Page 14

Must be nice. Marlena cleared her throat and the thought from her mind.

“I have an idea.” She walked to her bed and pulled the big plush blankets and sheets to the floor, dragging them in front of the fire.

Marlena yanked the pillows from her bed and the couches in the lounge off next, then fluffed them into a cozy pile on the floor.

“Get comfy and warm up. I’m going to change. ”

Quickly, Marlena left the room and stripped into a satin pajama set with long sleeves and pants that hung off of her hips.

It was her favorite sleep set, and it’d definitely seen better days, but she wasn’t ready to part with it yet.

She let her hair down, washed her face, and was back in record time.

The crackle of the fire was calling to her. She’d always loved getting lost in the flames of a fire.

Marlena dove into the plush covers, cuddling into the pillows for extra warmth. Once the girls were settled, they split a muffin down the middle. “Vega not coming home?” she asked Arlet, picking at her half.

Arlet’s shoulders bobbed. “Not sure. I haven’t talked to her since before she snuck off today.”

Marlena eyed her. “She’s okay, right?”

Chuckling, Arlet swallowed before nodding.

“She’s with Bridger. He’d rather drown himself in a puddle than let anything happen to her.

She’s more than okay.” Taking her last bite, Arlet grabbed a deck of cards off the side table and dealt a hand to Marlena without asking if she wanted to play. “The real question is, are you okay?”

Arlet split the deck between the two without looking up.

It was a mindless card game popular amongst kids, but it took a certain skill to win.

Marlena usually wiped the competition out before anyone else had the chance.

It was all about counting the cards and knowing where numbers went and in what order.

She watched Arlet’s fingers graze over the cards delicately. “Of course I am… Why do you ask?” Marlena’s eyebrows pinched together in question.

Arlet finished dealing the cards, wiping her hands together in habit.

Khort used to accuse the girls of sneaking cards under their sleeves or hiding them under their wrists every single time they played—all because Vega cheated once , but only to mess with him.

“You’ve just been a little reserved lately.

I know you’re busy, but sometimes I’m worried you’re checking out on us. ”

Shadows from the fire danced across Arlet’s face.

Marlena watched them for a bit before replying.

“There’s always something to do. I would love a break, but alas, there is no time in my parents’ schedule for that.

” Marlena took stock of the cards in her hand and started immediately crunching numbers. What’s missing?

“But you’re okay?” Arlet asked again as her hazel eyes wandered over the cards in her hand.

No. “Never been better. ”

Arlet rolled her eyes extra hard and set her cards down to focus on Marlena. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

Marlena drew a card, tossing it to the side to form a discard pile, and then looked at Arlet.

She must have had a look on her face because Arlet reached out and grabbed her free hand. “I know how it feels… to not feel good enough.”

Nothing Marlena ever did would be good enough.

Arlet didn’t talk much about her parents or how they’d left her behind—at least, not with Marlena.

Marlena wanted to squirm away from Arlet’s touch, but she didn’t. She forced herself to accept that someone would touch her because they wanted to comfort her, not because they wanted to hurt her.

Arlet pulled away, and the second her touch disappeared, Marlena felt the warmth spreading through her chest go with it. “We don’t think that, by the way. That you’re not good enough…”

We . As in her friends—Vega, Bridger, Khort.

“Sometimes they make me believe it,” Marlena admitted before she could stop herself.

Marlena watched Arlet’s face fall. “It’s hard to be the eldest child, huh? It comes with responsibilities we didn’t ask for.”

Arlet was supposed to run Vates—before it fell. She was the oldest, but her brother and sister got the power. Her parents never gave up hope that Arlet would one day come across her own.

But sitting here, across from her, Marlena found herself wondering if Arlet’s power just wasn’t one that could be seen. Because she could make you believe everything was all right. She’d always been like that. Arlet had been born to rule, too, but her blood hadn’t gotten that memo…

Arlet played her next move while Marlena watched the cards she laid down.

Marlena shuffled the cards around in her hand, knowing she was able to end the game with what she currently held… but she didn’t want to. “I want the responsibility. I know I can handle it. I just wish someone would believe in me.”

Arlet laid her cards down, beating Marlena at her own game in nearly one hand. “I believe in you.”

The smile overtaking Marlena came for two reasons. One, because it felt nice to hear someone say they believed in her, and two, because Arlet would have kicked her ass almost instantly—if it weren’t for the last hand she hadn’t thrown down on purpose. “Someone’s been paying attention.”

“I’ve watched you beat everyone hundreds of times. It gave me a lot of time to watch the moves you make. Let me see your hand.” Arlet leaned forward, trying to get a glance at the cards Marlena had fanned out in front of her.

She pulled them against her chest and shook her head, leaning away from Arlet, who slinked in closer. “Nope.”

“Oh, come on,” Arlet whined, continuing to invade Marlena’s space. She shifted to her hands and knees, crawling the few feet separating them. “You’re being shady! Did you let me win?”

Marlena laughed, leaning until her back was nearly flush with the floor. Holding the cards above her head, she did her best to keep them away from Arlet. “Nooooo, I would never let someone win.”

Arlet’s little grabby hands didn’t stop.

Marlena had to uncross her legs quickly, trying to wiggle away from Arlet’s pursuit. “Then show me them!” Arlet giggled, crawling into Marlena’s lap.

