Page 94 of Revenge of the Forgotten

She wasn’t scared to die.

Not anymore. Vega took a deep breath.

“So brave.” Marlena was much taller than Vega, forcing her to crane her neck to hold the gaze of fire Marlena wore behind her dead eyes. “Your courage is fleeting. I can see it.” Marlena leaned down.

Vega gasped. “You can’t break me.”

Marlena chortled. She kept her hands on the mirror, boxing Vega in with no hopes of escaping. “You’re wrong. I’ve been breaking you this entire time. I’ve been taking the people you love from you, taking your life, taking your memories. You’re a shell of who you once were… and it’s time you see that.”

Vega’s back began to burn, scorching the fabric of her suit. Parts of it melted into her skin, and when she went to scream, nothing came out. Marlena no longer stood in front of her and was too far out of reach for Vega to drag her into the oblivion she was falling into.

The darkness engulfed her, consuming her inside and out. There were no feelings at first, only the burn of the mirror swallowing her whole. Vega wasn’t sure where she was or if the place she was in even existed outside of her own mind. The first jolt of pain shot through her brain with such ferocity Vega was sure her head would explode. She clutched her skull and tried to scream, but no sound came out—there was no sound, no light, no movement.

The first memory squeezed in, erupting into her vision. The dark void was gone, and in its place was the face of the man she’d fallen head over heels for the second they’d met.

Bridger’s smile was radiating, warming Vega to the core. Her laugh echoed in her ears, the sound happier than she’d ever remembered it being. Vega backed into a tiny coat closet, her spine pressing against a shelf. “We’re going to get caught.” Her smile spread from ear to ear as the door clicked shut, and Bridger’s hands were on her.

“Mm, let them watch.” His voice was so deep and riddled with lust she could feel it in her chest.

His toned arm slid around Vega’s body, pulling her against him as he pressed his lips to hers in a desperate kiss—like he was starving for air and she was the only one who could save him. He tasted like her favorite wine, remnants of it coating his tongue. Bridger trailed kisses down Vega’s jaw, moving to her neck.

Vega’s breath caught in her throat. “Oh my gods,” she gasped, throwing her head back and rolling her body against his.

“No, Kitten, it’s just me. The gods aren’t here with us.” Bridger sank to his knees, pushing the skirt of her dress up to her hips, pinning it there. He placed sloppy kisses on Vega's muscular thighs, his hands slipping between her legs to pull her lace panties to the side. “Fuck.” His eyes rolled back in his head, an animalistic look on his face at the sight of her completely bare in front of him. “Spread your legs and let me have a taste.”

Vega did as she was told, moaning the second his tongue met the warmth between her thighs. One hand tangled in his tousled hair, the other freeing his hand from the hold on her dress.

Bridger’s groan of approval vibrated against her while his tongue racked her body with little bolts of pleasure. “Bridger,” Vega moaned, thrusting her hips into his face for more friction.

Two large fingers slid inside her drenched pussy, and when they massaged the spot that would bring Vega to her knees, the scene melted away and she was thrown into another.

A sharp pain erupted through her chest as the darkness built a new memory around her. When she looked up, there stood Bridger, his eyes no longer glazed with lust.

Her sister’s feral laugh rang in her ears. “So much has happened since your last life, dear sister. Poor Bridger has been under my watch for most of it, spending his time locked away in my dungeon with no one to talk to but the ghosts in his head… and me. Do you know what happens to people when they spend too much time with me?”

Vega shook her head, swallowing hard. “No.”

She was different in this life—so unlike the woman she used to be. This Vega was timid, unsure of herself and everything around her—her last life on Earth left lasting effects she couldn’t shake.

“They break,” Marlena answered.

“I’m sorry, Kitt—Vega. I’m so sorry.” His lips moved. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

“Why?” Vega gulped, her hands pressed against the wall behind her.

“I’m doing this for you. For them. For us,” Bridger whispered. “She’s never going to let us win. She’s never going to let us be together. I can keep people safe this way.” His voice shuddered as he stared into her eyes. “You knew I was destined for darkness.”

Tears flowed down Vega’s cheeks. “Don’t let her get into your head.”

“Too late,” Marlena cooed sweetly.

“I can’t let the people we love die just for us to be together. Marlena was right. Our love has blinded us.”

Bridger’s eyes wandered over to Meyer. Bridger’s sword levitated under his chin by Marlena’s power.

Him or me. It’s him or me.

“Tick-tock, Bridger. Choose or I’ll choose for you.” Marlena dug the blade in deeper.

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