Page 13 of Vengeance of the Gods

Bridger glared, shoving only the essentials into a small backpack. He had to leave tonight. He was already a month behind. “We’ve tried everything else.”

Meyer didn’t reply right away, and a sinking feeling settled into Bridger’s stomach at his pause.

“You let her go, Bridger.” It sounded like Meyer screamed the words, even though it was actually the guilt inside his brain amplifying the truth.

Bridger whipped around, scowling. “Yes, I did, and then she tried to kill me, so good thing I can’t die!” His room inside Vincere was locked tighter than all the others combined, so he didn’t mind speaking freely with Meyer.

“Do you really think this is a good idea?” Meyer sipped on a glass of gold liquor, smoked, no ice, room temperature. His signature choice.

Bridger swung his bag over his shoulder and slipped his bonded dagger from the sheath on his leg. He flipped it around, catching it by the hilt with the blade pointing towards him, and handed it to Meyer. “I don’t know if I have much of a choice.” Bridger knew if he still had a half-mortal soul, his bones would ache from the lack of sleep. It wasn’t his body he had to worry about anymore—it was his mind.

He could still lose himself. These dreams, these memories coming back to haunt him still had what it would take to break Bridger. “Vega might be the answer, she might not be. All I know is the bond wants me to go to her, or it would have been Khort who had the dream instead.”

Meyer eyed the dagger.

Bridger nodded for him to take it. “I don’t trust this with Marlena. My sword’s in the safe.”

Meyer sighed, grabbing the bonded weapon from him. “You said if she dies, you die. What changed?”

“Nothing,” he said. Me, Bridger thought and had to swallow the word to stop it from coming out. He ran a hand over his face. “I don’t know, Meyer. I have no idea what I’m doing, but what I do know is I can’t live like this. I can’t let Vega di—” He cleared his throat, letting the word die on his tongue. “I’ve already crossed every line there is to cross. What’s one more?”

Another long pause filled the room with silence. It pulled taut with unspoken words and white lies.

Meyer stood up abruptly, taking Bridger by surprise, and wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug.

A hug.

Bridger couldn’t remember the last time someone hugged him.

“I hope you find what you’re looking for on Earth.” Bridger waited until Meyer pulled away from the embrace, watching as he grabbed his drink off the side table before turning for the door.

“You’re in charge while I’m gone. Don’t fuck anything up.” Bridger ordered. “And watch after Halo, will you?”

Meyer groaned and reached for the handle. “What is it with you and that kid?” He didn’t wait for Bridger to answer before making his exit.

Bridger answered out loud anyway. “He reminds me of me.”

A bowl of warm stew perked Arlet up as soon as the scent hit her.

Bridger joined Arlet inside her cell, pasting on a smile. “Hungry?” He wiggled the bowl over her head, dropping a spoon into her lap.

In Arlet fashion, she threw it at his head.

Bridger caught it midair and sighed. “Arlet, please act civilized. I know you’re used to acting feral after all this time in the wild, but you could at least try,” he sneered.

She kicked at his feet, but Bridger took a step back, careful not to spill the stew amidst her tantrum. “I hate you.”

“You don’t mean that.” He faked a pout. “I’m just trying to bring you some dinner and let you know I’m leaving.” Bridger extended the spoon to her. “I came to ask you for advice.”

Arlet snatched it out of his grasp, and it didn’t come flying back at his head, which was a good sign, but Arlet did start snickering like he’d told a really funny joke. “Get fucked, Dimico,” she said, but her eyes kept jumping back to the delicious smelling beef and vegetable stew.

Bridger offered the bowl to Arlet with a raised brow. “It’s not poisoned, and even if it were, it wouldn’t kill you.” He shrugged. “The portal is ready. I’m going to Earth. I’d love to make this as easy as possible for myself and Vega’s sake.”

Arlet took the stew and scooted until her back met the wall. She balanced the bowl between her knees and wasted no time scooping the first bite into her mouth.

Bridger knew she fought with everything she had not to hum a contented moan.

Hunger would win every time.