Page 19 of Heart of the Villain

She couldn’t feel much these days…

The band began playing a song everyone knew, and the room cleared out, leaving the four of them to pour one more.

“To pulling Marlena out of her perfect little bubble.” Khort held his arm up, waiting for the rest to join.

Marlena was last to raise her glass, finally caving when Arlet waggled her brows like a tease and said, “Scaredy cat.”

They knocked the drink back, and before Marlena could fully set the glass down, Arlet grabbed her by the hand and dragged her to the makeshift dance floor.

Song after song, they danced. With each other, with strangers. A set of silky-smooth arms wrapped around the back of Marlena and slid down the curves accentuated by her dress. The alcohol had taken over, leaving Marlena’s head with a new, exciting buzz.

Thoughts of her parents and what would happen if they found out about this party were absent from her mind, and so were the worries she had about the work she wasn’t getting done tonight.

Her mind fluttered with the touch of the stranger behind her. Marlena moved her hips in perfect time with the song vibrating through the room, grinding against the warm body behind her.

The voice of the figure who’d turned into her shadow sliced through the haze. “You’re so fucking sexy.” It was sultry and smoky, her voice full of lust.

Marlena had never felt sexy before—sure, she knew she was beautiful. Her mother was a descendent of Venus; anyone with the goddess’s blood shined brighter than most.

Vega was the one with the dark hair and bright eyes like their father. She was the one who was able to dress how she wanted and be the person she wanted to be. Vega exuded the confidence Marlena had been lacking most of her life.

Reaching behind her with one hand, Marlena slid her fingertips up the woman’s leg, her nails trailing up her thigh, where goosebumps began to form. “Tell me again,” she said on a breath, continuing to sway to the music.

“The sexiest girl I’ve ever seen,” the woman cooed, her breath warm on her neck as she pulled Marlena’s hair over her shoulder. Her lips pressed kisses down the delicate skin, sending a chill down Marlena’s spine.

Marlena had never been with anyone before. She’d never had time and hadn’t really had the opportunity. Whenever she felt the need to be satisfied, Marlena knew how to take care of herself.

But right now? Gods, right now she wanted nothing more than to have this woman’s hands slip between her legs and show her all of the things she’d been missing.

“Let me take you upstairs,” the stranger whispered, as if she’d read Marlena’s mind.

Marlena froze for a millisecond, unsure of what her response should be.

“Don’t think. For once, just do!” Vega’s words from earlier rang in her head. Just do.

“Lead the way,” Marlena replied, turning on her heel to face the woman for the first time.

She was devastating in a way that didn’t seem fair. Her features were sharp, softened by the curly ash blonde hair falling around her face. Her eyes, the color of a sandstorm, drank in the sight of Marlena, setting her skin ablaze with need. Her legs went on for miles, drawing Marlena’s attention. The woman wasn’t much older than her but had the air of someone who had lived a thousand lives. Her confidence radiated off her in waves.

Marlena offered the woman her hand, and when she grabbed it, she could feel the warmth under her skin.

A fire-wielder.

Without another word, Marlena followed her out of the crowd, where she was able to get a breath of fresh air sweeping through an open window.

She didn’t catch sight of Arlet or Khort, but as she ascended the stairs, Marlena spied Vega in the center of the dance floor with a man she was sure neither of them knew. The man’s lips met Vega’s, devouring her in a heated kiss. The man didn’t come up for air—it was like he was drowning and Vega was the only way he would survive. He treated her the way everyone always did, like she was the only person alive who mattered.

Marlena wanted to matter.

She wanted to be wanted.

And tonight, someone wanted her. Without the knowledge of who she was or what she could bring to their future. Or so she told herself. It wasn’t often anyone mistook the Caelum sisters. Power made you known, and Marlena’s succession of two seats wasn’t a secret across the realm. That made it hard to go unnoticed.

If this beautiful stranger knew who Marlena was, she didn’t let on, which made the spell she had on Marlena set deeper.

Her back hit a plush bed, and from there, the euphoria she felt when she settled into the party turned into something else—something more.

Marlena didn’t know her name, and she didn’t care, because when she moaned out, the woman between her legs murmured sweet words against her skin until her body trembled with pleasure.