Page 90 of Revenge of the Forgotten

Hot tears burned his eyes as he brought his dirty hand to his chest and covered hers, feeling the warmth of his blade through their palms. “I can’t lose you.” The first tear fell. “Not again.”

Vega let go of the dagger as her tears continued to fall harder. “It’s okay.” She reached up to wipe a falling tear from Bridger’s filthy cheek, but he looked away. He didn’t want her to see him break down.

Bridger could hear his mother’s voice in his head. Stand tall. Don’t let them see you fall apart.

Vega brushed her fingers against his cheek, the sensation pulling his attention back to her as she pressed a kiss to Bridger’s lips. He wanted to melt away, just the two of them, somewhere far off where nothing could get them—where all of this was just a distant nightmare.

The kiss hadn’t lasted long enough but long enough for Marlena to notice. “You have thirty seconds, or I’ll kill all three of you.”

Bridger wanted to watch the life escape Marlena’s eyes, but he couldn’t—not without his powers. A part of him was beginning to believe that even then he wouldn’t be able to take her down.

“One, two, three…” Marlena began to count.

“Fuck!” he screamed, pushing away from Vega. His hands tangled into the hair at the side of his head, the dagger still in his grasp. “Baby, I can’t. I can’t kill you. I’d rather die with you.”

Vega cupped both sides of his jaw, gently forcing him to meet her tear-soaked gaze. “Hey, look at me.” She bit down on her bottom lip to stop it from trembling. “It’s okay. I won’t really feel it. Not for long. I’ll just wake up in a different life… and you’ll find me again.” Was Vega saying this to convince herself or to comfort him? “You will always find me.”

“Eighteen, nineteen,” Marlena continued.

Vega tugged his hands down. “I love you, Bridger. I have since that first Saturnalia. I trust you. There’s no one else I’d rather see before death.”

“I love you so much. I’m sorry.” He heaved the words out.

Bridger shook his head, tears still streaming down his own face. Vega guided his hand with the dagger to her chest, pressing the point into the skin directly above her heart.

“Twenty-one.” Marlena’s voice felt so far away.

“I’ll see you in the next life.”

Those were the last words Vega spoke before Bridger slammed the dagger through her heart. Her blue eyes lit up like ice, jaw dropping as she gasped for air that would never come. Vega’s body sagged against Bridger, lifeless. He pulled the dagger out, and Vega’s body vanished as the curse whisked her away from their world.

“Thirty.”

Bridger could hear the smile on her lips long before he looked up. Marlena wasn’t good at keeping promises, so when she drove her hand through Olenor’s chest and ripped her heart out, Bridger didn’t even flinch.

“I’ve always wanted a dragon heart to add to my collection.” Her hand covered in shifter blood, Marlena turned her focus to Bridger. “All that work for nothing. How long can you handle losing her for? Five years, ten? A lifetime? How long until you realize that I’ll never let you be with her, that being with her makes you weak? How long until her friends no longer trust you?” Marlena’s eyebrow rose. “How long until you’re no longer the person she loves? Because I will torture you slowly, painfully, until the Bridger she knows is gone. Until you’re the commander I need.”

Bridger blinked, one last tear escaping his eye.

“You’re free to go, but remember, as soon as she’s back, so is your torture.” Marlena’s laugh could be heard echoing through the dungeon halls long after she’d vanished.

Deep below the ruined home of the Caelums’ estate, no one could hear his screams, but when he finally made it up the stairs, he was met with an unharmed Arlet and Khort.

Bridger looked at his hands—Vega’s blood coated them, and his vision went bleary. “I killed Vega. Your mom’s dead.” His words were quipped in a short staccato.

He couldn’t hear Arlet’s and Khort’s screams as he lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.

His brand had ached all night, sending waves of pain spidering down his arm. It grew unbearable enough this morning that he finally gave in to the nagging pull tugging him towards the dungeon.

Bridger didn’t allow anyone to hear him when he didn’t want to be heard, causing his guard to jump in fright when he suddenly appeared next to him.

“Commander.” Felix’s hand was over his heart. “You scared me half to death.”

“Has she eaten?” Bridger asked without thinking.

“No, sir, and she won’t drink anything, either.”

Bridger exhaled loudly. “Go fetch breakfast. I’ll keep watch until then.”

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