Page 104 of Revenge of the Forgotten

He should have said that, but the words never left his head. Instead, he said, “Okay.”

“She’s being loaded up now. They’re taking the pass through Pax.” Marlena vanished, traveling away.

Bridger stood in the middle of the clearing, his horse yards away, still on high alert. His heart hadn’t stopped the heavy beat rattling in his chest.

“I’m a god.”

42

“Commander.”

“Which vehicle is she in?” Bridger asked. Rain fell from the thick clouds above, wisps of his slicked back hair falling out of place. He was soaked through, running into rain after his world-shattering encounter with Marlena. Bridger pushed his horse to the brink of exhaustion, racing to get to Vega… He had to know if it was true—if she’d really kept a secret from everyone for fifty-five years.

The soldiers on horseback looked at each other. Two guards rode in the front on horses with two matching military vehicles sandwiched in between, and two more on horseback brought up the rear.

“Did I stutter? Which vehicle is the prisoner in?” Bridger hopped from his horse, water splashing from the puddle beneath his feet.

“The first one, sir,” the other soldier answered.

Bridger handed off the reins to him and signaled the woman driving to open the door. The lock slid from its hold, and without hesitation, without thinking about anything other than Vega, he opened the door and slipped inside.

Vega’s hands were cuffed behind her back, but she was alert, her eyes meeting his as he settled into the seat across from her. Bridger’s stomach fell, and he had to methodically snap his jaw shut at the new scar decorating Vega’s left eye.

She glowered with distaste as he slapped the wall behind him and a hidden window opened. “Drive,” he ordered in a neutral tone, never looking away from Vega.

The secret window snapped shut, disappearing into the cabin’s wall as it was before.

“Your eye,” Bridger said, resting his arm on the back of the cushioned bench.

Vega set her jaw and wiggled her shoulders like she was uncomfortable—and she should be. She’d been riding for hours with her arms trapped behind her.

“Marlena” was all she said as the engine roared to life again, and they lurched forward, down the dirt road with potholes around every corner. “Why are you here, Bridger? Did she send you as more torture? Because if she did, it’s working. I can’t think of a single reason why I’d want to spend more time with you than I have to.”

Bridger masked his unease and the churning of his stomach as the vehicle dipped with the uneven path. “No torture at all. I just really wanted to spend some time with you, pick your brain about a few things.”

Vega broke their staring contest, rolling her eyes before attempting to get comfortable. “Wake me when we get to my new prison. I should probably rest for my next round of beatings.” She rested her head against the interior wall.

Letting her sleep wouldn’t get him the answers he needed. Before he lost his nerve, Bridger word-vomited. “Why didn’t you tell me what happened to us when we summoned Remus? What we became?”

Vega’s eyes flew open. “What?”

“Don’t play stupid, Vega. Tell me why you kept it a secret—why you didn’t tell me we’re gods.” His body had an unnatural stiffness, and he pressed his lips together in a tight line, fighting away the anger simmering underneath the surface.

“How do you…” Vega couldn’t form the whole thought, her breath catching at the end.

“Marlena,” Bridger answered. “You kept it from me… even before.” He motioned between them with the arm resting on the bench. “Before we turned into this.”

Shock turned to panic, her chest heaving and eyes growing wide as she fought for air. Her nerves lit the small cab up, searing into Bridger’s chest.

Bridger removed his arm from the back of his seat and leaned forward. The vehicle was big enough he couldn’t reach her without removing himself from the bench. “Hey,” he drawled as she closed her eyes. “Breathe.” Bridger’s voice was deep and heavy like the thrum of a heartbeat. He got on his knees in front of her, hands gently grasping the backs of her calves. He hadn’t remembered moving from his spot across from her…

Her piercing gaze met his, and suddenly they were in their twenties again, locked in a cottage in the woods. “Do not break down now.” He heard his words inside his head like an echo.

She gulped air like a fish out of water, in large inhales with shallow exhales. The speed of her breathing slowed.

“Good,” he cooed.

It didn’t take her long to find her words, the scared look in her eyes changing between blinks. “Get your hands off of me.”

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