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Chapter 47

47

Castra's hall lights hadn't turned on yet. Keeping some semblance of normalcy under here while also managing electricity use was essential. Controlling the lighting in the underwater compound was the least that could be done to ensure the people who lived here had somewhat of an ordinary internal clock.

That didn't mean there weren't early birds who got up and started their day before the lights kicked on at five in the morning. The early risers usually stuck to the inside of their rooms, spending their mornings with whatever routines they had built.

Two small lanterns sat by the sparring mats, flickering with her blue lightning to give her a beam to work by. Every day, she was returning to the strong fighter she used to be, tapping into the skills she'd lost while trapped on Earth.

Vega was already pouring sweat when the generators came to life and the lights came on. She fell to the mat with a huff, watching the punching bag swing above her from a chain.

Her muscles screamed, on fire from another hour of training. It had been two weeks since she'd returned from being held captive, and her nights were haunted by nightmares of her sister, of failing the people she loved. Most mornings, she woke up screaming, worried about waking her neighbors.

Arlet came in the first couple of times, racked with panic.

Khort never did.

They hadn't talked since she'd admitted they needed Bridger's help.

Vega took a sizeable inhale through her nose and released the breath through her mouth. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, groaning as she pushed herself off the floor to get some water from the ewer across the room.

The door to the training room swung open as Vega downed her second cup of water, and in walked Khort and a few of the other rebel warriors.

"Do you ever sleep?" Leo asked, migrating over to her. His hair was the color of wet bark, his eyes glittering with specks of crimson over almost-black irises. He'd come from Ardor a few years ago, escaping the mining camps he'd been imprisoned in when he refused to join Marlena's army before Bridger took over.

Khort ignored her.

She rolled her eyes but forced a smile as Leo approached. "Mmm, not much," she admitted.

"Well, if you'd ever like anyone to train with, I'm happy to assist in the early mornings. I haven't slept well since leaving the mines." The Ardor-born was handsome, devilishly so, and rumor had it he was strong, if not stronger than the original family of his land.

Vega smiled at the thought of Meyer Ignis being outfired.

"I appreciate that. You're welcome to join me at any time. I'm here around four, four-thirty every morning." Vega took another sip of water as her eyes trailed to Khort, who'd approached while the two were lost in conversation.

"If you're done flirting, Acer, we have work to do." Khort's tone was rigid as he addressed Leo by his surname.

The fire-wielder chuckled, patting Khort on the shoulder. " Point taken. I'll see you around, Vega." He winked, poking the dragon further.

Vega turned her attention to Khort after waving goodbye to Leo. "Jealousy is unbecoming of you."

"Pfft." Khort crossed his arms over his chest.

"So what, we're talking again?" Vega quipped, cocking her head as she put her cup on the table.

"Maybe," Khort replied.

"Gods, Khort. We're not teenagers anymore. If you need to scream at me, scream at me. You wanna fight it out? Let's step in the ring, but I can't do this with you. We have too much to worry about, too much to plan for to act like we're feuding children again, especially over Bridger. We've done this before. I'm not doing it again."

Vega watched as Khort's features gave away every emotion crossing his face. Anger, jealousy, regret. "You're right, and I'm sorry. My feelings about the matter still stand, though. I don't trust him, and I don't think there's a place for him here." He shrugged his shoulders as if to say, Do with that what you will.

A sigh escaped Vega's lips. "I don't disagree with you, but we need to keep it as an option. He's not the same Bridger he's been. Something is happening behind the scenes that we don't know about."

"Sounds like he needs to figure it out then. I'm not here to help Bridger. I'm here to help you, our people. He's not welcome in my army."

Vega nodded once. "Okay. For now, Bridger is the last thing on my mind. I'm focused on finding out how to end this curse." She bent the truth slightly because Bridger, in fact, hadn't been the last thing on her mind. Some of the nightmares that kept her up were of his death—the dagger she'd sliced through his heart being the kill shot.

"We have some books in the offices," Khort offered up as Leo and the other men stepped into the ring to start their warm-ups.

