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Marlena paused in the middle of reading a sentence. “Want me to rub your back?” she asked, shocked by her own question.

She’d just been internally freaking out about the idea of someone touching her, and now here she was, offering to rub out Arlet’s overworked muscles.

Arlet’s features warmed, a small tinge of pink working its way into her cheeks. She didn’t say anything, only nodded as she moved to join Marlena.

The vehicle picked up speed at the back roads leading through the outskirts of Fortis that led home to Stella. Marlena closed her book and hid it between the cushions.

Arlet clipped her hair up, exposing her neck and the sweater that draped over her shoulders. Spring was in full bloom, and the chill had yet to leave the air as the sun began its descent through the sky.

Marlena pulled her leg up underneath her, making room for Arlet to sit in front of her.

She cracked her fingers, trying to loosen her hands while untangling the webs around her brain.

This is just Arlet. You’ve touched Arlet before.

Arlet is your friend. This isn’t weird. Touching Arlet isn’t weird.

She lowered her hands to Arlet’s shoulders, her touch featherlight until she felt Arlet settle in closer. Marlena’s thumbs dug into the muscles surrounding Arlet’s spine at the base of her neck.

Training with Bridger was hard—he didn’t back down, and it was clear he wasn’t willing to change his fighting style to go easy on any of them either.

Marlena appreciated that.

She squeezed Arlet’s shoulders, really digging into a knot around her scapula. She inhaled hard, and Marlena softened her touch naturally.

Arlet twisted her neck from side to side. “No, no, that felt good.” Her voice was hazed with satisfaction, and Marlena was sure if she could see her face, her eyes would have rolled back into her head.

Marlena drilled her thumb back into the spot on her back, her other hand wandering to the same muscle on the opposite side and pressing in with the palm of her hand.

Arlet leaned in for more, chasing the hard press of Marlena’s touch. “Fuuuuuuck,” she groaned, and Marlena inhaled her scent as Arlet’s neck came within inches of her nose and lips.

Honey mixed with the smell of Arlet’s dried sweat. It should repulse her, make her crawl out of her skin at the thought of touching someone who had yet to shower after a lesson in the ring… but it didn’t.

Marlena wanted more. She licked her lips and allowed her hands to slide up to the edges of Arlet’s loose sweater.

She slipped her fingers underneath and pulled it off her shoulders.

It sank between them, catching in the crook of Arlet’s elbow, revealing more of her soft skin underneath.

Arlet didn’t protest. The opposite, actually.

She pulled her arms out, leaving her in a sheer tank top.

The heat of Arlet’s skin made the outside world fall away. It was just Marlena and Arlet, trapped in their own little universe.

Marlena drove her fingers back into Arlet’s achy muscles, and this time, a moan slipped through Arlet’s lips.

Marlena couldn’t help it—she’d lost all her senses but one.

She leaned in, her lips fluttering over the delicate skin of Arlet’s neck.

Goosebumps scattered over Arlet’s skin, and she gasped. “Mar…”

The nickname was a whisper, but it made something inside of Marlena click. The way Arlet drove into Marlena’s touch, her eagerness to accept the massage offer—all of it had Marlena’s head spinning.

Arlet wanted this too. It wasn’t just a figment of Marlena’s imagination.

Marlena slid a hand up and cupped Arlet’s throat where it met her chest, driving her fingers into her collarbone.

Arlet’s chest rose, her lips parting. Taking Marlena by surprise, Arlet shifted her hands from her lap, and one reached behind her to grab Marlena’s exposed thigh peeking out of her dress.

The other slid up Marlena’s arm until it rested against her wrist. Gripping her softly, Arlet guided her hand up higher on her throat, stopping when the new position was underneath her jaw.

Marlena tightened her grip only a little but yanked Arlet’s body back against hers, her ass arching in between Marlena’s thighs.

The gasp Arlet let out ruptured any control Marlena felt she had. Her lips met Arlet’s exposed neck, kissing up the side and then sliding her tongue all the way back down.

“Gods, Marlena.” Arlet let out a sigh, her hand wandering up Marlena’s thigh, higher and higher.

The vehicle shuddered underneath them, and without another warning, the sound of the engine seizing and grinding against itself pierced through the cabin. Both girls’ hands shot up to cover their ears at the same time the vehicle lurched to a violent stop.

Arlet went flying forward at the sudden halt, and Marlena barely caught herself against the cushion on the other side.

Rattled, Marlena reached for the door, noticing a billow of smoke rising from underneath.

Her head spun, and the lust clouding her senses evaporated.

“Get out,” she stammered. “Arlet, get out.” She pulled Arlet up by her arms. She had already begun to pick herself up—but she wasn’t moving fast enough.

Marlena pushed Arlet through the door’s opening before she crawled out herself. They landed roughly in the mud. It had started to rain, a light but steady drizzle causing the overheated transport to steam.

She would probably be steaming too if that were possible… her body still trying to come down from the high of Arlet’s need.

She wanted me.

They made eye contact as the guard came skidding out of his open door. “Are you girls okay?” He looked them over, scanning their bodies for any visible injuries.

“I think I’m okay, yeah.” Arlet spoke first, nodding her head at the obvious question Marlena was waiting to have answered too.

“What the fuck was that?” Marlena tried to keep her voice relaxed, but it came out strained, a taut rope pulling at every muscle in her body.

“The engine locked up. I’m not sure. It happened so quickly,” he stuttered.

