Page 161 of Vengeance of the Gods

Zetta’s inhales sounded wet and shallow.

Bridger’s were as steady as ever, calm.

Meyer’s breathing was heavy and panicked as he continued to pound on the shield Bridger never let falter.

Marlena couldn’t physically slip behind his shield, but she could control the air inside it.

Meyer’s screaming stopped and was quickly replaced with the sound of labored breathing, the struggle to pull air into lungs desperately needing it. Soon it would turn to choking on nothing…

Marlena opened her eyes, keeping Zetta’s limp body extended above her head as a dagger zipped out of the holster on her leg, hidden by the gorgeous chiffon splitting up the opposite side of her body, and dug into Miklov’s throat with enough force to draw blood.

Marlena did this all without lifting a single finger, without calling to any powers that weren’t her own. She had been strong before the gods, able to do more with the powers she was born with than almost all who shared her ability.

This display was a reminder of who Marlena was even if Vega stripped her of every single god.

Vega grabbed Bridger’s arm, and a jolt of pain mangled his features for no longer than a single breath—long enough for him to falter and drop his shield.

Long enough to fall victim to the trap Marlena had set for them. She laughed, pulling the veil of her invisibility around herself and crossing the room. “You say I’m predictable, dear sister, but you just made the mistake I knew you’d make if I threatened the loved ones of the people you care about.”

Meyer’s face turned the color of ash the longer he fought for air.

Vega spun in circles, her eyes following the sound of Marlena’s voice. “Bridger, shield Meyer!”

“That won’t help you when I’m already inside his lungs.” She laughed, moving around the room too quickly to pinpoint her exact location.

Meyer fell to his knees, clawing at his throat while gasping like a fish who’d been thrown to land.

“Fine! Fine! I’ll give it back! You can have your fire back! You can have it, just don’t kill Meyer!” Vega screamed, positioning herself in the middle of the room, hands outstretched on either side. “Here.”

“Yes,” multiple voices hissed in her ears at the same time.

“Go.”

Marlena breathed happily, a sigh of relief washing over her body. She let one slip of air back into Meyer’s lungs—keeping him barely conscious until Vega held up her end of the bargain.

She cleared the room, keeping her invisibility locked in place until she was ready. Her hand hovered over Vega’s. “I’ll kill him if you cross me.”

Vega shivered at the words spoken over her shoulder and nodded.

Bridger’s head snapped back and forth between his best friend and the girl he loved. “Vega,” he whispered. “No.”

“Get him out,” she responded, and before Marlena could move, Vega grabbed her by the arm like she’d sensed her closeness the entire time.

White-hot pain seared through Marlena’s veins, slowly turning to emerald green. For a second, Marlena felt the heat of what she thought was her fire. She could hear the voice of Vulcan like a child’s whisper in the night… but quickly, too quickly, it turned—and now it was too late to pull away.

Marlena screamed, but the sound got lodged in her throat. Frantically, she tried to fight against Vega, losing like she had the other times too.

Zetta crashed to the ground, cracking the tiles she hit. The dagger at Miklov’s throat clattered to the floor, and he went crawling to his wife in the center of the room. Bridger got Meyer up on his feet, dragging him out of the room.

Pain continued to erupt through her. Marlena’s eyes dragged across her body slowly coming back into view.

The first thing she noticed was her black veins, just like Vega’s… only moving in different directions.

Hers traveled inwards, sucking the power out of Marlena. Marlena’s traveled out… leaving her.

No. No. NO!

You fucking IDIOT! Why? Why did you trust her?!