’s go, then.”
Outside, I immediately sense the high tension in the air. Xavier glowers at me from across the room. Shit. Disappearing for a quickie with my demigod boyfriend probably didn’t go down well with him. We’re in the middle of a war, after all.
I try to come up with something to say, but everything sounds like a half-baked excuse.
“We’re ready to go. We’ve only been waiting for you,” he says.
Mortification makes my face hot. “I’m ready.”
From the corner of my eye, I catch Rosie shoving a lightning-glass dagger in a thigh holster. It’s clear that accessory came from the Knights.
“You’re not coming with us,” I tell her.
“Don’t even try to keep me here,” she retorts. “Xavier already tried.”
“Tried?” I quirk an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, but like you, Rosie is another stubborn child. I don’t have to time to argue. If she wants to fight, so be it.”
“Exactly. Why can’t I fight for those I love?” she adds, glancing at Toby.
The lights in the warehouse once again begin to act strangely, flickering on and off. For a second, I think it’s Morpheus returning, but the signature I pick up is not his.
Eris.
She appears in the middle of the hospital, frightening some of the children who were up. Ellen strides toward her, ready to tear the goddess down with a string of insults.
“What are you doing here? Get the hell out!” Ellen points in our direction.
Eris’s lips twist into a grin. “Sorry. I miscalculated.”
Miscalculate, my ass.
She saunters in our direction, swinging her hips from side to side as if she were a model on a catwalk. When she appeared before, she was wearing regular clothes—a pair of dark jeans and a vintage T-shirt. Today she’s going for the seductress vibe, wearing a low-cut snug black dress with slits on both sides of the skirt that go up almost to her hips. Her long silky ebony hair sways with the movement, and her ruby lips curl in a knowing grin.
I check my guys to make sure they’re not falling for her games, but mercifully, their expressions are suspicious, as they should be. Soren’s jaw, on the other hand, is hanging loose, and I can totally picture his tongue rolling out cartoon-style. Dumbass.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
Her grin vanishes when her attention switches to me. “I came to warn you that what I feared has happened. Chaos took Morpheus to his island.”
40
Daisy
Everything else takes a back seat, including raiding the Neo Gods’ headquarters. Our top priority now is to save Morpheus from Chaos.
“You must take us there,” I say.
Eris shakes her head. “Absolutely not. If I take you, Chaos will trap me too. He’s been trying to put me in a cell for centuries. I’m not going to make it easy for him.”
“You must! It’ll take days to get to the island by boat, and that’s assuming we can find it again,” Mrs. Malek argues.
“I’m not taking you there, but there’s another way to get to Starlight Island fast.” Eris looks pointedly at Jodie. “Come on, darling. Tell them about our arrangement.”
All eyes turn to Jodie, who has gone whiter than a sheet of paper. Her eyes are trained on Eris, wide and unblinking.
“Mother, what the hell is she talking about?” Bryce asks.
Jodie swallows hard, amplifying the visible tension around her mouth. “When William died, I vowed to avenge his death. Eris came to me and proposed a deal. She would help me bring the downfall of the Neo Gods and kill Jonathan in the process in exchange for my assistance.”
“Assistance with what?” Rufio asks angrily.
“With anything she needed.”
“Son of a bitch,” Phoenix mutters.
“Don’t look so shocked, guys. In comparison to Chaos, I was a pretty good boss. I helped more than I asked for stuff in return. Who do you think told Jodie Daisy was the descendant of Magia destined to receive her powers? Or that Bryce had the ability to make Idols?”
“Oh my God.” I hug my middle, remembering the conversation Bryce and I had last night. He was right. We’ve been nothing but puppets this whole time.
“That’s messed up,” Soren pipes up.
Eris turns to him. “Maybe, but your father benefited greatly from the intel I gave Jodie.”
“No offense, but can we deal with this revelation later? We have to rescue my son. How do we get to the island?” Mrs. Malek asks.
Broken Knights: A Paranormal High School Bully Romance (Gifted Academy Book 4) Page 26