"Yeah, books I've read from cover to cover hundreds of times. They don't have what I'm looking for. I need to get to Littera."

"No," Khort said with finality, stepping away from Vega.

She followed him, not giving him the space he was trying to put in between her and this conversation. "I have to get to Littera. It's not an option anymore."

Khort spun on his heels, and Vega collided with his chest. "We don't have allies there. It's too dangerous."

" You don't have allies, but I used to," she objected.

"Used to. It's been fifteen years, and too much has changed."

"I am never going to figure out how to break this curse if you guys don't stop keeping me locked away like some helpless princess," Vega snapped.

Khort opened his mouth, but his words were silenced by the sound of an alarm ringing through the building. Red lights flashed in the hall, shooting red beams under the door.

Vega grabbed her daggers off of the table by the mat and sheathed them at her sides. Bridger's dagger tingled in her palm, his bond to the blade calling to her bond with its owner.

The alarms ringing meant there was trouble—an intruder.

Leo and the other soldiers scrambled to life, grabbing their weapons. They might have powers inside of them that were more dangerous than anything they could arm themselves with, but getting caught in close-distance combat without something other than gods-given abilities could be a death wish, depending on who their opponent was.

Vega didn't wait for anyone. She burst through the training room's door, her electricity buzzing through her body, ready to strike at any second.

Vega focused on the pull in her chest, guiding herself through the maze of hallways and the people flooding through them. She had to find Arlet.

Khort was on her heels. "Vega, go to your room and wait until I come find you!" He gripped her arm, slowing them to a jog.

"Over my dead body! I'm going to Arlet!" she called over the sound of the alarm's wail.

"I can't keep you safe if you don't listen!"

"It's not your job to keep me safe!" Vega stopped, exhausted by his constant need to shelter her. "I'm in this fight! Fuck, Khort!" Her eyes shot side to side for anyone within earshot. "I'm a god. I'm not going to hide like a coward just because I'm a cursed one."

The tug in her chest was unbearable, prying her away from the spot she'd planted herself. Vega backed away from Khort. "I'm not going to hide anymore. I'm more me than I've ever been. It's time you and everyone else saw that." She turned and sprinted towards the direction her heart was pulling her in.

Vega climbed the stairs, one, two, three levels. The people of Castra flooded the stairs, some fleeing to their rooms, others to the posts they were assigned to during an attack.

What if she had been wrong? What if Bridger was angrier than she'd anticipated him to be after she plunged his dagger through his chest? What if he tracked me here because I stole his stupid fucking bonded dagger?

Was that possible?

Vega picked up her speed at the thought. Her heart ticked faster the closer she got to the office where the rebellion leaders met. The entrance was hidden by Arlet at all times, but Vega knew where the door was through the illusion masking it as a blank wall.

She flung the door open, eyes landing on Arlet. She's okay. Vega scanned the room, her eyes finding a face she hadn't seen in at least twenty-five years: the now praefectus of Solum. "Urban," she gawked.

The redhead wasn't the young boy she remembered from the start of her sister's rule—he had grown into himself, though he was still lanky and sported a patchy ginger beard. His hands were in front of him, cuffed together. The rest of his body was roped to a chair, and who Vega assumed was his guard was slumped in the corner on the floor, unconscious.

He'd been on Marlena's side since the beginning.

"Hi, stranger. It's good to see you." His voice was more profound than she remembered.

Khort came up behind her, and Leo barged in with scarlet fire licking up his arms.

Arlet's hands rested on her hips, foot tapping against the flooring below with a tink, tink, tink. "I'm hoping this is a false alarm," she grumbled.

"How did you find this place?" Khort interrogated, zipping around Vega to stand between her and Urban.

"A rebel from my territory. He said I could find you on the south peak of Imber. I didn't actually know where you were until your guards snatched us up," Urban answered. "How is this place possible? How are you hiding it?"

Khort pulled a dagger out of its sheath so quickly Vega almost missed it. He pressed the tip to the bottom of Urban's chin, and a bead of blood instantly dripped down the blade. "Who told you that?"

