Page 117 of Vengeance of the Gods

Silence fell again. The breeze even paused its rustling through the trees.

“Delori is alive.” She’d been trying to tell Bridger before, but everything was happening stacked on top of each other.

Marlena killed all of Vincere.

She cursed the shifters.

Delori is alive.

“What?” Bridger’s shock amplified her own.

He knew Delori from before… and then he’d been with the rebels when her last correspondence arrived.

Delori started to reach her hand across the space like she could touch Khort from a distance, but her hand fell, and she hesitated. She looked so much like Olenor, their mother—it felt like Vega had stepped into the past. “It’s okay,” she reassured him, giving him the opportunity to make the first move.

That freed Khort from his trance. He stumbled forward and collided with Delori seconds later. She folded into his hug, engulfed by Khort’s desperate embrace.

“She’s the leader of Demuto.” Vega finally remembered to respond to Bridger.

Khort believed his only sibling had taken her own life fifty-one years ago… and now here she was. Alive.

“Halo’s here. I’ll be there soon.” The bond went cold as Bridger slipped out of her mind.

“H-how? Why? You’re alive.” Khort sounded like he’d been woken up from a deep sleep and forced to have a full conversation.

“I know. I’m sorry. I have so much to tell you, so much to explain, but I did what I needed to do. I did what you would have done if Demuto needed you.” Delori pulled away and flashed a smile to Vega and Arlet. “Quick.” She crooked two fingers at them.

Arlet didn’t hesitate a single second, zipping over to her for a squeeze. Tears rolled down both their cheeks.

Vega stepped up next, wrapping Delori tight. They were close to the same height, Vega’s mouth resting near her ear during their hug. “I’m proud of you.”

Someone had to tell her.

“Thank you.” Delori squeezed her tighter, pulling back to look Vega in the eyes. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

Vega held her tears back, shoving her heart behind a wall. Marlena would be here any minute. She had to keep her head on straight. “Me too.” The words tasted like the lie they were.

“You’ve met Octavia. My eldest,” Delori said, wiping at her tear-stained cheeks. “And this is Nora,” she added, motioning to the younger sister sticking close to Octavia’s side. “My youngest daughter. Your nieces.” Delori looked back to Khort, reaching out to touch his cheek. “Gods, you’re handsome. Haven’t changed a bit except for this beard.” She pulled at the end gently. “I’m not sure how much time we’re going to get for me to explain, so let me start by telling you how much I love you. How much I’ve missed you.” Delori patted his cheek and let her hand fall to her side. “When I sent my last message, I was nine months pregnant. I had Octavia three days later.”

Khort lost a breath, shut his eyes, and wagged his head slowly a couple times. “Del.”

“Dad was dead. We’d just lost Mom.” Delori didn’t stop. “I knew if I told you I was pregnant, if I continued to let you believe I was alive, you would have eventually done something stupid—like get yourself trapped in Demuto with me.”

Khort narrowed his eyes. “You shouldn’t have been alone. I should have⁠—”

Delori interrupted him. “You were meant to be right where you’ve been this entire time. The rebellion needed you.” Delori reached out and rested her hand on Khort’s forearm. “And I wasn’t alone. I had the girls’ father. I was the last Fera in Demuto. I had to put the pieces together and hold them there, with or without glue, whether I wanted to or not.”

Vega knew their time was running out. She felt the wind picking up, the rush of it through her fingers awakening Death. It roared, the sound echoing up the abyss and rattling the shield Vega was trying to hold in place.

Her focus was pulled in too many directions.

Bridger.

Delori.

The shield.

Death clawed closer and closer.