Page 172 of Vengeance of the Gods

The fucking fire.

“You used the fire,” he said, his voice sounding like a ghost. The flame that burned in the corner had been blue.

In his waking panic, the color hadn’t registered until now.

Just like the flame in his office had been the day they came to Vincere. He’d thought she used her lightning to spark a flame…

“N-no.” A chill ran through her, racking her body against Bridger’s hold.

“Yes, you did.” He sighed, noticing the pink water around his feet from the blood washing clean of his uniform.

Meyer’s blood.

It took everything inside him to concentrate on what she was saying, his mind drifting to the memory of Meyer’s heart being ripped from his chest.

He couldn’t stop thinking, I won’t let it be her blood next.

“You lit a fire in your sleep.” Bridger finally snapped back into himself.

They were quiet for a while, Vega mulling over the information he’d dropped on her. She finally stopped shivering. “I think you can put me down now.”

He examined her quickly and tipped his arms forward, letting her step out of his hold. She staggered a bit but reached out for Bridger to steady herself.

“I didn’t mean to. I kept pushing them away… I never…” She switched from speaking out loud to finishing the sentence inside. “I never reached for it.” Vega glanced up at him with a fear he’d never seen from her before.

It nearly ripped his heart from his chest.

Bridger leaned down to kiss her temple as she slid back into his arms. “It’s okay. You’re gonna be okay.” He was going to make sure of it. He’d already left his mark on her in this world.

He grabbed her hand with the ring and kissed each finger, lingering over the sparkling jewel a moment longer than the others.

They stripped off their clothes and showered. Bridger stayed quiet, listening to Vega talk about what she’d seen this time.

“He was there this time.” The words struck him through the chest, making the water feel like icicles as it peppered his skin. “He told me to say his name… to remember who’d saved me. Who owns me…”

Bridger felt like he was floating. “Don’t.” He paused, making sure Vega understood how serious he was. “Not yet.” Bridger couldn’t fucking lose Vega. He wouldn’t let anyone take her from him again.

No matter who or what they were.

After a quick wash of his body and hair, Bridger gave Vega a soft kiss, caressing her cheek before leaning in for one more. “Finish up. I have a few things I need to get done today.”

“Bridger, are you⁠—”

He cut her off, knowing what she was about to ask. “No, baby. No. I’m not, but I will be.” He rubbed his thumb over her cheek once more and retreated. “We will be.”

He hoped she would go back to sleep or at least try to relax, but Bridger knew her better than that.

She’d avoid sleep for as long as she could.

In a fresh uniform, Bridger ripped the commander’s cape off and threw it in the waste bin by his desk. He hadn’t wanted to wear the stupid thing in the first place—but he had for the sake of looking the part.

Bridger was so fucking sick of pretending.

The door to Khort and Arlet’s room opened before Bridger had the chance to knock. “My office. Now.”

“Bridger, what you’re saying is insane.” Arlet shook her head.

His office had the same power as the control room, cutting off abilities that weren’t his. Meaning Vega couldn’t spy.