Marlena moved around the front, pointing to the hood. “Well, open it.”

He did, and more steam came up from the open hood. “I’m going to have to call for a replacement vehicle. You two should get back inside and get out of the rain.”

Marlena shook her head violently. “I don’t trust anything with an engine that smokes. What would happen if that thing blew up and you lost not one, not two, but three future Curia seats because of your incompetence?”

The man grew paler. “You’re right, I—I’m sorry, Miss Marlena.”

“You need to?—”

“Marlena.” Arlet’s soft voice mirrored the gentle touch of her hand resting on her forearm.

“It’s okay. He’ll get it figured out.” Droplets of water slid down Arlet’s exposed arms, and the cool spring air made her shiver.

“There was an inn with a little tavern underneath a few miles back. We can go hang out there while he gets it figured out.”

A loud rickety cart led by a couple mules rolled their way. Their guard’s eyes followed Marlena’s, and he visibly let out a sigh of relief, rushing into the road with his arms flailing.

The woman driving the cart pulled up beside him, but he was too far away to be heard.

“Don’t be rude to him. He didn’t do anything.” Arlet’s hand stayed on Marlena’s arm for another few seconds, pulling her attention away from their guard. “He’s doing what he can to help.”

Marlena let her arm fall from Arlet’s touch, unable to get the image of Arlet’s body pressed up against hers out of her mind. “Yeah, well, I need to get home, and now we’re stranded,” she huffed.

Arlet chuckled, moving to reach inside the cab and pull out her sweater. She slipped inside of it, hiding herself from the cold rain coming down. “And for now, there’s nothing we can do.” Arlet pulled Marlena’s bag out and tossed it to her. “So, we might as well make the best of it.”

As if all of the heat she’d felt had vanished, Arlet strode away from Marlena, headed towards the guard and the covered cart. She peeked over her shoulder, a cheeky smile pulling at her lips. “Are you coming or ya gonna just stand in the rain?”

Marlena watched her hips sway and blinked a few times before snapping out of her trance. Like a striking snake, Marlena pulled the book out from between the cushions of the vehicle and stuffed it in her bag before the rain ruined it. She slung the bag over her shoulder and trailed after Arlet.

“I’m on my way to Fortis, so I can give him a ride back and drop you ladies off at the tav to stay warm.

It’ll be a few hours before he’s back though.

My mules don’t go quite as fast as that fancy thing.

” The woman pointed at the still steaming military vehicle, her voice deep and weathered.

She gestured to the back. “You ladies ride back there where it’s warm. ”

Marlena helped Arlet up and held on to her hand as she hoisted herself into the wagon behind her. The ride was bumpy, and the wheels rattled too loudly to have a real conversation. So they sat in silence… and it didn’t feel awkward.

Before long, they were climbing back out of the wagon and running through the rain that had begun to fall angrier than before. Where was Vega when they needed her?

Thunder roared in the distance, lightning sputtering across the sky. Marlena jumped, seeking shelter under the awning of the tavern’s entrance.

Arlet laughed, wiping her face with her soaked sweater. “Hopefully they have a fire we can dry out by.” She opened the door for Marlena, and they both slipped inside together.

Inside the tavern, music was played by a man with a small guitar. The melody of the song felt upbeat, but the lyrics were dark and alluring. People danced, drank, and cuddled into tight corners, but somehow, there were a couple open seats near the fire.

They hurried over to them and slipped out of their jackets. Marlena’s fur coat got some looks, but when didn’t she draw attention? The faces around here knew her.

Everyone in Tolevarre would recognize Marlena.

She was being plastered all over news bulletins and during important broadcasts every week.

Once the next Curia seat holder got to a certain age, the people of Tolevarre began to notice, starting to watch what kind of ruler they would be faced with in the future.

Rumors were swirling about Marlena—she was known as snappy, quick-witted, and unforgiving.

They weren’t wrong.

She ignored the looks, happy to feel that the top of her dress had been saved from the rain. Arlet, on the other hand, was soaked through. She got as close as she could to the fire without burning herself or falling in after hanging her saturated sweater.

A barmaid came by and handed them both a large mug of ale .

“Thanks, Sunny!” Arlet said with a bright smile on her face as if they were old friends.

Marlena was bad at remembering all of the faces she’d come into contact with. All except for the ones that mattered. Marlena said nothing as she sat in the chair closest to the fire and took a sip of the wheat-flavored ale.

Her insides started to warm after taking a couple more big swigs. Marlena shivered once as a jolt of cold shot down her spine. “I am so sick of the cold,” she groaned.

Arlet gulped the ale in her mug quickly, aiming to do the same thing Marlena was—get warm. “We should go dance. That’ll warm us up.”

Marlena eyed her and then let her gaze sweep over the crowd, who’d finally gone back to paying attention to whatever it was they’d been fixed on before the two walked in.

Arlet always wanted to dance, and she’d always been good at it. So while she didn’t have a “power,” per se, she was powerful in other ways. She could dance, carry a tune better than anyone Marlena personally knew, and grab any attention she wanted by merely existing.

Arlet was unlike anyone Marlena had ever met.

And tonight, she’d made it clear she wanted her too… Marlena wasn’t alone in these newfound feelings.

“Okay. Let’s dance.” How could she say no? They were known to be friends. If anything got back to the people closest to them about a wild night after breaking down on the outskirts of Aeris, no one would suspect anything nefarious.

We’re just friends.