Page 103 of Assistant to the Villain

Arthur coughed lightly, a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his lips. Panic shook Evie at the sight, worried for a man who had once cared for Trystan and very apparently still did. And he mattered to her boss, whether Trystan knew it or not.

Ripping off another clean scrap of fabric from her dress, Evie held it gently to the corner of Arthur’s mouth, praying that whatever ailed him could be healed.

“You’re brave.” Arthur smiled at her lightly, dirt mixing with the blood on his cheeks.

Evie snorted. “Hardly.” She was impulsive and headstrong on her best days, but brave? It seemed too heavy a word for the vision she had of herself.

“You must be to work for—” He paused, eyes taking in Becky behind her. He seemed to be weighing something carefully before he turned back to Evie with a different course in mind. “To work forThe Villain.”

Arthur winced around the last two words, like calling his son something sinister was more painful than any of the wounds he’d suffered.

“He’s not so scary.” Evie smiled, feeling a small sort of glow inside when she pictured Trystan’s softer moments in her mind.

“Oh, but he is.” Arthur winced again but smiled. Finding humor in his pain.

“I’ve never been more afraid of anyone in my life.”

But Evie could hear the feelings behind his words. That his fear wasn’t of Trystan but of where the life he’d chosen would lead him.

He was afraidforhim, and Evie was so touched, she vowed she would keep this man alive, no matter what she had to do.

Just then, Becky gasped, and Evie spun around to see—

She froze.

They were surrounded by Valiant Guards, swords drawn with ruthless determination.

And they didn’t look like heroes at all…

Chapter 44

The Villain

After a mad dash through the ruins of the party, stepping over unrecognizable bodies, some of them still groaning, Trystan spotted Clare. Tugging his sister hard by the arm, Trystan ducked them both into the shadows in one sweeping move.

She was shaking, her dress torn and her left shoulder bare where the strap was missing. It made him think of their childhood, when Clare was reckless and Trystan would feel pinches in his chest at what might happen to her.

But they were grown now. He’d learned quickly that neither of his siblings needed his worry or concern.

“Tryst?” Clare’s voice shook, as though she was unsure her brother was really here to rescue her. But then she seemed to collect herself and shouted, “Father. We must find Father!”

“What in the deadlands are you even doing here, Clare?” He was feeling so many things, too many. Emotions had never been easily processed through the dark confines of Trystan’s mind.

He worried for Evie, he worried for his sister, he was infuriated at whoever caused this mess, and there were not words to describe the anger he felt toward King Benedict.

“Father invited me!” Clare yelled, her usual temper flaring and melting away any trace of fear he thought he’d seen in her gaze. “What in the deadlands areyoudoing here?” Her eyes became horrified saucers. “Did you do this?”

“Of course not,” he growled, freezing when he saw Blade sprint past him. “Gushiken!”

The dragon trainer halted in his tracks, swinging a looped rope, sweat pouring down his face. “I almost had him—just need a little more height.” Blade peeked over at Clare and smiled like they were meeting over brunch. “Nice to meet you.”

“My sister.” Trystan claimed her, even though it was unwise. No one at the office, save for Tatianna and now Sage, knew of his familial connections. Or even his identity.

“Oh.” Realization lit in the dragon trainer’s eyes. “Oh, you’re— Hello.” The man obviously knew something he shouldn’t, because he looked like a cat who’d found a mouse to play with.

Trystan was out of patience, as usual. “Clare. I’ll find Arthur—just stay out of the way.”

“I don’t take orders from you.” She rolled her eyes and turned to Blade. “You need a sleeping draught to take that thing down, don’t you?”