Page 30 of Vengeance of the Gods

“Okay, okay. I won’t touch you. I promise. I swear. We can talk. Let’s talk.” Chase’s hands stayed up at his sides, and Vega studied his face, apparently trusting whatever look he wore.

Vega nodded at Bridger, but before he obeyed her silent command, he leaned in close again and whispered, “If you make one wrong move, I’ll gut you for fun.” He shoved Chase away, stepping between him and Vega. Bridger spun the dagger through his fingers, ready to flick it straight through Chase’s eye socket if he didn’t obey his simple order. The thought brought a smile to Bridger’s face.

Chase squeaked, backing further away. “Is this you rebelling or my payback for cheating?” he asked Vega. “Because I understand what you’ve been through is tough, but this isn’t right, Vega. Come home and we can talk about this. We can make things right.” He took a step closer to her. Bridger tensed, ready to strike, but she didn’t budge. “I’ll even let you keep the money you stole from my account.” His words sounded disingenuous, like he’d been given a script to follow.

“This isn’t my home, Chase. It’s never been my home.” Vega’s words were weighted down with a sadness Bridger could feel in his bones.

“Not this shit again. Please, come on.” He held his hand out for her to take.

Bridger watched Chase’s hand until Vega’s voice drew his attention away.

She met Bridger’s eyes. “This is what it does… It controls the people in my life.” Vega turned back to Chase, who lowered his extended arm. “I’m sorry you got wrapped up in this. I hope you get a second chance at a normal life when I break my curse,” Vega said with a kindness he didn’t deserve.

Chase looked like he was ready to explode, his pale face turning red. “I’m not sure who you are or what she’s told you, but Vega’s not well. She woke from a coma only a month ago and hasn’t been right since.”

The back door flung open, and the girl from the front desk stepped out with a polished wooden bat, followed by the boy with the book.

“What’s going on out here?” she asked, holding the bat with familiar comfort.

Vega slinked closer to Bridger. “He was just leaving.”

Chase choked on a laugh. “I’m not leaving without my wife.”

My wife. Bridger never wanted to hear that title coming from another man’s mouth about Vega ever again…

If they were in Tolevarre, Chase would be nothing but a pile of remains from the deep, primal rage of a god burning through Bridger.

The building’s shadow hid most of Chase’s face, and when he stalked forward, the pit in Bridger’s stomach turned ice cold.

His eyes were black, and not onyx colored like his own. No, all black. No pupil. No iris.

Black.

Vega went rigid at his side, a shaky breath slipping through her parted lips.

Chase extended his hand to Vega, wiggling his fingers in a slow summon. “You belong with me. Come. Let’s fulfill your destiny.”

For the first time in what might have been the entire time Bridger had known her, Vega purposely stepped behind him, silently asking for protection.

A sudden lust for Chase’s blood coating the ground roared to life, but he never got the chance to gut him.

The loud clang of the hostel worker’s bat colliding with a metal drain made everyone jump. “Get out of here. Now! Before I call the police,” she yelled at Chase.

Chase’s black eyes stayed transfixed on Vega peeking around Bridger’s arm. “This isn’t over, Vega. It’ll never be over. There’s nowhere on Earth you can go where I won’t find you.” He fled and disappeared beyond the alley’s shadows.

Silence held until Vega was the one to break it. “I’m so sorry,” she told the employee. “I⁠—”

“You two need to go,” she interrupted. “I don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into, but I can’t have it here.”

Vega shook her head slowly. “I have nowhere else to go. I’m trying to get back home, but he has control of all my documents.”

Bridger knew the tears welling in her eyes were real this time. Chase rattled her.

“That’s not my problem,” the girl responded and at least had the decency to sound remorseful. “I’ll go get your things from your room and bring them down to you.” She turned and headed back inside.

Bridger had forgotten the boy with the book was here until he spoke. “Are those bruises on your neck from him?” He paused, looking nervous. “I noticed them earlier when we were talking,” he admitted with a sad smile.

Vega nodded. “Yeah, they’re from him.”