Page 54 of Revenge of the Forgotten

Khort leaned forward, motioning towards another spot on the map of Tolevarre. “Good luck getting through Littera. We don’t need to hear from them to know Nero’s going to follow Marlena.” He tensed when he spoke her name out loud.

Arlet had her back to the musty couch, arms hugged around her legs to make herself as small as possible. Out of the four of them, she was most out of her comfort zone.

Arlet’s family fled years ago when the Curia divide became more prominent. The Caelums took her in, shielding her from the outside world until she was ready to flourish on her own. Her eyes were tired, and her gaze was lost in the flames while Vega and Khort threw ideas out into the open.

Bridger wondered if this was the first time she’d been back in Vates—her homeland—since her parents had disappeared.

He made an intentional move, letting the others know he was in the room with them now. Vega’s eyes shot up from the map, meeting with his. Bridger gave her a wink as he pushed himself off the door frame where he’d been leaning, uncrossing his arms. Her smile felt like a lighthouse, guiding him home when he felt lost and alone.

Bridger walked to Vega and crouched down next to her as he took in the map of their world—a map he could draw from memory alone. He’d spent most of his life studying all things Tolevarre; he knew this realm better than he knew himself. “There’s a passage through the Solum hills straight to the Sea of Ros.” Bridger ran his finger along the brittle paper, tracing the route.

Arlet had finally stopped staring into the fire. “Khort, do you still have shifter friends living in Solum?” she asked.

Vega rested her hand on Bridger’s leg, then rubbed her fingers aimlessly along the lines of his muscles. Heat soared inside of Bridger at the simple touch. He placed his hand over hers, rubbing his thumb over the newly branded skin on the back of her wrist.

Khort shook his head. “I don’t know. I can’t bank on it, not when we’ve lost communication with Demuto. I’m assuming any shifter who was left in other territories fled, or they were killed.”

Khort’s family had been in Stella for Marlena’s Curia induction ceremony tonight, but he’d been unable to find them when Marlena’s attack on the capital and its people started. There was no telling if his family had made it far before being killed or captured.

“Then we need to get in touch with your family,” Bridger stated evenly. “I don’t think Marlena had the manpower to send armies all over the realm. This first attack was opportunistic, planned at the right time in the right setting. It could have gotten messy if she had her best men out searching for one lone family while the rest were infiltrating and overthrowing the Curia.”

Bridger was right. He knew they knew it by the look in their eyes. The rest of them weren’t trained for war. Bridger was.

Arlet let her legs loose, uncurling herself. “So we head to Imber?” Her voice was quiet as she asked.

“To get to Solum’s boats, we still need to cut through Littera, and as I said, we all know that Nero will side with whoever he knows will keep him alive longest,” Khort pointed out, looking at Bridger with unease.

Nowhere felt safe.

“No, we go through Oro,” Bridger told them. “Their people won’t side as quickly as Littera will. Gaia will do her best to stay in the middle as long as she can. Same with Pax. They’re going to hold on to peace for as long as Marlena will let them. As for the Silvas and the people of Solum…” He paused, shrugging. “Our government just fell after over two thousand years of Curia rule. There’s no telling what’s going to happen next.”

The room fell into silence for a moment while the four of them mulled over what was to happen in the coming hours.

“It’s late.” Arlet was the one to point at the ticking clock on the wall. “We need rest. We’ve been up for thirty hours. We aren’t getting in touch with anyone tonight.” She stood up, stretching her limbs.

Bridger looked up at her, giving her a slight nod along with a tight smile. “You’re right. Let’s clean ourselves up, get a little rest, and we can start again at dawn.” He followed Arlet in standing, holding his hand out to help Vega off the dirty floor. He pulled her into his chest, wrapping her in a quick hug, and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

Dawn would be here in just a few hours, but at least they could try to get what fleeting rest they could. Bridger nodded to the back bedroom. “There are two small beds in there. You two take them. I’ll take first watch out here.”

Vega had already found an extra pillow and blanket in a closet filled with dust to set a spot up on the couch. This tiny home hadn’t been lived in in what seemed like hundreds of years. Everything was dated, with no updated appliances from the modern era.

After setting up a makeshift bed on the couch, Vega hugged Khort first, his broad arms engulfing her. Bridger looked away, giving them their privacy. He distracted himself with a goodnight hug of his own with Arlet. “We’re going to be okay,” Bridger said as they pulled away from their embrace.

“I hope you’re right,” Arlet said, rubbing at the new brand on her wrist. “Did you hear what he told us?” she asked, whispering so that only Bridger could hear her.

Bridger’s eyes grew wide. “You heard it too.”

At the same time they both said, “I saved her. Do not waste this opportunity.”

“What do you think it means?” Arlet asked.

Khort filed into the bedroom on heavy feet. Arlet’s worry came apart when Vega walked up, her sister in every right but blood. She put on a fake smile for her. Bridger knew it was to protect her from any more worry.

“It’s been one hell of a day, huh?” Arlet did a pretty good job deflecting, but Bridger was certain Vega would see right through her.

Vega slid into Bridger’s side again, her arm snaking around his waist. “I’d say.” Vega reached out her free hand and took Arlet’s in hers. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.” Without another word, Arlet squeezed Vega’s hand before slipping behind the door of the bedroom.

Vega looked up at Bridger the second they were alone. He positioned her in front of him, and she wrapped her arms around his midsection. She was short enough to lay her head on his chest as he pulled her against him.

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