Page 169 of Vengeance of the Gods

She hadn’t let herself break down yet, to feel everything all at once. Vega knew it was coming, but it wasn’t time yet. Not when Bridger needed her to be strong—not when Tolevarre’s peaceful fate rode on her back.

She could cry for the life she was being robbed of later.

Vega would never know how to repay Arlet or say thank you enough to Khort for all they’d done for her. The only way she knew how was to make sure they lived to see the world they’d been fighting for.

“I have to be the one to fix this,” Vega said, sounding sad despite her best efforts. “I’m the one who begged for her death. I’m the one who brought this upon us.” She was the one who summoned—Death hissed, stopping his name from crossing Vega’s mind.

“We,” Arlet whispered. “We did this.”

Vega. Bridger. Arlet. Khort.

Her family, and the only people Vega would face the gates of hell for…

Vega rested her head on Arlet’s shoulder, who in turn rested her head against hers and slipped her hand in Vega’s. She’d been up since yesterday morning. The sun setting mixed with the calmness from the wine, and she knew she wasn’t going to be able to fight off sleep for much longer.

Vega yawned, the sun finally dipping behind the mountains in the distance. They’d lost track of time, even Avi drifting off to sleep, twitched noticeably because of her size.

With her hand in Arlet’s and her shields down, Vega woke Death. It had crept out of the darkness to lounge around the edge, but now, it skipped its usual stretch and slipped through the cracks of Vega’s mind to become one with her.

Vega watched as Death traveled down her arm and slowly wrapped around the brand of their wrists.

The bottle of wine they’d shared was all Vega needed to get Arlet relaxed enough for her to poke around like she’d done with Bridger. Her mistake with him was how hyperaware he always was about everything—every sense, every movement.

Vega didn’t push Death in quickly, only seeping enough of her power to feel the heartbeat of their bond thrumming along with the beat of her own.

She could tell the difference between Arlet’s power, her life, her soul. All of it.

There was a familiar darkness around their bond. She’d felt it with Bridger too… had known Death would know how to find it.

As if it was made from the same place Death came from…

Vega called Death back, slowly releasing it inside her mind, where it would eventually stretch out for a nap as Vega and Arlet stayed until the sun was gone.

She couldn’t feel guilty for slipping behind Arlet’s shields. Vega had to remind herself of the power she was given and what the motivations behind obtaining it had been.

When they went back underground, Vega gave Arlet a hug at the door to her room. The sound of Khort’s soft snoring made Vega smile when Arlet opened the door and sighed. “Octavia and Nora might have to share a bed, cause I’m about to go sleep with them instead,” she grumbled before slipping inside the room..

Vega was still shocked Khort hadn’t demanded to sleep on the floor of his niece’s bedroom instead of moving into the open bunk under Arlet now that it was clear Vega wouldn’t be returning as a roommate.

Gods, nieces.

Delori was alive.

Meyer wasn’t.

Vega and Bridger were back together.

So much had changed and still so much had to.

It’s not over.

Bridger was sound asleep when Vega crawled into bed next to him after changing and brushing her teeth. She didn’t care that he was covered in blood or smelled of the fire they’d lit to carry Meyer’s body to the afterlife. Vega wrapped her arms around his back anyway, keeping him close as she did what she could to fight off sleep.

She lost the fight within minutes, drifting into the blackness of her mind.

It was quiet for a while—peaceful.

Until it wasn’t.