Page 108 of Vengeance of the Gods

“Is it true?”

The questions got louder and more aggravated the longer they went unanswered.

Vega turned to them, her face serious as she streamlined all the questions together. “Yes, gods. We survived a successful summoning too. We confirmed it’s true in my last life. This changes nothing for our cause.” Her rapid-fire answers calmed the crowd… for now.

“She can’t kill us, but she will kill our people. Do not forget who we’re dealing with here.” Bridger spoke directly to Arlet—as if she could ever forget. Bridger returned his attention to Khort. “I don’t care if you don’t trust me, and I certainly don’t care if you like me or not, Khort. I never will, but I do care about winning this war.”

Khort, despite his statue-like posture, nodded once at Bridger. He didn’t need to speak for everyone to know he agreed.

“And that is how a rebellion becomes a revolution.”

Fuck. Octavia. Vega had completely forgotten about her.

Everyone’s attention drew to her, and Khort finally took notice of the newcomer. “Who the fuck are you?”

Octavia didn’t shy away, earning some respect from Vega. It wasn’t every day someone stared into the eyes of a man on the verge of transforming into an angry, fire-breathing dragon and didn't take a step back. “Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt. I’ve been trapped in Demuto with shifters for too long. What have we missed?”

Khort went fucking white at the mention of Demuto. “What did you say?”

Octavia cocked her head. “Did she mention anything about him being hard of hearing?” she whispered to Tilie, balancing across her shoulders.

Khort rushed Octavia, and Tilie went flying off in defense. She somehow caught the fox midair, nearly toppling out of her arms before she pulled Tilie against her chest.

“Demuto. You said you’ve been trapped in Demuto.”

Octavia took a step back, putting enough space between her and Khort so Tilie couldn’t grab a chunk of his arm. “Oh yeah, well. As you can see.” She struggled to keep hold of the wiggling fox. “Not a shifter, so…” She chuckled as Tilie broke free and took guard behind her, making sounds Vega didn’t even know how to describe. “I get to come and go as I please.”

Everyone gawked. When was the last time any of them had heard of someone coming and going from Demuto?

Octavia’s eyes trailed over the long row of faces ogling at her. “Oof, tough crowd. Okay, let’s start over. Since these two stole my thunder.” She shot her thumb in Vega and Bridger’s direction. Octavia’s shit-eating grin reminded her of someone… but who?

Who the fuck is this girl?

Vega watched as Arlet sized her up from head to toe, doing an awful job hiding the smile pulling the corners of her lips.

She cleared her throat, and Tilie sat in between her feet like she’d done earlier. “I’m Octavia. This is Ottilie. Tav and Tilie.” It wasn’t common for bonded animals to allow their full name to be spoken to others, and Tilie had allowed Octavia to do it twice now. It was a huge sign of Tilie’s trust in her. “I came here for Khort because the leader of Demuto, or rather, what’s left of Demuto, would like to talk to you.”

Everything went eerily silent, and a rumble from the south shook the trees, birds scattering from their branches. A bright light lit up the dark sky, and something similar to thunder rolled their way.

It looked exactly like the light shining through the redwoods from the portal. The birds scattering added to the vision in Vega’s mind—at least this time she wasn’t bent over in pain.

“A storm?” Bridger asked, eyes fixed on the horizon until the very last bird disappeared.

The hair on Vega’s arm stood up like it would if a natural storm approached. But she knew immediately it wasn’t the welcome sensation of a brewing storm by the cold tendrils of a silent warning creeping through her veins. “No…” she replied with unease.

Octavia’s sigh shook with nerves, her shoulders rolling forward. “It wasn’t supposed to happen yet. I should have had more time…”

The bonded stared at her, sharing the same hesitancy to speak—afraid of what she was going to say next.

Octavia’s face gave away how nervous she actually was. “I was sent to warn you. Demuto is accepting a deal with Marlena to break the curse on the land and its people. In return they have to vow a blood oath to Marlena, pledging their loyalty to her during the upcoming war.” Octavia nodded to Bridger. “Seems she’s worried about her numbers. More worried than she made herself seem if she’s days ahead of schedule. On my way here, I heard whispers that a large number of your soldiers were seen returning to Vincere after Meyer left for Fortis.”

Vega’s brow furrowed, and Bridger didn’t let Octavia finish.

“If Marlena knows people stayed behind at Vincere…” Bridger’s words died in his throat as Arlet’s dragon swooped overhead.

Dread washed over Bridger, and his complexion noticeably paled. “She’s going to kill them.” Bridger’s realization rolled Vega’s stomach. “Marlena’s adding the shifters to her ranks to get ahead, not get even.” His voice trailed off. “Fuck, fuck! I need… I have to be there to help defend Vincere. I should already be there.”

Vega tasted bile as she swallowed. The look in Bridger’s eyes was one she’d only seen from him once before. The last time Vega had seen it, Marlena was driving a dagger through her heart for the first time. “You’re with us?” she asked Bridger out loud, losing her connection to him through the fogginess of her mind, noticing the shift in his energy.