"Khort," Arlet warned. If they killed Urban too early, they wouldn't be able to get any information out of him.

Urban went completely still. "Please don't kill me. I'm of no threat to you all. I swear." His voice quivered with nerves.

The bacon.

It came from Solum. Vega knew there had been rebel uprisings there but hadn't expected help from Urban—not with his timid nature.

"I came here to talk, to offer an alliance," he blubbered. "If I were here to attack, would I have only brought one guard?"

Good point.

Vega stepped forward. "Put the dagger down, Khort." She reached out and lowered his arm away from Urban's jugular, giving the man at least another minute to live.

"Thank you. Oh my gods, thank you," Urban chattered.

"I only bought you enough time to explain yourself. He can still kill you if he doesn't like your answer." Vega wanted to save the people of Tolevarre, but she wasn't opposed to killing those who deserved to die.

Bridger had taught her that not everyone was worth saving. What a shame he'd become exactly who he'd told Vega to give up on.

Arlet gave orders to Leo, sending him to do a perimeter check around the grounds of Imber. He left without a word. Arlet hit a button on the control board in the corner, and the blaring alarms finally came to a stop, followed by three staccato beeps alerting the people of Castra to stay in their rooms until the all-clear was given.

"Better start talking. I'm running out of patience." Khort stood up straight, stepping back to line himself up with Vega.

"Marlena is killing my people. Innocent people who don't deserve to die. General Ignis has set up camp near the border of Littera to keep the rebels at bay. These rebels, most of them are my people just standing up for themselves, refusing to work under the conditions Marlena has imposed. They don't want a war, but they'd rather fight than continue to live this way. They just want their lives back. Their happiness," he started.

"Innocent people are dying every day because of her. What makes your people so special?" Arlet asked, crossing her arms over her chest like Khort.

Vega elbowed her. Arlet shrugged.

"My people are the reason this world eats, the reason you got fresh bacon for breakfast this week." Urban raised an eyebrow. "Where do you think that came from? I gave them to your rebels, who it seems are fighting a battle alone in my lands, and they gave them to you. I sent those pigs on their behalf."

Khort reached for his dagger again, but Vega stopped him, gripping his branded wrist tightly. "What do you mean by it seems they're fighting a battle alone in your lands?"

Urban's eyes bounced to Vega, a sad smile on his lips. "You've been gone a long time. There's a lot I'm sure your friends haven't been able to fill you in on." He nodded to Khort and Arlet.

Khort's jaw tensed so hard Vega could hear his teeth grind together. He spoke through gritted teeth. "I can't be everywhere at once."

"I know that." Urban nodded. "Which is why I've come to offer my help. I may not be a war hero, but I have resources that can help a rebellion rise and can easily cripple the other side."

"She'll just kill you all. Make you suffer for it," Vega added, dropping down on one knee to make herself eye level with Urban. "More of your people would die. Why would you subject them to exactly what you're trying to avoid?"

"I've been suffering since the day my parents died for her. Do you know what it feels like to be seen as weak your entire life just because of where you were born? Because your gods-given powers aren't ones that can crumble an entire city or kill a dozen men in a single blow?" Urban had tears welling in his green eyes. "I have been so scared to step out of line, to speak out against her. All because I thought it would save my people if I followed along and did what I was told." He didn't break his stare and neither did Vega. "She thinks I'm weak, that I couldn't destroy the entire foundation her malevolent council sits on with nothing but the root of a single tree. That I couldn't starve out Bridger's army in under a month."

Vega didn't dare react to Bridger's name, wrestling the muscles in her face not to move.

"You ask me why I would be willing to lose more of my people?" Urban shifted his gaze to Khort, then to Arlet and back to Vega. "Because at least then I'll know they fought for the life they deserve, that they stood against tyranny. And if I die trying to give them their freedom back, then I'll be remembered as the last Silva to give a damn."

It took Vega hours for her and Arlet to convince Khort to accept Urban's proposal. He was right to be cautious, but Vega believed Urban—she could see it in his eyes, feel it in his soul. He was sick and tired of being played for a fool.

