Page 45 of Heart of the Villain

They could figure it out. Later.

For now, Marlena had to make sure Ivelle knew who she was messing with.

Maybe they could tell people about them… eventually. But they had to do it the right way, and Arlet had to be let in.

All the way in.

And Marlena wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to let her get that close.

She stormed out into the humid night air, walking on light feet. Marlena used the power of her wind to stifle the sound of her footsteps.

Ivelle didn’t hear her coming until Marlena’s fingernails dug into the flesh of her bicep and she pushed her toward their vehicle. Ivelle tried to snatch her arm from Marlena’s clutch, but that only made Marlena dig in deeper.

“Let go,” she shouted, trying to squirm out of Marlena’s grip.

Marlena doubled down, clutching her tighter, and sent a rough breeze through the trees surrounding the Aeris property to cover the sound of her demands.

“Get in the fucking vehicle, Ivelle,” Marlena growled, shoving her forward with enough force that she stumbled on her feet, barely catching herself before connecting with the hard exterior of the military transport.

Ivelle spun around, ready to strike Marlena before she disappeared and stepped out of her way. She reappeared as she spoke. “I’ll let that one slide, but the next time you think about raising a hand to me, it better be a killing blow, because I won’t show this kindness again.”

Ivelle was a spoiled brat and had never once been given a single fucking rule to follow. Or at least, she’d never listened to one.

That changes now.

The soldier jobbed in taking them to the Fortis docks flinched, flustered as he momentarily struggled to pull the door open for the girls.

“You have some nerve, thinking you can boss me around after what I just saw!” Ivelle’s voice was a piercing screech, scraping against Marlena’s eardrums like a dying bird.

“I’m going to give you three fucking seconds.”

Maybe it was something in Marlena’s eyes, or the fact that she held up a finger and started counting, but before she could get to three, Ivelle turned around and ducked into the cab of their transport.

The door clicked shut, and Marlena didn’t wait another second to lay into her. “I am only going to say this once… What you saw tonight is none of your fucking business, and I promise, I swear to every dead god and any that come next, I will make your life a living hell if you utter a single breath to anyone.” Marlena didn’t feel the transport move, her gaze stuck on Ivelle and the sneer painted on her lips.

“Do you think your threats scare me?” Marlena knew they did sometimes—she’d seen the way Ivelle responded to her powers in the kitchen.

“Oh, I’m sorry… Did you think that was a threat?” Marlena leaned against the back of her bench, oozing nonchalance. “I’ve been making threats my whole life. It’s time for me to make good on them, turn them into promises. If you wanted someone to walk all over, you’re a few years late. That Marlena is dead.”

I killed her.

Ivelle hadn’t settled into her seat. She sat rigid, every muscle in her body fighting the coolness she was trying to hold on to… Marlena could see the crack, could tell she was close to breaking.

“Nothing you can do to me will be worse than what I’ve lived through. Why would you want to keep you and Arlet a secret? If it’s such a big deal, maybe it’s information that will earn me my freedom back. Maybe even earn me the seat that I was robbed of.” Ivelle shrugged her shoulders, finally sinking into her seat with a smug smirk on her pink-painted lips.

She thought she’d won.

Marlena leaned forward, taking up the space between them with her elbows resting on her knees. “What have you done to deserve my seat? The seat I have fought for, bled for, and given up parts of myself that I’ll never get back for. All you’ve done is make a fool of yourself, make yourself look like the last person they’d let lead. I bet they’d give it to Vega over you. As a matter of fact, I know they would.” Marlena’s voice dripped with pity. “And then you’d have nothing. No one on your side, no one to align yourself with when the world you know burns to the fucking ground.”

Ivelle raised a brow. “What?”

“Oh, so now you’re curious?” Marlena wanted Ivelle to understand the position they were in. For it to really sink in that Marlena was, in fact, the only person left who could give her what she wanted.

There was a fight in her… a girl who just wanted to get a taste of what power felt like. “I am the only person left who can give you what you want, Ivelle, and I would hate for you to ruin that by running your mouth like this is some schoolyard.” Marlena leaned back, crossing one long leg over the other. “I have had enough of the abuse our lineage thinks is normal, and I plan on making them regret it soon enough.”

Marlena wouldn’t take her eyes off Ivelle, and she caught the exact moment she hooked her.

Another line set.