Page 145 of Vengeance of the Gods

“Warm up and meet me at the center mat in ten minutes.” Bridger glanced at Vega, brushing his fingers against hers as he walked away.

45

Meyer stood leaning against the ring, looking bored, tapping three times against the glass-like forcefield when Bridger stepped up beside him.

The soldiers stopped their sparring, sweat pouring down their faces from the heat they’d created with their fire. One’s hands went to his knees as he fought to catch his breath. The other had long honey-colored hair pulled into a tight ponytail with long waves flowing down her back. Her deep olive skin glowed from the ember of fire flickering out in her hand, and she was the last person Bridger had ever expected to see on this side of the war.

Her eyes were fixed directly on Bridger, and a smile that spelled trouble brightened her face.

“Go cool down and finish with a five-mile jog,” Meyer ordered, watching the two head for the exit when he dropped the shield.

“You didn’t tell me Helena came.” Bridger kept his voice neutral.

“You didn’t ask, and I didn’t find it necessary. She’s a great asset to the war. It’s not my fault you fu⁠—”

“Commander,” her voice purred from behind the two men.

Bridger spun around and gazed down at her. She was tall, but still short enough that she had to tip her chin to meet his eyes. “Helena.”

Full transparency. Bridger hadn’t slept with anyone for the first ten years after he’d left Vega—there was too much else he’d needed to do, too many feelings he had to overcome and lock away.

After that, the only pleasure he let himself feel was that from meaningless sex. No attachments. No feelings. Raw, unfiltered sex.

Helena had been that quite a few times over the last couple years. And apparently, she hadn’t heard the news…

Before anyone had the chance to speak again, the news and her friends arrived.

“Why is she looking at you like a midnight snack?” Her words were almost playful, a hint of the darkness from earlier still evident in her tone. “I mean, I get it, but—” Vega cut herself off when the group settled in around them and Helena’s blazing gaze settled on her. “Ohhhh. Y’all fucked.”

Bridger coughed, covering his mouth with his fist, thankful Arlet stepped forward to introduce herself to Helena and the young man she’d been sparring. “Hi, I’m Arlet.”

It took the attention off him for at least a few seconds while the rest exchanged pleasantries, including Vega.

She shook Helena’s hand last. “Vega” was all she said with a smile proving she didn’t care.

“Wow,” Helena mused. “The infamous sister.” Her eyes flicked to Bridger and then back to Vega. “It’s crazy how similar they look. Don’t you think, Commander?”

He’d kill her if she thought she could step in between what he and Vega were working to rebuild. “I think the general told you to go for a jog.” Bridger turned away from Helena, focusing on Vega and Arlet. “You two first.” He nodded towards the ring the others had just come out of.

Arlet winked at Vega, pulling her hair up into a messy bun. “Ready to have some fun?”

Vega’s smile grew as she slipped her arm around Arlet’s shoulders. “Let’s see what you’ve learned while I’ve been gone,” she said, popping a kiss on Arlet’s cheek.

Bridger felt his heart constrict in his chest, watching Vega with her best friend. She’d already given too much of her life up. She deserved a chance to experience what was stolen from her.

When the girls slid into the ring, Bridger stepped up to where Meyer had been standing and leaned over. “We all know I’m a huge fan of hand-to-hand and that it’s the foundation of every good warrior, but there’s nothing more deadly than a warrior who can perfect both their ability and the art of fighting at the same time.” He raised a brow. “Which is exactly what this ring allows you to do.”

Vega checked over daggers sheathed at her thigh while Arlet pulled out her double-edged sword from behind her back.

“The use of your powers inside the forcefield will not kill your opponent, but weapons will. Unless you’re us.” He smiled deviously. Bridger waved his hand over the controls, and the shield traveled from the floor up until it caged Vega and Arlet in. His voice echoed through a speaker to them. “We need to learn to use our bond to our advantage on the battlefield. Drop those shields and see through each other’s eyes. Learn to anticipate each other’s next move.”

Arlet and Vega nodded, reaching out to shake hands like every good match should start. Instead of shaking hands, though, they did what they’d always done. They wiggled the tips of their fingers against each other’s.

“Begin.” Bridger’s voice boomed, and the girls wasted no time getting started.

Clouds formed from nothing, water droplets immediately peppering the forcefield like a window on a rainy day. Vega’s storm clouds swirled, but a cyclone didn’t form. Blue lightning scattered across the clouds, jumping down to Vega’s hands before crawling up her arms.

Death stayed put.