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Arlet backed her up until she bumped into the loveseat. Marlena sat, watching Arlet fixate on the warmth she knew was waiting for her between Marlena’s thighs.

Being the center of attention sent Marlena into a lustful spiral, the feeling of being wanted pulling her down into a sea of need.

She positioned herself on the armrest of the couch and spread herself wide, sliding her fingers through the slick lips of her pussy.

“Did you miss the way she cries for you, pet? How wet she gets when I think of your mouth on me?”

Arlet sank between her legs, answering Marlena’s question by dragging her tongue between her slit. She hummed in response to Marlena’s hips bucking.

Marlena gripped the back of the couch. Arlet continued to work her tongue against Marlena’s clit, switching between flicking and sucking in perfect synchrony.

“Oh my gods, yes,” Marlena cried softly, locking eyes with Arlet at the same time she slid two fingers inside her. “Such a good girl. You know exactly how I like it.”

Arlet expertly pressed into Marlena’s soft spot, then pulled her fingers all the way out, only to plunge them back in with more power each time.

Marlena removed her hand from Arlet’s hair, massaging her nipples for more stimulation.

“That’s it. Play with those perfect tits while I make you come.” Arlet removed her mouth from Marlena’s clit, replacing it with her thumb. “Fuck, Marlena. You’re so hot.”

The groan escaping Arlet’s mouth flipped a switch inside Marlena. She stopped touching herself, yanking Arlet up by her underarm, and captured her mouth with hers. Marlena didn’t have to wait for Arlet to open her mouth—she’d eagerly opened it the second their lips met.

Marlena sucked Arlet’s tongue into her mouth, tasting herself, causing another wave of pleasure to rack through her while Arlet continued to use her fingers to bring her to the edge of an orgasm.

Her walls tightened, gripping Arlet’s fingers as she neared her climax. Marlena whimpered, losing sight of the person she was supposed to present herself as.

Arlet pulled away from her lips and kissed down her body until she was back between her legs.

She sucked the inside of Marlena’s thighs, surely leaving marks, her eyes staying fixed on Marlena’s core while pumping her fingers in and out.

“That’s it. Let me hear you.” Her tongue met her now overly sensitive bud, and within seconds Marlena’s body shuddered.

Her head flew back, her long blonde hair cascading down her spine, and she moaned Arlet’s name loud enough for the whole home to hear .

Arlet lapped up the cum spilling out of Marlena and cleaned her fingers off with her tongue. “Sweeter than any cake I’ll taste tonight.”

Gods, Arlet was a different woman when it was just the two of them—so sure of herself, so strong. Marlena could see the woman she could become with a little coaxing and praise.

Gone was the girl who was timid and unsure of herself, and in her place was this minx of a woman, ready to wreak havoc on Marlena’s body and mind.

“Fuck, come here.” Marlena pulled Arlet back up to her lips, devouring her like she could be the one to rid Marlena of all the wrongdoings in her life.

If I had fallen for Arlet sooner, could she have been able to save me?

“Mom and Dad had to go to Pax for something last minute, and they won’t make it back.

They said to give you a hug from them.” Vega pulled Marlena into a tight squeeze, one that her parents had never, and would never, give her.

“Happy birthday,” Vega said, showing no sign of resentment from their recent fight.

It was custom for their family to get together with their closest friends for every birthday, and while she didn’t particularly care if her parents were here or not, it just went to show how little she meant to them—even after all this time, after all the work she’d done to be exactly what they’d wanted her to be.

They would be celebrating Saturnalia next week, officially marking two weeks until Marlena was to take over Amora.

Two weeks until Marlena stabbed her parents in the back and took everything they’d ever loved from them.

The details were in place. Everyone knew when and where to attack. They all knew their jobs and the roles they would play… It was Marlena who had started to question herself.

How would she tell her sister? How would she convince Arlet what she was doing would be better for their world in the end? Would they be better off not knowing until the job was done? What if Marlena wasn’t strong enough, hadn’t planned everything well enough?

What if I am the incompetent fool my parents think?

“Marlena.”

Her head jerked from the spot she’d been staring, and she blinked to come back to reality.

“You good?” Vega asked with her eyebrows scrunched together.

“Mm-hmm. Yes, of course. I just…” Marlena bit her lip. “Remember when we went to Littera and got those books about summoning gods?”

Vega blew a laugh from her nose. “Yeah, I think I still have one tucked under my bed somewhere.” Her smile faded a bit. “I can’t believe we ever even entertained the idea of doing something like that. It’s a fucking suicide mission.”

And that was the end of that conversation. For now.

Vega nodded towards the dining room where everyone had been called for dinner. “C’mon, let’s go celebrate the twenty-two-year-old you, the almost-leader of Amora.”

Dinner went by without a hitch. Khort’s parents had shown up, gifting Marlena a sweet snowflake necklace she would never fucking wear.

