Page 88 of Vengeance of the Gods

A few of the soldiers looked like they might flee, but just before they darted, Vega felt Bridger walk up beside her.

I’ll never be able to ignore him in a room ever again. When she glanced over at him, his hands were in his pockets—the epitome of casual.

“Will you help defend my soldiers like you do the rebels when Marlena turns on them too?” Bridger caught Vega by surprise, stealing her breath with a single question. He stared ahead, his attention directed at Meyer, who hid his surprise well.

“Is there a difference between them if they’re both willing to fight against tyranny in hopes for a better world?” she asked softly.

The faintest of smiles pulled at the edges of Bridger’s lips. “Hey, buddy. I was wondering when you’d show up.” Bridger crossed his arms over his chest. “Almost three days, though? I could’ve been rebel food by now.”

Khort glared daggers at Bridger, ready to attack if he made one wrong move.

Meyer’s eyes bounced between Bridger, Vega, and then finally took in Khort’s posture. “What’s going on here?” he asked, pausing on Vega for a second longer—he could sense the oncoming news.

“I’m choosing,” Bridger answered.

Vega froze, everyone’s eyes landing on her and Bridger.

Meyer’s chest fell with the release of a breath. “Her?” He nodded at Vega.

Bridger shook his head. “I’m choosing what’s right for this realm. Vega’s just an added bonus I’m soul bonded to.” He sent Khort into a silent frenzy when he winked her way.

“Stop it,” Vega scolded.

“But it’s so fun.” His reply was followed with the deep rumble of his internal laugh.

“Traitor,” a guard behind Meyer hissed.

Bridger raised a dark brow. “Am I?” He took a step forward, and the man jumped back, bumping into the woman behind him. “What did you vow upon entry into my army?”

The one who’d called him a traitor didn’t answer, but another down the line did. “To protect the people of Tolevarre.”

Bridger turned, motioning to the people standing outside the cave, ready to take on thirty-two—Vega finished counting—of Tolevarre’s greatest warriors. “Are these not the people of Tolevarre?”

“She’s the enemy.” A young man pointed at Vega.

Vega followed his finger straight to her chest, and then looked back up, jabbing a thumb at herself. “Me?”

“Now look who’s being snarky,” Bridger cooed.

“Her?” Arlet asked, also pointing at Vega… but she laughed, hunching over. “Her? The girl who’s been cursed and tortured for fifty-five years? She’s the enemy?”

“Do you see how stupid that sounds when it’s said out loud?” Bridger asked.

He might have saved people, changed how his soldiers were treated, but that didn’t mean Bridger was soft. He hadn’t earned his terrifying reputation by being gentle or kind.

That part of him had always been saved for Vega. The rest of the world knew Commander Dimico. Vega had once known Bridger. No last name, no title. My Bridger.

So much had changed.

“I think we all know why most of you joined… because you’d have a better chance of surviving if you got out of Marlena’s warpath.” Bridger locked eyes with Meyer. “You were afraid that by doing the right thing, you were sentencing yourself to death.” He raised a brow again. “But does that mean you’re willing to kill more innocent people? Children? For her? The same person who’d let you die without a second thought.”

“You’ve worked for her for years. What changed?” another soldier asked.

“I played by Marlena’s rules, sure, but I never worked for her. I’ve worked for Tolevarre, leading an army that needed to be dismantled and rebuilt.” Chatter amongst his people mixed together, their words hard to tell apart as the buzz rose. “You aren’t in Marlena’s army. You’re in mine. When an order is made, does it come from Marlena or me?” He didn’t wait for the answer everyone knew. “Marlena doesn’t command my forces. I do. Which means I can choose where they’re needed, when they’re needed—however I see fit.”

Vega took a step out of line, aligning herself with Bridger. “Is Marlena who you want to go down defending?” She let her lightning crawl down her legs, spreading out against the grass. Meyer took a step back, the soldiers following his move. “Because I never said I wasn’t the enemy. If you believe in the world my sister rules over, the one where innocent lives have been ripped apart… probably some of yours, your parents, siblings, friends?” She directed her question to the eyes staring her down. “Then you are my enemy, you do deserve to die, and I’ll gladly kill you to save them.” She nodded behind her to the tired rebels who’d been fighting for their lives far longer than they should have.

At the mention of killing, the darkness inside her shook itself off and eased to the top of its hole, curling around the edge in wait. It got braver as the days strung together.