Page 130 of Vengeance of the Gods

“While we get the dead to a burn pile, you can get everyone on the road. It’ll take a while with the elderly.” Leo made a good point.

“Khort and I could stay back if you two need to go,” Arlet offered.

“Okay,” Bridger responded. Accepting for the both of them. “Halo, take Nora and Leo first. Go straight to my study. Do not let her see anything. Give Leo a quick tour and let him get started with cleaning up.”

Nora almost argued, but she saw the look on Bridger’s face and thought twice. It didn’t take a genius to recognize the haunted stare Bridger wore as a way to process what he’d seen when Vincere was brought up.

Halo wasted no time grabbing Nora’s hand gently. The way his eyes fluttered down to her gaze made Vega’s heart melt. “Try keeping your eyes closed this time. It might help with the nausea.”

“He likes her.” Vega could hear the smile in her voice.

Bridger stared, watching as Halo extended his other hand to Leo.

“This is gonna fucking suck, isn’t it?” he asked, hovering his hand over Halo’s.

“Yes,” Halo deadpanned. “Don’t let go,” he warned like he always did.

“Or what?” Leo swallowed hard.

“He better be careful who he tells.” Bridger glanced to Khort, staring menacingly at Nora’s hand in Halo’s.

“I don’t know. You’ll get stuck in the in-between, maybe. But most likely you’ll die.” Halo barely had the last word out when he snatched Leo’s hand in his and whisked them away to Vincere.

Leo’s gasp echoed even after he was gone.

Arlet immediately turned to face Vega. “I’m not sorry for almost kicking your ass… and I hope you know our conversation from earlier isn’t over.”

Vega nodded. “I figured.”

“I won’t let you kill yourself for us.” And with that, Arlet scurried into the cave.

Khort watched her go and then turned his attention to Bridger and Vega. “Hurt her again, Dimico, and I’ll find a way to kill you myself.”

Before either made it inside the cave, Halo was back.

Alone.

“What?” Bridger asked, rushing towards Halo with an outstretched arm.

Vega followed, unsure of what she was about to get herself into.

“Meyer’s at Vincere.”

41

Bridger had learned to travel with Halo like the power was his own. “You really do get used to it,” he told Vega, who was bent over with her hands on her knees. The look on her face spoke loud and clear—no words needed anywhere.

Shut the fuck up.

Halo dropped them outside the entrance of Vincere. A fire roared on the western corner of the training land.

When the wind changed directions and the smell of the fire whipped their way, Bridger and Vega both froze.

“He’s burning bodies.” Vega said what they were both thinking.

“No fucking way.” Bridger and Vega looked at each other with the same confused expression. “Did he…?” Bridger’s question trailed off.

“You gonna stand and watch or help me clean up our dead and send their souls to the afterlife?” Meyer asked, coming up from behind. His dark skin glistened with sweat, and blood stained his clothing from the fresher bodies.