Page 14 of Heart of the Villain

“I don’t understand why you can’t give one seat to one daughter and one to another. If that’s an option, then⁠—”

“It’s not. It’s both seats or none, no matter which daughter rules. That is the option we’re giving,” Jonan barked, putting an end to the commander’s train of thought.

Lucius’s chest fell, a sigh escaping his lips. “Very well.” He turned his attention to Marlena, and it felt like she was filleted open and left hung out for everyone to see the hidden pieces of herself.

Marlena gripped the side of the table, fighting for support, fighting to show them all who she was.

No, she wasn’t Vega.

She was worse. A child learning that scorn was worse than any abuse her parents could give her.

Marlena squared her jaw and set her eyes to match Lucius’s gaze. “Do you believe I am not of sound mind to rule?”

Lucius smiled, slow and lethal. The kids whose names she couldn’t recall had their eyes on her now too. No one in the room moved—not even her parents to scold her for how she was acting.

He closed the distance between them, forcing Marlena to turn her back to the table to keep him in her line of sight. Keep your eye on what it is you want.

Lucius was the person standing in between the power she dreamed of.

“I vote…” He paused, sizing Marlena up. “Marlena rules. Vega’s too far behind. She’s never had a single responsibility in her life, never had a lick of training for what it entails to lead an entire territory, let alone two. Let her marry the dragon and make pretty little babies for the world to fawn over.”

And then he turned away, motioning his family out of their seats. Katrin, his doting wife and sister to Dacian, jumped to her feet and stood at his side. Their son rose slowly, eyes flicking to Marlena’s before following them out of the room.

That was that. It had been decided.

Marlena would rule.

“Congratulations, Marlena,” her mother said from behind her. “You’ve barely kept your seats, but I hope you realize what you’ve done.” Ryanna’s voice was tight, spoken through a clenched jaw. She didn’t even attempt to hide the annoyance on her face. “You will always be a pawn. A pretty doll to dress up and parade around while your father and I make the rules.”

The room broke out into chatter, and Marlena couldn’t concentrate on any of it. Gods, she could barely even pay attention to her mother’s tyrannical threats.

Lucius picked her. Why?

Without asking permission, feeling braver than she should, Marlena shot out of the room, trailing behind the commander and his family.

“Commander!” Marlena called, but instead of him turning around like she hoped, two of his guards seemed to materialize out of the shadows, barreling towards her. “I just wanted⁠—”

The men rushed her. Marlena skidded to a stop when the larger of the guards reached for her, but his hand never met skin.

An iron grip stopped the guard, the commander’s son stepping out from behind him. “Get lost,” he ordered, and they did without hesitation.

Marlena rubbed her arm where the man’s hand would have landed, as if she could feel the pain that should have come.

The boy was her age, give or take a year. He was put together like the rest of the children who grew up in the Curia’s wealth. His golden-tan skin almost glowed under the bright natural lighting of the Aeris home. “If you came to ask him why he sided with you, don’t bother.”

Marlena’s eyebrows drew together as she readied herself to ask a question, but the boy didn’t give her a chance.

“He doesn’t care about you. He cares about pissing off your parents. He voted for you because it was against them.” The commander’s son stepped back. His black dress ensemble seemed casual compared to the obnoxious garb her mother insisted she dress in. “Don’t think he’s on your side.”

The boy turned to leave, and Marlena couldn’t find her words. So instead, she said nothing and watched him walk away.

Lucius might not have picked Marlena for the reason she wanted…

But he picked me, and I won’t waste this second chance.

Seventeen Years Old

“Wake up.” Marlena shook her sister, listening to her groan in protest. Vega had never been a morning person, always begging for five more minutes.