Chapter 51 #2
Arlet’s arms let go, and she turned to face Vega better. “Anything.”
Vega didn’t know how else to ask this question without it sounding harsh. “Did you actually love Marlena or was it because you were lonely?” It sounded worse coming out, but luckily Arlet hadn’t taken offense.
“I loved her,” Arlet whispered, her focus on her hands, picking at the hem of her shirt.
“But I was also very lonely. You had Bridger. Khort was avoiding you. And Marlena was looking for someone to make her feel something.” She glanced at Vega, and a sadness she’d only seen twice in Arlet’s entire life crossed her face.
When her mom left her behind… and the Saturnalia before Marlena’s induction.
Oh my gods. Vega had seen it—had been right there during the break-up. Vega hated herself for being so fucking selfish then, for not paying closer attention to the people she claimed to love more than anything.
Arlet’s confession felt like a supersonic boom, blowing Vega to tiny pieces. “I’m sorry, Arlet.”
“I have never resented you for not being around. Not once. You were in love. I was happy for you. I’m happy for you…
” Arlet reached out and grabbed Vega’s hand when she said the last part.
“We’ve both got to stop apologizing for her.
She had a shitty life, yeah, me too. I was born without powers and was completely useless, so much so my family ran and left me behind to be someone else’s problem.
I made the right decision when I broke up with her.
” She let go of Vega’s hand. “It would have been worse trying to get away after she’d summoned the gods, anyway.
We both know I wouldn’t have actually been able to stop her—even if I had known. ”
Vega took the last sip of wine and put the empty bottle to the side.
Silence swept over them as they sat side by side, backs against the palm tree. They stayed there for nearly an hour, never saying a word, just enjoying the breeze grazing through the oasis of trees.
“Is Bridger still sleeping?” Arlet asked, breaking the silence.
Vega didn’t even have to reach down the bond to know. “Yes.” It was nearing the twenty-four-hour mark.
“He okay?” Arlet asked quietly.
“No, he lost his best friend,” she replied, unable to keep her emotions in check. Her heart was absolutely ripped out from what she’d been the cause of.
Meyer’s death was Vega’s fault—she’d gambled and lost.
She wouldn’t be surprised if Bridger woke up, realized it, and immediately turned on her again…
Vega might if she’d lost Arlet.
“It’s my biggest fear,” Arlet whispered, closing her eyes as she rested the back of her head against the tree. “I spent fifty-five years of my life working to get you back… and now that I have you, I still might lose you.”
“I hope you don’t have to.” And she did… but she couldn’t make any promises.
She hadn’t let herself break down yet, to feel everything all at once. Vega knew it was coming, but it wasn’t time yet. Not when Bridger needed her to be strong—not when Tolevarre’s peaceful fate rode on her back.
She could cry for the life she was being robbed of later.
Vega would never know how to repay Arlet or say thank you enough to Khort for all they’d done for her. The only way she knew how was to make sure they lived to see the world they’d been fighting for.
“I have to be the one to fix this,” Vega said, sounding sad despite her best efforts. “I’m the one who begged for her death. I’m the one who brought this upon us.” She was the one who summoned—Death hissed, stopping his name from crossing Vega’s mind.
“We,” Arlet whispered. “We did this.”
Vega. Bridger. Arlet. Khort.
Her family, and the only people Vega would face the gates of hell for…
Vega rested her head on Arlet’s shoulder, who in turn rested her head against hers and slipped her hand in Vega’s. She’d been up since yesterday morning. The sun setting mixed with the calmness from the wine, and she knew she wasn’t going to be able to fight off sleep for much longer.
Vega yawned, the sun finally dipping behind the mountains in the distance. They’d lost track of time, even Avi drifting off to sleep, twitched noticeably because of her size.
With her hand in Arlet’s and her shields down, Vega woke Death. It had crept out of the darkness to lounge around the edge, but now, it skipped its usual stretch and slipped through the cracks of Vega’s mind to become one with her.
Vega watched as Death traveled down her arm and slowly wrapped around the brand of their wrists.
The bottle of wine they’d shared was all Vega needed to get Arlet relaxed enough for her to poke around like she’d done with Bridger. Her mistake with him was how hyperaware he always was about everything—every sense, every movement.
Vega didn’t push Death in quickly, only seeping enough of her power to feel the heartbeat of their bond thrumming along with the beat of her own.
She could tell the difference between Arlet’s power, her life, her soul. All of it.
There was a familiar darkness around their bond. She’d felt it with Bridger too… had known Death would know how to find it.
As if it was made from the same place Death came from…
Vega called Death back, slowly releasing it inside her mind, where it would eventually stretch out for a nap as Vega and Arlet stayed until the sun was gone.
She couldn’t feel guilty for slipping behind Arlet’s shields. Vega had to remind herself of the power she was given and what the motivations behind obtaining it had been.
When they went back underground, Vega gave Arlet a hug at the door to her room.
The sound of Khort’s soft snoring made Vega smile when Arlet opened the door and sighed.
“Octavia and Nora might have to share a bed, cause I’m about to go sleep with them instead,” she grumbled before slipping inside the room. .
Vega was still shocked Khort hadn’t demanded to sleep on the floor of his niece’s bedroom instead of moving into the open bunk under Arlet now that it was clear Vega wouldn’t be returning as a roommate.
Gods, nieces.
Delori was alive.
Meyer wasn’t.
Vega and Bridger were back together.
So much had changed and still so much had to.
It’s not over.
Bridger was sound asleep when Vega crawled into bed next to him after changing and brushing her teeth.
She didn’t care that he was covered in blood or smelled of the fire they’d lit to carry Meyer’s body to the afterlife.
Vega wrapped her arms around his back anyway, keeping him close as she did what she could to fight off sleep.
She lost the fight within minutes, drifting into the blackness of her mind.
It was quiet for a while—peaceful.
Until it wasn’t.
Vega startled awake… or at least she’d thought she had, but she wasn’t where she was supposed to be. She wasn’t in bed next to Bridger.
It was black again. Darkness so deep Vega could feel it in her bones.
“We can see you,” a voice Vega instantly recognized crooned.
“All of you,” the newest of the voices said.
“Do you want to see us?”
“The fire can help you.”
“Or maybe you should disappear.”
This time she couldn’t hear Death clawing to get to her. She could feel it. The vibration of its irritation rattled her chest.
Vega fought away the fear this time, forcing herself to get off the cold, damp floor and stand tall. “What do you want from me?” she asked, slowly turning in a tight circle despite not being able to see anything in front of her.
“We want you to use us. We need you to save us.”
“Save you?” Vega practically spit the question at them.
“Do not let him get us,” the loudest voice said.
“It will be over for every god if he does,” one agreed.
“Who?” she asked, trying to stay calm. Vega called for her lightning, but it wasn’t there, and neither were her storms. On the outside of her natural power, she felt the pull of the gods she’d taken from Marlena.
Vulcan—fire.
Diana—shifter.
Venus—invisibility.
Those were the only powers she could feel.
“You know who.”
“Save us. Save you.”
The feel of a hand on her shoulder made her heart rate spike. “Don’t fucking touch me.” Another slid down her spine. “Get your hands off me!”
The panic rose, and when it hit, Vega couldn’t escape it. No matter what she told herself or how she tried to calm herself down, the fear was there to stay.
“Say my name, Vega.”
It was a different voice this time. It was his voice now. It was—
“Tell me who I am. Tell me who saved you.”
Vega had never been so scared in her entire life, not in any of her lives.
“Tell me who you belong to.”
What have I done?