Page 94 of Apprentice to the Villain

Evie picked up her bag. “Make me something tasty with Lyssa and Edwin for when we return? And look after things while we’re gone.”

“Count on it.” With a trembling chin, Gideon gestured a handtoward the back door. “Now get out there and find our mother.”

She was nearly to the door when she halted and spun around. “Gideon.”

He looked at her, ever the gilded hero. He was good—a different sort than her.

This was why she said carefully, “I want to hurt the king. Not because he’s done bad things. Not because he’s bad for Rennedawn. I want him to hurt because I hurt, because he hurt all of us. Do you think that makes me a villain?”

He smiled hesitantly; even Keeley appeared surprised by the question. “No, Eve. It’s okay that you feel that way.”

But as she walked out to the now-saddled dragon for their long trip to Becky’s family home, she noted something she’d seen behind her brother’s eyes, behind his words.

Fear.

Chapter 56

The Villain

Trystan wasn’t nervous.

So perhaps the nausea and stomach twists were merely a result of the dragon dipping and diving through the sky, occasionally opening his mouth to light a tree aflame—something Sage took very strong objection to, as evidenced by her nails digging into her palms every time a sprig of green went up in an orange blaze.

“Gushiken, kindly tell Fluffy to cease making ash of Hickory Forest,” he said. “I enjoy destruction, but I bear the trees no ill will.” He did not move his gaze from Sage’s hands, willing them to loosen so that he didn’t reach over and do it for her. That would violate the spirit of the agreement between them.

I demand we revisit it after my mother’s found.

He shouldn’t have agreed to it, because now, on top of the guvres and the failing wards, he, too, was on a ticking clock, with an unknown outcome looming when the time ran out. Nothing could happen between them—nothing good, anyhow. Sage’s life was already in shambles justworkingfor him; he couldn’t imagine how he’d destroy her if she became anything else, anythingmore.

It made him envy Blade, that the dragon trainer had the freedom to pursue whomever he chose without fear of destroying them by accident.

Gushiken gripped the reins tighter, his eyes on Ms. Erring,who was leaning with her chin in her hand and looking as far away as a person could be. No doubt she was dreading their destination. Though Trystan couldn’t understand the weight on the woman’s shoulders, he could imagine the nerve-igniting dread of returning to a place fraught with terrible memories. He’d feel the same returning to his own village, to his mother’s house, to the woman who, instead of accepting his power, had sought to destroy it.

Had sought to kill him.

Rebecka Erring was someone Trystan understood. It was why he’d so readily offered her employment three short years prior, when she’d been a desperate, far less composed version of the woman she was now. The woman he’d first met stumbling away from home, seeking— He wouldn’t say “rescue,” as that wasn’t in his repertoire, but his hiring of her came at a time when she’d sought escape. He’d known she’d be a fearsome ally, and she’d more than proven herself since.

Blade frowned at Rebecka’s forlorn expression and used what seemed to be the dragon trainer’s favorite tactic: diversion. “Lovely Rebecka, would you like to steer?”

Ms. Erring glanced at him, emptily shaking her head, before going back to staring off into the distance. Sage’s hands loosened, and Trystan internally exhaled, deeply affected by the small actions of her fingers.I demand we revisit it after my mother’s found.

At this rate, she’d be revisiting it at his grave.

Sage scooched closer to Ms. Erring, sliding a hand toward her but not touching her. “It’s not too late for us to turn back. If you don’t want to face them, you do not have to. We can find another way.”

Ms. Erring frowned. “You want to find your mother, don’t you?”

Sage pushed a wind-whipped lock of hair behind her ear. “Notat your expense. You’re not collateral, Becky. I don’t want you to be hurt simply because of who your family is.”

Tatianna chimed in, too. “This isn’t a requirement, Rebecka, it’s a choice. Whatever you want to do, we will support you in it.”

Becky looked between both women, mouth pinching, suppressing emotion. He knew because he often made the same face when he was holding back. “I…appreciate the sentiments, but I cannot run from my family forever. If your mother is there… If finding her will help us defeat Benedict, then we are doing it.” Chin bobbing, she lifted her hand to lightly hold her throat. “But I warn you to not be dazzled by the grandeur of the fortress. It is not all that it seems, and neither is my family.”

Clare, on the opposite side of him—notably as far away from Tatianna as humanly possible—said, “We know of family complications, Rebecka. Don’t worry; we’ll be on guard. I know I always am any time I’m with any of mine.”

Trystan’s power snaked out, knocking into the side of his sister’s leg. When she turned accusatory eyes on him, he looked away, whistling.

“I know that was you, Tryst. Must you always be so hostile?”