Page 36 of Apprentice to the Villain

The sentry was back in front of the cave, but Evie no longer viewed him as an adversary—she was just grateful that the creature below had someone, immortal or not, looking out for its well-being. Everyone should have someone like that.

“I met the inventor of trees.” She sounded as mystified as she felt.

Tatianna rolled her lips, looking at her pityingly. “Of course you did, dear. Come, let me examine your head.”

A low yell sounded from the trees. Blade.

“Another mouse?” Clare guessed, crossing her arms. But Evie saw a flash of silver.

Her heart quickened, her palms dampening. “No. Blade!” she screamed as she stood, running for the path, footsteps sounding behind her as the rest of them followed.

And when she cleared the path through the trees to the stream beyond, she saw her dearest friend pinned to the ground with a sword at his throat.

The Valiant Guard had found them.

Chapter 21

Evie

“If you plan to drive me through with that, could you get it over with?” Evie called to the knight holding a blade at her back.

“Sage, do not move!” The Villain ordered, hands raised, ready to use his magic.

“I don’t need to move, sir. Can you see how much he’s shaking?” She angled her head to look at the sword pressed to her back. It shook along with its wielder. “At this rate, he’ll run me through by accident.”

The sword slipped, nicking her. She winced, and the guard’s eyes widened with panic.

“First day?” she asked sympathetically.

“Sage,” The Villain bit out.

“It is, actually,” the knight mumbled.

The Villain groaned. “Oh for the love of—”

Evie waved a hand. “Ignore him. You’re doing fine.”

“Thank you, milady,” the knight replied earnestly. He almost lowered the sword but was reprimanded by his captain—the one holding Blade at knifepoint while Fluffy howled beneath a weighted net. The poor animal was blowing gusts of smoke in feeble attempts to produce flame.

“Simon!” the captain yelled. “Stop flirting with the enemy and retrieve the stardust.”

“Yes, sir,” Simon said nervously, tucking his chin against hischest.

She held fast to the vial in her pocket, hoping they wouldn’t search her first, though as usual, her fears were for naught. Dark shadows pooled at her feet—the boss’s magic. This was the power that was rumored to be strong enough to rip apart homes, rip apartbodies. She swallowed, watching it…play with the laces of her boots like a cat.

Oh dear.“Sir?” she asked, trying to shake it away by wiggling her foot, but it merely clung tighter.

The Villain’s face twisted with anger as he tried to pull the mist closer. “Obey!” he yelled, but it was too late.

A helmeted knight had stepped out of the throng with an outstretched hand—the same knight who had subdued The Villain’s power before he was taken from her last time.

She wouldn’t let it happen again.

The mist about her feet vanished as The Villain dropped to the ground, screaming in agony.

The sword at her back slipped again. “Ow!” she wailed overdramatically.

“I’m sorry, miss!” Simon yelped from behind her, sword moving away for a second, but it was enough. She turned, kicking him hard in the shin before pulling her dagger from her side and banging the blunt end against his unguarded head. He dropped immediately.