Page 91 of Vengeance of the Gods

“It just means we’re… allies.”

“Allies,” Bridger agreed, his lips pulling further up, up, up.

“And that you now work for Khort.”

“That will never fucking happen.” Bridger nudged himself off the wall with his shoulder, keeping his arms folded over his chest.

Thank the gods. Why is leaning so hot? She couldn’t stop picturing him without a shirt on, which would eventually become a problem.

Vega snickered. “Just making sure you were paying attention.” She stepped forward and held out her hand for him to shake.

Bridger glanced down, his eyes shooting back up to meet hers. He uncrossed his arms, and the second his hand gripped Vega’s, he tugged her into his chest and snaked his arms around her back, one tangling in the hair at the base of her neck.

Vega didn’t even have time to think about it before she leaned in and kissed him, leading them to what they both wanted.

Need. She was powered by the feeling of his touch, sending her into a frenzy the seconds his hands were on her.

“If allies is what you want to call it, then yes, I’m your ally.” Bridger’s words wrapped around her mind, making her feel safer than she’d ever felt. The warmth of his tongue against hers, him tugging her head back to kiss down her jawline, and the rumble of his sultry tone against the inside of her brain combined, sending Vega into another dimension.

She gasped for air, not finding enough to calm the roaring heat of her body.

Bridger pressed his lips delicately against the pulse at Vega’s neck, slowing her breathing and the world around her. “I’m going to be the best damn ally you’ve ever had, baby.”

His touch was gone, and Vega’s body chilled a thousand degrees. When her eyes fluttered open, Bridger was shutting himself inside the cell. It took her a minute to come down from the clouds.

“What are you doing?” she asked, stepping forward to grab at the closed door.

“Letting you decide when it’s time to trust me.” Bridger sauntered back to the corner with his cot and plopped down, crossing his calves over each other. “I do have a king-sized bed in Vincere, though. Reliable equipment, the ability to spy with all the newest tech. You know Marlena won’t wait to overreact when she finds out we’re not back together, but that I’m definitely your favorite ally.” Bridger faked a yawn. “And I could really go for a hot shower.”

31

Lining the walls of an office no one but her knew existed were Marlena’s most treasured keepsakes.

Light reflected off the iron band she pulled from her head, slicing her hand with the edge. Marlena balled her fist, her blood dripping down the crack of her palm, landing on the wooden lids of the jars.

The iron ring she wore as a crown held a very important curse—a key to an object Marlena had to keep safe.

Appearing from nowhere, a jar the size of all the others slid to the front.

Marlena could feel the beating drum in her ear as she reached for it.

A knock on a door in another office echoed through to the one she was in now.

Marlena dropped her hand and put the halo back on her head, waited for the wall of jars to disappear, and stepped through the void into her proper office—the one everyone knew about. There was no sign she’d been anywhere but here. Not even her smoke dared to give her away this time.

The force of the door swinging in blew Marlena’s hair over her shoulders. “Where is he?” It had been days since Meyer left on his search for Bridger.

How hard was it to find a bunch of misplaced rebels with nowhere to go?

Meyer stood on the other side of the door, stoic as always.

She hurried him in, slamming the door with a thud.

Marlena had been more on edge than usual. Vega breaking her curse was a rough blow, but the worst part of it all was what had happened to her sister when she broke the curse.

What had she turned herself into? And why couldn’t Marlena reach Diana? The beast she’d been able to shift into with the god inside her was gone—and so was its voice.

As if Vega had stolen it right out of her… How? How had she done it?