Vengeance of the Gods (Cursed Gods #2)

Prologue

“Can you hear me? Please, tell me you can hear me.”

Vega knew that voice. Their name was on the tip of her tongue. She couldn’t stop the wheel of her mind from turning forward, bringing her closer to what came next.

“Come back.”

The complete wipeout. The blinding pain of losing what made Vega who she was. Her memories. Without them, she wasn’t whole. Without them, she was no longer the Vega she needed to be.

The curse would reset her, and she’d have to start all over. Who will I be next?

This was Marlena’s doing—the torture of losing herself repeatedly. The agony as her memories were ripped from her mind, the pain before her heart reset.

The person who did this to Vega wasn’t Marlena—it was a monster wearing her sister’s skin as clothes.

I’ll be gone again.

No, no. Her lightning stopped her heart. Not the dagger. I’m not dead.

“Come back.”

Hold on.

Hold. On.

“Fuck, Vega. Why?”

The voice continued, but Vega couldn’t place it to a name. Earlier it felt like it had been on the tip of her tongue.

She wasn’t inside her body, couldn’t feel her body. Everything was still, not a beating heart or the sound of her own breathing interrupting her thoughts. Vega floated around inside her brain through whatever current of her mind was taking the longest to reset.

“Why would you do this?”

Do what? Vega couldn’t remember what she’d done. It kept slipping her mind.

And that voice. Gods, I know that voice.

Gods. God. Tolevarre.

Bridger.

Pain erupted in Vega’s chest like a knife to the heart.

She didn’t scream. She didn’t move. She simply fell, allowing herself to let go. Letting the fall be the reminder she needed to know she was alive.

If only for a few more seconds…

Gone. Nothing. I will become nothing again.

She wasn’t sure how long she was suspended in the middle of life and death. A minute? Seconds? Years?

There was nothing… nothing but pain and an itching feeling of grief.

I don’t want to forget.

“You cannot escape your destiny. Death is coming.” That wasn’t Bridger… His voice was gone, replaced by another Vega vaguely recognized. She might have been able to place it if it weren’t for the pain.

Vega shot up, gasping violently. Bright lights temporarily blinded her. She shielded her sensitive eyes, fighting against the ache to see clearly.

She couldn’t get enough air, her breathing ragged as she panted and rubbed a sore spot on her chest beside her heart.

Beep… beep… beep…

The sporadic beeping drew Vega’s attention. “What the…?” She squinted, her eyes finally clear enough to see without using her hand as a visor.

“Vega?” a third voice gasped.

“Oh my God. Oh my God. You’re awake. You’re alive.” The person was a blur, moving too quickly for Vega to see. “Nurse!”

Everything was still fuzzy. Her brain. Her voice. Her vision.

Vega blinked and blinked. After a few longer squints, her vision cleared, and a familiar blond man knelt down beside her.

Reality snapped into focus.

I’m in a hospital, and that’s…

“Chase.”