Ivelle and Khort disappeared sometime before dessert was served after making eyes at each other all night. Ivelle had been keeping Khort expertly preoccupied, so much so, Marlena wondered if her feelings were starting to become genuine.

Arlet and Vega lounged in the sitting room with Bridger, who poured everyone a glass of wine, offering one to Marlena when she walked in.

Her mind raced with thoughts tonight, and no matter how many glasses of wine she put down, Marlena couldn’t get them to stop.

The voice in her head was looming in the back too, waiting to strike when her walls were down.

“I think I’m going to go to bed. I’m supposed to have a meeting in the morning with our parents. Best I be bright and chipper for that.”

Arlet narrowed her eyes, catching the shift in Marlena’s mood.

Vega groaned. “You’re no fun anymore. What happened to you?” It was a joke, but Marlena winced slightly at the question.

“I’ve never been as fun as you, dear sister. I was raised to rule, not throw lavish parties.” Marlena leaned between Arlet and Vega, popping a kiss to her sister’s cheek. “Thanks for tonight.”

Marlena ran a friendly hand over Arlet’s shoulder, ignoring the heat sliding up it. “Goodnight.” She turned to nod a goodbye to Bridger, who watched her with dark eyes. “Make sure these two drink some water before bed, okay?”

She didn’t wait to hear if he responded before walking up the stairs on silent feet. Marlena slipped into one of the many guest suites in the west wing of the Aeris home, and without taking her dress off, she fell into bed and curled up under the plush covers.

Something had hit her tonight, a feeling she wasn’t sure she could find a name for. But her mind kept wandering to all she had planned and of all she might lose if she went through with it.

That little voice woke up, reminding her of everything she didn’t have.

Your parents don’t love you.

Your sister will never choose you when this all goes up in flames.

The woman you’re in love with will never be who you want her to be.

No one trusts you.

The door to her room opened, letting in a stream of light before it disappeared. The pitter-patter of Arlet’s footsteps took up space in the quiet room, even though it was obvious she was trying to be silent as she slipped out of her shoes and crawled into bed next to Marlena.

“You’re still in your dress? Were you hoping I’d get the hint and hurry up to help you take it off like I promised?” Marlena could picture the sultry look in Arlet’s eyes.

Arlet’s hands wandered up the curve of Marlena’s body, but for the first time since they’d started sleeping together, Marlena grabbed her hand and hugged it against her chest. “Will you just lie with me?”

Arlet went still. “Mar, what’s wrong?” She settled in beside her, resting her chin on Marlena’s shoulder from behind.

For a second, Marlena let her walls come down. “What if I can’t do it? What if I’m not strong enough?”

Marlena didn’t mean ruling… She knew she could rule. It was what she was planning, what she’d been planning since she was a child, she was concerned about.

“You were born to do this.” Arlet nuzzled Marlena’s ear. “You’re going to do great things. I believe in you. I always have.”

If only she really knew who you are at your core.

“I don’t want to do this alone,” Marlena whispered.

“You don’t have to. I’m here.” Arlet pulled her arm from against Marlena’s chest and started to smooth the soft hair on her scalp.

Marlena closed her eyes, letting herself fall into Arlet’s sweet touch. “I want to tell people about us.” If they let people know they were together, then maybe Marlena could come clean about her plan. One step at a time.

There was silence for longer than Marlena hoped for when laying her heart on the line.

“We should wait until after you’re sworn in. I don’t…” There was a pause. All that could be heard was their soft breaths. “I don’t want to mess anything up for you. If your parents aren’t happy with your choice, they could take this from you.”

“They love you. You’re like a second daughter to them.” Marlena rolled over, her nose bumping Arlet’s .

“Third. A third daughter,” Arlet corrected, but Marlena didn’t have the energy to explain that she’d never been a daughter to her parents—she’d always been a means to give them the never-ending power they coveted.

Marlena could see the faint lines of her face this close, her eyes adjusting to the soft moonlight popping through the curtains. “You’re a future leader too.” She knew Arlet was right… Her parents would never approve, not when Arlet had nothing to offer. No powers, no territory.

“A future leader of what?” Arlet uttered a sad laugh.

“Vates is gone… and so are its people.” Arlet brushed her hand over Marlena’s cheek.

“And I’m as powerless as I’ve ever been.

” Sadness laced her tone so thoroughly, Marlena felt it in her own chest. “Let’s just wait, okay?

Let you settle into your role, and then we can talk about this again one day.

For now, let’s just keep doing this. More of this. ”

Marlena’s throat tightened. “And what is this?”

“I…” Arlet went quiet again, nibbling on her lip. “I don’t know, but we have plenty of time to figure it out.” She placed a kiss on Marlena’s lips, one unlike any of the others. “Get some sleep. We can talk about this again soon, okay?”

Marlena nodded, unsure of what else she could say.

What if I don’t need the dead gods to rule? What if I need them to fix what’s broken inside me?