Page 17 of Heart of the Villain

Marlena’s smile slowly grew, taking over her face in triumph as Vega slid off her horse and tied him beside Marlena’s.

How far are you willing to go to get what you want?

Recovered from the notebook

of Marlena Caelum:

Eighteen Years Old

Marlena sat in the middle of her plush bed, surrounded by old books and a fluffy white blanket. She’d finished her required schooling this past summer but hadn’t been given a break before being thrust into the next part of her life.

Preparing to take over her parents’ Curia seats… or pretending to take them over, whatever it was they were allowing her to do.

No dates had been set for her succession yet. Her parents were still young, by Tolevarre standards, and she really couldn’t imagine either of them stepping down anytime soon.

Would be nice to have a little fun while I can.

Rubbing her eyes, Marlena closed the book and tossed it to the edge of the bed. Her father had given her a week’s worth of reading to do in two days, and the words on the pages were starting to look the same.

After a meeting with her mother’s council in Amora, the family decided to host a dinner for the leaders and their families. Marlena excused herself early, retiring to her room to start on the work she surely wouldn’t finish in time.

Marlena slipped off her bed and into a pair of slippers by her nightstand. There was nothing worse than cold feet, and Amora, no matter the season, was always cold—snow almost always covered the ground.

Marlena hated it. She certainly didn’t look forward to the day she’d have to call this place her home. Not only was it cold, but the home was much smaller than the one in Stella, albeit still larger than any other home in the region.

Eventually, this house would be her home. Until my dad croaks and I can replace him.

Despite not knowing when she’d take over her parents’ seats, Marlena knew it would be her mother who would step down first. Her father would hold on to his piece of control until he was good and ready. And probably even longer than that just to piss Marlena off.

Marlena ran into no one as she shuffled her way down the stairs and into the kitchen. Most of the small staff had gone home for the night, leaving the place spotless.

After flicking on a light, Marlena dug through the bar cart sitting by the window until she found what she was looking for. In a small glass, she poured herself a couple fingers’ worth of the amber liquid from her mother’s favorite maker in Imber.

If nothing else, at least she has good taste in alcohol.

Marlena licked the excess off her lips as the side door came crashing open, a gust of frozen wind whirling through the room. She jumped, startled by the intrusion.

Laughs rang through the room before Vega, Arlet, and Khort came crashing into the room on wobbly legs.

“Mar!” Vega squealed, running over to her sister and trampling her in a hug. “I definitely thought you were going to be asleep.”

Marlena patted her on the shoulder, peeling Vega off while fighting the uncomfortable feeling washing over her from being touched. She’s your sister.

The smell of booze whacked Marlena in the nose, and it wasn’t coming from the fresh glass she’d poured herself. “Are you drunk?”

Arlet giggled, and Khort raised his hands in surrender when Marlena’s eyes scanned him over. “I told her she should only have one glass.”

“I’m fiiiineeeeee,” she promised and smiled as innocently as she could manage. “Look.” Vega stood up straight and walked the line in the flooring. She made it to the end and spun in a circle, stumbling only a little. “My shoe stuck,” she lied with another fit of giggles to follow.

Marlena put her glass down, sighing. “Let’s get you to bed.”

Arlet butted in, slipping her arm around Vega’s shoulder. “No way. We are all off tomorrow, including you.” She pointed at Marlena. “We’re going out.”

She wasn’t off tomorrow. Marlena couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten a break to be a normal girl her age. “I can’t.”

Khort rolled his eyes, slipping his arm around Marlena’s shoulder like Arlet’s was draped over Vega’s. “Yes, you can. And you are.” He pulled her down the hall towards her and Vega’s bedrooms.

She dug her heels into the floor like that would stop Khort from picking her up and carrying her the rest of the way. He flung her over his shoulder, and she pounded on his back. “Put me down, you behemoth!”