Page 173 of Vengeance of the Gods

Khort hadn’t said anything, only looked through the information Bridger pulled up from the digital archives, swiping the screen of his desk to move to the next piece of information Meyer left for him.

Bridger hadn’t expected the detailed documents when he looked into Meyer’s files. There was so much he’d gathered in only a few days' time.

“Yes, it is… but I don’t think it’s impossible.” Bridger crossed his arms, leaning back in his office chair.

Bridger told them everything. About the gods inside Vega and about what they were saying. About Death coming to wake him… twice. He’d made a promise not to lie to Vega anymore, they all had, but if the lie somehow saved her soul, Bridger would gladly take her wrath and whatever consequence came with it.

“I…” Arlet let her words fall. “Vega wouldn’t like this.”

“You know what I don’t like? Vega convincing herself to believe any of us would want to live in a world where she doesn’t exist.” Bridger fiddled with the pen in his hand, spinning it between his fingers like he would a dagger. “I’ve lived in a world without her. I’m not keen on returning to one.”

“Why are you telling us?” Khort asked, pushing himself off the desk.

“I know you’ll take care of Vega if I don’t make it.” To the point. It was the only way Bridger could be about this. “And because someone has to lead the army while I’m gone…” It should have been Meyer.

A knock on the door had them staring at one another in silence until the door opened and Halo slipped in. “Commander, you have visitors. They said Meyer sent for them.”

Had it already been four days? Bridger had almost forgotten.

Halo stepped to the side, and an acolyte dressed in an emerald-green robe followed him in. Her inky-black hair and obsidian eyes found Bridger’s.

Her smile was soft as she pulled the hood from her head, bowing as a way of respect… and not because Bridger was the commander. “Bridger Dimico. I wondered when you were going to come asking about this.”

Summer Laudo. Of course Meyer had reached out to the girl who’d devoted herself to the gods instead of a man—instead of him.

The would-have-been heir to Oro’s Curia seat if it weren’t for Marlena—the strongest light-wielder left and the only person Bridger would ever consider trusting with something of this magnitude.

Meyer, you fucking genius.

“I’m sorry to hear about Meyer’s death. He made it, in case you were wondering.”

53

Going back to sleep hadn’t been an option, not after she’d gotten out of the shower to find the burn mark she’d left on the floor.

Vega had used the fire in her sleep… and she hadn’t known it.

She took a right hook to the jaw, and her vision scattered with stars.

Leo winced, charging towards her with hands outstretched. “I’m so sorry, oh my gods.”

Vega had begged him to spar with her, specifically in the fancy ring where they could use their powers—she wanted to see what someone else using fire near her would feel like.

Would she crave it?

Why didn’t she feel the need to reach for the shifting power when she was around Khort? Or the invisibility when someone from Amora was around her?

Why was Vulcan the loudest?

Death was agitated inside her, pacing in a giant circle inside her mind, disagreeing with Vega’s attempt to test this out.

Leo had hesitated, finally giving in when she promised to warm up with him in the sparring mat first.

Vega couldn’t get out of her head, couldn’t get herself to focus on what she was doing.

Meyer’s death.

The anticipation of feeling someone else’s fire.