"Here's some water." Vega handed him and his guard each a glass.

"Thank you, Vega," Urban said while holding the cup between his still-cuffed hands. "I meant what I said before. It is really great to see you."

She gave him a warm smile. "You too. I'm sorry for what's happening to your people. I never wanted any of this to happen."

Urban handed the empty glass to his guard and then reached for her hand. Vega took it, his hands cold from being unadjusted to the temperature of Castra. "I know that. You were always so kind to my people. To everyone's people. You would have been a wonderful Curia member."

Vega squeezed his hand. "That's kind of you, but I never wanted to rule. I just wanted to live." My happily ever after with the man I loved.

"We don't always get what we want, huh?" Urban asked, not expecting a reply.

"Has…" Vega stopped, looking over her shoulder. "Bridger—has he been in Solum with Meyer?"

Urban's smile slinked across his face. "Why do you ask?"

Vega huffed, blowing a piece of loose hair out of her face. "I like to know where my enemies are at all times," she lied. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. "

"He doesn't come around often. I've only seen him there once since you returned."

Maybe because he was too busy dealing with me.

Khort popped up behind her, reaching over to unlock the cuffs around Urban's and his guard's wrists. "I'll have someone escort you out, and we'll be in touch soon about what the next step needs to be."

Vega helped untie Urban from the wooden chair. He stood and stretched his legs, rubbing his wrists where the manacles had been. "I look forward to it."

Khort nodded, stepping away to gather a few men to walk Urban back up to the hatch that would spit them back onto Imber's solid ground. Arlet left to fill in the other leaders of Castra after they'd come to an agreement on whether or not to accept Solum as a much-needed ally.

"I hope you'll be fighting beside us when this all blows up," Urban said with a slightly nervous chuckle.

"As long as I'm here and breathing, I'll be fighting," Vega promised.

"Then I'll see you soon," Urban said as the Castra guards came to usher him out.

Vega nodded, giving him a genuine smile. Urban walked through the door, and it shut behind him as a thought struck her.

Khort was approaching, but Vega had no time to waste. She faked a yawn, rubbing her eyes. "Gods, I could use a nap." She looked down at her suit, which had finally dried from this morning's workout. Vega scrunched her nose. "And definitely a shower."

Khort laughed. "Yeah, I was gonna say something about that," he joked.

"Ha-ha." Vega rolled her eyes. "I'll catch you for dinner?" she asked, already heading out the door. She barely heard him agree as she broke out into a sprint to catch Urban.

"Urban!" she called when she saw his bouncy gait and red hair turn a corner .

He popped his head back around, his body following as he stepped back to meet her."Is everything alright?" he asked, his eyebrows creased with worry.

"Yes, sorry. I almost forgot to ask you, and I don't know when I'll see you again." Vega made her smile relaxed, like the question she was about to ask was no big deal.

"I'm hoping very soon," Urban said with a snorted laugh. "I don't want to wait too long to get this started or I might lose my nerve."

Vega cocked her head.

"Kidding, kidding. Really, I've made up my mind." Urban didn't have a funny bone in his body. "What did you want to ask?"

Vega took a quick breath, pushing away the nerves that settled in the pit of her stomach. If he said no… She didn't want to think about that. "Do you have any allies in Littera?"

Urban's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Ah, it's been so long since I've talked to her, but yes. I suppose you could call us that."

Vega's heart thrummed with excitement. "Do you think you could get in touch with her? I really need to make a visit. A secret visit." She whispered the last part through pursed lips, hoping the guards around the corner were far enough away not to hear her.

Urban turned his eyebrow up. "I think I can have that arranged."

Vega released a happy sigh. "That's fantastic. How soon?"

"Vega, for you, I'll make the call as soon as I get back to Solum. I'll be in touch." He winked and dipped back around the corner, disappearing from her sight.

Vega's chest warmed, and a smile so wide her cheeks hurt spread across her face. There it was, that feeling she'd gotten in the car driving to the portal with Arlet.

Hope.

Hope that she could break this fucking curse.

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