Bridget couldn’t breathe. A flicker of memory surged behind her eyes. Dread rose up her spine. It was the same sword from the vision... the blade she’d used to tear through Cade’s chest. She hadn’t recognized it without her memories.
And then she realized why Marin had saidshewouldn’t kill Cade.
Because it wouldn’t be her. Not really.
A scream clawed at her soul, but her mouth didn’t move. She was trapped. Utterly trapped and unable to stop the past and the future from coming full circle.
You can’t.
Bridget could barely get the words out. Even without control of own body, she felt like she would collapse any second. The roar of her own heartbeat began to drown out all reason and logic.
Oh, Bee. Don’t you see? You’re not in the position to demand anything right now.
Suddenly, the wind shifted. The air split with a hollow echo. Vega turned, sword still raised. Her eyes narrowed toward the top of the hill overlooking the courtyard.
Cade.
Cloak whipping in the wind, his hair was tousled and wild. His brown eyes blazed beneath the low-slung clouds. Behind him, Delphine stood breathless, one hand braced against her knee.
Bridget’s heart surged in her chest.
Cade. No. No, not now. Please—
She wanted to warn him. To scream. To beg him to turn around. But she couldn’t do anything.
And Vega was already moving.
The sword glinted in her hand as she turned toward him, a smile crawling across Bridget’s face that wasn’t hers.
“Oh good,” Vega called, loud enough for him to hear. “Right on time. Any longer and I don’t think Bridget would have made it.”
Cade’s expression didn’t flinch, but his body went taut with unspoken rage. He gave Delphine a small nod. With a snap, she vanished. Bridget’s entire body trembled. She had to be going back for the others, right? For anyone that could stop Cade’s determined descent toward them.
Please don’t make me do this. I’ll do anything you want.
She’d used the same words on her sister before and they’d worked. But this time, Bridget felt a hardening between her and Vega’s presence.
Cade crossed the threshold into the courtyard, slow and steady. His eyes never left hers. Or… Vega’s. But Bridget could feel it. He was assessing everything, from Nylah's unmoving form to the weapon in her hand to her stance.
Vega laughed softly.You see, Bee, I realized a long time ago I went about my original plan the wrong way. I tried to force you to choose. I tried to do everything myself.She swung the sword in a loose arc, its rubied hilt catching the firelight with a glint that twisted in Bridget’s stomach.I underestimated how far you would go to save him. Now it’s his turn to prove the same.
The reality of her sick, twisted plan slammed into Bridget like a freight train. Her mind thrashed inside her own body, teeth bared against the iron grip of her sister’s control. She tugged at the frayed seams of magic, desperate to loosen the claw latched around her consciousness. A searing fire bloomed down her spine, but still, she couldn’t make her hands drop the sword.
As Cade took another step closer, the air behind him snapped. A second pulse of magic tore through the haze, and Stellan appeared, his form coalescing from shadow at the hill’s crest. Deckard was with him. His dark eyes locked immediately on Vega.
Vega’s hand flew up.
Flames exploded into existence around the outside of the courtyard, rushing skyward with a hiss of searing magic. A wall of fire roared to life, twisting and blocking Stellan and the king’s path entirely. Its heat smothered the air. The stone beneath it glowed red. They skidded to a stop just short of it, lifting their arms to shield their faces.
Bridget’s soul twisted as magic tore at her mind like barbed wire. Blood slid from her nose and down her lip. Moments later, Delphine appeared again, sweaty and breathless from the magic it had cost. Cassia and Castor clung to her shoulders, holding her upright. But it didn’t matter. They were trapped on the other side and still too far away. They would be forced to watch her do the unimaginable. They couldn’t stop her unless Vega let go or killed her first.
A sob tore through Bridget’s chest.Please don’t do this.
It’s the only way,Vega hissed.
Then she surged forward. The sword slashed through the air, silver glinting with cruel familiarity. Cade’s reflexes snapped to life. He twisted out of the way just in time, the blade missing his ribs by inches. The sword felt different in Bridget’s hands than the one she’d carried and used to kill Quinn with. Every motion seemed to be carved with the muscle memory of a life that had ended in blood.
Vega lunged again, sweeping low. Cade ducked, sliding across the stone with a pivot. His foot braced, twisting his body just out of reach as the sword struck the ground where his head had been a heartbeat earlier. Sparks scattered and cracked beneath the Tuathan blade. Bridget screamed from within her own skull, thrashing against Vega’s control.
