Page 14 of Vengeance of the Gods

“How do I know how to find Vega when I get there?” Bridger asked Arlet for probably the twentieth time this week.

Through a mouthful of still-hot stew, Arlet surprised him and said, “Wherever you saw Vega in your dream, that’s where she’ll be.”

Pinned against the wall about to be fucked by another man? I sure hope not.

“And how will I know I’m on the right track?” he bit out.

Arlet shrugged, scarfing down another bite. “Took me a long time to figure out all the details. Guess you’ll have to figure it out too.”

Bridger groaned. “Will you just help me out here?”

“No,” Arlet deadpanned. “I’ve told you all I’m willing to. I am not on your side. So what, you showed weakness and let her go a couple times? That doesn’t erase everything else. If you’re meant to find her, you will. Simple as that.”

Bridger ground his teeth together, every muscle in his body tensing with frustration.

“If Vega was right, if she has her memories, there is nothing, not even you, that’s going to get in the way of her breaking her curse. If this worked, Vega is going to be fucking unstoppable.”

“Who said I wanted to stop her from breaking the curse?” Bridger asked, retreating from the cell. “We’re bonded. Her curse is ours, right?” He locked the door, leaving Arlet alone inside again. “Have you ever thought about how much stronger we might be if Vega weren’t cursed?” His brow rose. “If we’re this connected now, if we’ve got all these new powers and abilities, what might happen if there’s nothing weighing one of us down anymore?”

The look on Arlet’s sullen face told him she’d thought about it—they all had.

“You’re not wearing that to Earth, are you?” Arlet asked, taking her last bite.

Bridger looked down at his basic training suit. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

A soft, almost genuine smile tugged at the corners of Arlet’s lips. “They’re going to think you’re dressed up as an Avenger.”

7

Blood dripped to the floor from the cut Marlena made across Bridger’s palm. As she’d instructed, he ran his open wound across the top of the iron frame. It looked nothing like the portal he was used to seeing in Vates.

There was no holographic sheen to it, no pull of energy. It was so much worse.

He stepped back after he drenched the frame with his blood. The smoke-like shadows darkened around the edge where his hand had just been. It reminded him of the remnants of travelers’ powers after they jumped. Except this didn’t disappear over time—it stayed put, ebbing and flowing like it had a pulse of its own.

“Are you sure this is going to work?” Bridger asked hesitantly, slipping a dagger into his waistband. After the Avengers comment, Bridger had changed into a casual outfit. He hoped a black button-down with sleeves rolled to the crook of his elbows and black slacks made to fit his body perfectly, like everything else in his wardrobe personally made for the commander of Tolevarre, would make him stand out on Earth less.

Marlena stared him down. “You doubt me?”

Bridger didn’t react. “I mean, if you could make another portal this entire time, one that led right to Vega, why wouldn’t you have just sent someone directly to her each time?”

Marlena’s smile expanded to reveal her canines. “I never had a reason to make another portal until you asked, not when Arlet did the dirty work all by herself. Having her away from Khort and the brewing rebellion, chasing after a best friend who was good as dead? It’s like the curse was doing the torture she deserved for me.” She watched the portal with hooded eyes riddled with lust.

Did the power inside call to her?

“This curse might technically be on my sister, Bridger, but make no mistake… I designed it to fuck with everyone else’s minds too. Yours. Arlet’s. Khort’s.” Marlena smiled. “You all didn’t have to endure Vega’s death only once. You had to face it over, and over, and over again, slowly realizing she’d never be the person you all loved ever again.”

Bridger fought off a chill.

“There’s nothing I can’t do,” Marlena cooed.

“Except figure out how to kill your sister.” Bridger clarified.

Marlena’s pause made Bridger crack a smile of his own.

“So help me gods if you don’t shut the fuck up.”

His grin grew the longer he got under Marlena’s skin. Bridger shrugged, waltzing towards the new portal. He hid the unease settling in his stomach the closer he got to the unknown. “I told you I was done doing your dirty work when it came to Vega, and yet here I am, once again, dealing with her for you. Voluntarily. I’m such a great guy. You should be nicer to me.” His joking tone disappeared.