Chapter 53

53

She'd felt eyes on her, knew she was being watched, and now Vega was kicking herself in the ass for not trusting that gut feeling.

She didn't let her lightning free, but she did let the cold wind pick up—warning Meyer she would strike if needed.

His lips twitched in a devious smile. "Oh, c'mon. Aren't you happy to see me?"

"No," Vega spat, the horse behind her braying with nerves, his ears shooting back.

He poked his lip out, fake pouting. "You wound me."

Vega slid her hand down her leg, gripping Bridger's dagger.

"Ah-ah. There's no reason to start reaching for your weapons," he cooed, eyes fluttering to her fingers curled around the blade. "I came here looking for you, hoping we could chat, and somehow I got oh so lucky to follow you—I can't believe you didn't see me, by the way. I've been trailing you since you left Schoenus." He pointed towards the path she'd taken through the woods. "And came upon the stunning realization that you might know how to break your curse. "

If Marlena finds out…

Vega kept her reactions under control—she wouldn't let him get under her skin.

"You have no idea what you're talking about," Vega lied, resting a hand on the horse to keep him calm.

Meyer rolled his eyes, taking a step closer. "Don't play dumb, Sparks. I heard it all. One quick bolt of internal lightning, strong enough to stop the heart for a minute but not strong enough to kill you. A dagger just beside the heart, but make it look like it's been pierced. It is a brilliant plan. Simple and effective."

The use of the nickname again made her lip curl in disgust—it had been a way for him to get under her skin years ago, and it still worked. When Meyer stepped closer, Vega let her lightning crackle to life in her hand.

"And I want to help you with your problem if you don't sizzle me to a crisp."

Vega's look of disgust turned into one of confusion, her eyebrows pinching in the middle. "You what?"

"I didn't stutter. Gosh, has all this dying fried your brain?" Meyer retorted.

Meyer, in no life, was ever a fan of Vega. She'd always known he felt Vega was the reason Bridger had fallen off his life's path, and maybe she was, but he had chosen to follow her all on his own—just like when he'd chosen to stab her in the back. He'd done that all on his own too.

"Watch your tone, or maybe I'll fry you instead." Vega let her lightning scurry up and down her arm as a reminder of what she could do.

Meyer laughed, and there was a lightness to it Vega had never heard before. "If you did that, then you'd really have no one willing to help you. As you said, Colette was your last hope… and here I am, giving you one last solution, and you're about to blow it."

Vega chose not to let the lightning or the wind die down, keeping her power flowing through her. She'd never once trusted Meyer, and she wouldn't start today, no matter what he said.

"And you would want to help me why?" she asked, cocking her head to the right.

Meyer looked around their secluded surroundings. "For Bridger."

Vega felt her stomach drop, a flutter of something deep inside her coming to life. A laugh bubbled out of her core. "You've lost it." She turned to grab the reins.

Meyer snatched her by the wrist before she could and spun her around. The horse let out a frightened screech.

His hand was warm around her wrist, sending Vega into fight or flight mode… and she was sick of running. Her electricity seared through her, prickling into Meyer's hand. Not enough to kill, only to forewarn him what she would do if he laid a hand on her again.

He jumped back, shaking his palm out. "You bitch," he sneered.

"Keep your hands to yourself, and we won't have a problem," she said with a promising smile.

"Then listen to what I have to say." His voice was menacing, but Vega had seen scarier things and lived through them.

The snow fell harder, hiding them from prying eyes.

"You have two minutes," she warned.

Meyer's jaw flexed, annoyance written in his face's hard lines. "Do you know Bridger has been dreaming of you, of his past, for months? Since Arlet found you on Earth?"

He's dreaming of me too.

Vega raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed over her chest. "How would I know that?" She forced herself to keep her edge, to maintain the air of distaste she needed.

He didn't answer Vega's question. "You're haunting his every dream and then every waking minute because he can't wash you away with booze, training, war. Nothing. He's not sleeping, petrified of seeing memories he buried away for decades come to the surface. And then this time, you're so you. Witty, strong, brave. "

Vega wasn't used to hearing compliments coming from Meyer.

"He sees the girl you once were. The one he fell in love with. The one he waited for, fought fifteen years for. The one he's let go twice in a single life."

Vega took a deep breath in, steadying the thrum of her heart. "You're delusional."

"Delusional?" he asked. "This curse wasn't made to torture only you, Vega. Marlena designed it to fuck with everyone who loves you too. How do you think it made Bridger feel when you came back from a life and couldn't remember him, but had the memories of another man, another life? Or how Arlet feels having to leave her own world behind to go chase your lost ass down all the time? And don't even get me started on lovesick Fera. May I remind you that while you have been tortured on and off by your sister, Bridger endured two full years of it with her only intent being to break him."

Vega didn't need the reminder. "So what are you saying? That I owe him because my sister is a psychopath?"

Meyer sighed, his shoulders sagging. "I'm saying that if it weren't for your sister, Bridger would have chosen you in every lifetime without any hesitation. Marlena made certain Bridger had no other choice… and I'm trying to make the decision he would have made for himself if she hadn't fucked him up so badly—the decision he would have made had his parents not sold his soul long before he got the chance to save himself."

Vega could see her breaths coming out in short bursts. "I will never forgive him, Meyer. If that's what you came here to do?—"

He cut her off. "That's absolutely not what I'm here to do. I'm here to save my best friend, and unfortunately, I think you're the only person who can do that."

"Why would breaking this curse set him free?" she asked.

"Because your curse is his curse, right? Since you're bonded gods and all." Meyer's smirk started on one side of his face and twisted to the other .

Vega went white, her mouth opening to ask, How?

"It doesn't matter how I know. It only matters that I do know." He waved his hand, moving the conversation along. "And if this doesn't work, then no harm, no foul. It wouldn't be the first time you had to start all over. You should be good at it by now."

Vega clenched her jaw. She wanted to reach out and slap him, but she didn't… Meyer was offering her the help she needed.

And if it worked, well, then she'd be one step ahead of them.

"I'll think about it, and if I decide I'm desperate enough to work with you, then I'll come find you." Vega pulled the reins down and hoisted herself up onto the horse. He took a few steps back, the sound of snapping twigs under his hooves insulated by the snow.

This time Meyer didn't try to stop her. He stood stuck in his place, rooted to the ground below him. "Hey, Vega!" he called.

She twisted her body to catch sight of him as the horse continued in the opposite direction.

"Marlena knows Solum is joining the revolution, and after today's retaliation, she and Bridger are planning on wiping it clean after the new year."

Vega had a choice to make… and she didn't have much time to make it.