Page 4 of Heart of the Villain

They were staying the night at the Feras’ Demuto home instead of traveling back to Stella in the snowstorm pounding the mountain path. Their parents were inside the house, finishing their glasses of wine over some important Curia business, and the kids snuck out… despite their parents’ warnings.

Arlet laughed so hard she stumbled over the log and landed on her butt in the cold snow.

The rest joined in.

Marlena shushed the others through a fit of giggles she did her best to hide. “If our parents know we’re out here, they’re going to flip out.” She put her pointer finger over her lips.

Khort and Arlet were Vega’s friends, according to their parents. They only tolerate you because of your sister. But in moments like these, Marlena forgot to believe them.

Khort helped Arlet up, and they scooted closer to the fire when a twig snapped.

“Are you kids telling ghost stories?”

They all spun around at the same time, their eyes as wide as the moon hiding behind the clouds.

Olenor Fera lit up behind the firelight, her green eyes glowing with the reflection of the bonfire. Her dark burgundy hair spilled over her shoulders, and she was wrapped in a much lighter coat than the rest of them. The fire of her dragon form kept her warm enough to avoid heavy clothing.

Khort hadn’t shifted yet, but his little sister, Delori, already had a few weeks ago… and things had been tense in the Fera household since then.

Delori had taken her mother’s dragon form, and it was pretty rare for both children to get the same gift.

“Sorry, Mom, we were just⁠—”

Olenor held up her hand. “You’re not in trouble. All of you, relax.”

They collectively took a relieved breath.

“But if you aren’t telling the story of Mira Viator, then you’re not doing ghost stories right.”

Marlena’s eyebrows rose, and Arlet beat them to the question they were all wondering. “Who’s Mira Viator?”

Olenor looked over to Arlet, and then her eyes trailed to the rest of the group as she stepped up to the fire where everyone could see her. “Mira was Fraus’s Curia seat holder 209 years ago, and she tried to summon a dead god.”

Marlena stayed silent, but Arlet and Vega audibly gasped. Khort watched his mom, his eyes never leaving her face. “What happened to her?”

A small breeze kicked up the embers of their fire, and Olenor watched one sail into the night sky. “They’re listening,” she whispered, refocusing on the kids as a chill ran down Marlena’s spine.

Vega reached out for her hand, and Marlena snatched it up.

“Mira wanted power, more power than the rest of the realm wanted to give her. She tried to assassinate the Dimicos, claiming Fraus-born could run the military better than they could, but she got caught and thrown into the prison under Atrox.” The original city of Fortis where the Curia member’s and Commander’s families lived.

Khort’s eyebrows creased. “Why haven’t we ever heard of this?” he asked. Khort was less than a full year older than Marlena, but he was still the oldest of their group. If any of them had heard of it, it would have been him.

Olenor met her son’s curious gaze. “Because the Curia and a few of their family members are the only ones who know about it, and it isn’t something people like to talk about.”

Marlena stared into the fire, captivated by the crackling of the log. “How do you know about it?”

“Because I was there,” Olenor deadpanned.

Marlena’s eyes shot from the popping flame.

“The Curia was readying for her execution, and my father was part of the dragon firing squad.” Olenor was the leader of Demuto, having taken over her father’s seat when he stepped down. “And yes, ‘firing squad’ was the literal term at the time. They planned to execute her by dragon fire.”

There weren’t enough dragons for that type of execution anymore. Their population had been dwindling for centuries.

Arlet crossed her arms over her chest and ran her palms up and down to chase the chill of the story out of her bones.

Khort’s jaw dropped.