“Never!” Marlena pushed Arlet’s hands away with her free hand, sliding the one with the cards behind her back.

Arlet straddled her, attempting to reach around Marlena to rip the cards from her.

Marlena shuffled them between two hands before pushing her power into the cards to shield them from sight.

They were still there, and Arlet would be able to find them if she reached out and touched them.

Marlena pulled her hands up in front of her, threading the cards through her fingers, and to Arlet, it would look as if nothing were there.

A sneaky smile pulled at Marlena’s lips. “If you guess which hand they’re in, I’ll let you see them.”

Arlet leaned back, resting her butt on her calves. She still stayed on Marlena’s lap… and Marlena couldn’t help but think about how she liked the weight of Arlet on top of her. The smell of her honey shampoo was unmistakable with her this close.

Arlet nibbled on her lip as she considered which hand to choose. Marlena’s eyes flicked away from them when she realized she was staring.

“Fifty-fifty shot here, Arlie. What’s it gonna be?” It had been so long since Marlena used her nickname.

“Using nicknames makes you sound lazy.” Why did her mother’s voice have to pop in at some of the worst times?

Get out of my fucking head, Marlena said to the lingering voice echoing in her skull.

Arlet’s eyes settled on Marlena’s right hand, and by the look in her eyes, Marlena knew she knew where the cards were before she even nodded in their direction.

Arlet made a move to reach for them, but before she could make contact, Marlena shoved them down her top, securing them against her ribcage.

Pulling her hand out of her satin shirt, she opened both of her palms wide, showing Arlet the cards were gone.

“I guess you were right.” Marlena made quick work of trying to get out from underneath Arlet, but she wasn’t quick enough.

Arlet reached inside her shirt to fish them out.

Marlena stashed them there knowing Arlet wouldn’t follow them down… Gods, was I wrong.

Arlet’s hand grazed over the peak of her breast, her nipple pebbling from the friction. Marlena bit her lip to hide her gasp.

Arlet groaned in defeat, eyes lapping up her loss with the cards now in her hands. She over-pouted, sticking her bottom lip out. “You would’ve beat me. ”

Marlena swallowed, trying to find her words.

Arlet is on top of me, and I like the way it feels…

I like the way it felt when she slipped her hand down my shirt.

Marlena opened her mouth to speak, and finally Arlet crawled off her.

With the extra weight gone, Marlena inhaled sharply, finally getting the air she needed to clear her head.

She’s your sister’s best friend, you fucking idiot.

Arlet cocked her head and raised a brow, waiting for a response.

She’s your friend. Your friend.

“I didn’t think you’d stick your hand down my top.” Those were the words Marlena decided to go with once she could speak again. Smooth.

Arlet shrugged, laying Marlena’s cards on top of the pile. “They’re just boobs. You think I’m scared of a nice pair of tits?” She shook her head.

Did Arlet like women? Marlena had no idea. Arlet had never been as open about what she did in her sex life as Vega was.

“Nice pair of tits?” Marlena asked, feeling flushed. All thoughts of the stupid cards were gone.

“Yeah, they’re definitely your best asset. Among other things like your brain, but if you ever wanna get anyone’s attention, just hike those babies up and wear something low-cut. You’ll get your point across quickly.” Arlet mixed the cards up. “Wanna go again? And this time can you not let me win?”

Marlena laughed a little, brushing off the buzz in her body as drinking too much wine and being warm by the fire. “Sure, but you better play like you want it, cause I won’t let you win twice,” she said with a wink.

Arlet waggled her brows and settled back into her spot.

The game was over in under five minutes. Marlena won, and Arlet sighed, followed by a yawn. “I guess we need a rematch, but please, another day. I’m so tired,” Arlet whined.

Marlena felt the drowsiness of the day taking over during the last game. “Me too. ”

Arlet went to stand, but Marlena reached out to put her hand on her thigh, stopping her from getting up. “Will you stay?” she whispered, her voice almost drowned out from the crackle of the fire. “I don’t want to be alone.”

I’m always alone.

Pausing, Arlet looked down at Marlena’s hand, and then slowly, she nodded once. “Yeah. Yeah, I can stay.”

A tired smile crept onto Marlena’s face. “We can move to the bed.”

“No, I like it here. Brings back memories.” Memories of their childhood when they’d do this downstairs in front of the main fireplace during sleepovers.

Arlet moved pillows around while Marlena knocked the logs in the fire off one another with a poker to spread the embers out and kill the roaring flame to a simmer.

Marlena settled back beside Arlet, who was facing her way when she lay down. She smiled sleepily as Marlena slipped under the warm blankets.

Marlena slid her arm under a pillow, and the second she started to feel warm and sated, Arlet slid her frozen toes between Marlena’s closed thighs, leeching the warmth from between them. The intrusion made Marlena twitch and grit her teeth.

Arlet giggled. “Sorry, very cold. Need to let them thaw.” She’d always done this—her toes were like little icicles.

But this time, with her so close and her legs wrapping up with Marlena’s, it felt different .

Marlena watched as Arlet drifted into sleep, her lips slightly parted and breathing through her mouth with long, slow inhales.

Before the crackling of the fire lulled her to sleep, Marlena remembered the warning echoing through her head…

Don’t let her get in the way.