Page 110 of Vengeance of the Gods

Vega nodded, letting silence wash over them. Without the sound of their voices, the horses crunching fallen leaves beneath their hooves became the soundtrack to the start of Vega’s spiral.

“You and Bridger then?” Arlet asked, pulling Vega up from the whirlpool of what-ifs threatening to drag her under.

“I’m not sure yet,” she replied. She wasn’t ready to answer that question.

Arlet wrapped her arms around Vega’s midsection from behind and squeezed. “I trust you know what you’re doing even if it doesn’t feel easy.”

Vega let one hand go from the reins, holding on to Arlet’s wrist in a backwards hug of her own. “I don’t deserve you.” The girls held the hug for longer than normal, their breaths syncing and hearts thudding in time. “I won’t forget what he’s done. I know better than to let myself lose pieces of what we’ve gone through… but he had to do it. There’s no telling what would have happened had he not taken control of the army.” She squeezed Arlet’s hand, three quick pumps, and let her hand fall back to the loose reins. “I don’t expect you to trust him. I mean, I’m learning to do it all over again. All I’m asking is that you give him a chance.”

“For you? Anything.” There was a pause, and then Vega practically felt the twisted grin Arlet wore. “But you better make that motherfucker grovel.”

Vega laughed, liking the happy sound. “Oh, don’t you worry. He’s not off the hook yet.”

The rest of the ride went by fast, their horses happy for a break when they reached the edge of Demuto. Lake Vehemens roared angrily, bringing back the memory of the last time Vega had been on the edge of this lake—she’d told Bridger she didn’t care if he died.

Guilt made her reach out. “Made it to the border of Demuto and Pax. You getting close?” Vega asked, sliding off the saddle after Arlet.

“I stole a military vehicle when I crossed into Ardor. It’s a quiet night here,” he shot back immediately.

“Is it really stealing if it’s a vehicle from your own army?”

Bridger had gone alone, leaving his soldiers to assist in returning to Demuto and behind in the caves to watch over the children and elderly who couldn’t defend themselves if something happened.

She didn’t expect him to respond, so when he did… Vega actually choked on nothing but the saliva in her mouth.

“The quiet has given me plenty of time to play around in everyone’s head. Khort hasn’t been doing anything fun, which I guess is good since he’s keeping watch…”

Playing around in everyone’s head? No.

Vega was going to kill him.

“But Arlet? Well, Arlet Videri has been in a position most men, myself included, would love to find themselves in. Riding you from behind, having conversations about the future. Me and you.” He drew out the last word. “You and me.”

Vega slammed the door shut, rattling the walls of her own mind as Khort landed on human feet, shifting from his dragon to the perfect landing.

She didn’t keep the door closed for long, afraid of what might happen if he couldn’t get to her if he needed to. Vega grumbled under her breath at the sound of Bridger’s belly laugh cutting through the closed door.

It was slightly unsettling how her need to have access to him at all times had become somewhat of a lifeline.

Vega had spent a lot of time feeling alone.

It was nice to know she wasn’t anymore.

“Why are we stopping outside Demuto?” Khort asked, coming up on Octavia with urgency.

Tilie went for his ankles.

Khort made the right decision, stopping to give them both their space.

“This is where I was told to meet,” Octavia answered matter-of-factly. “Tilie will make contact and let them know we’re here.”

Khort huffed. “That’s a waste of time when I can get there faster in the skies.”

Octavia rolled her eyes, landing them on Arlet and Vega. “Is he always like this?”

“Yes,” the girls answered in unison.

The look on Khort’s face made Vega feel like a bit of a traitor. She shrugged, smiled, and said, “It’s the truth.”