Page 67 of Accomplice to the Villain

Tatianna and Becky both stared at her. “What?” they asked in unison.

Evie looked between them. “Shirley would be a fun alias. It means meadow… Never mind, go on.” She smiled sheepishly, and Becky was plagued with an annoying level of tender feelings of friendship for the human cannonball.

“I’ve worked hard to make myself strong enough to combat my brothers, to combat the men in the office who doubted my caliber when I assumed my position. I’ve made myself so impenetrable to affection, I’m afraid that I’ve forgotten how to receive it. Or…how to give it.”

Evie’s eyes softened. “Oh, Becky. You haven’t.”

“What do you mean? How can you be so sure?”

“Look at your hands.”

Becky squinted down at them, turning her hands palm up and back around. There was nothing but a pink flower that had been painted on her by Lyssa earlier that morning while Becky was sorting through paperwork. “What? The paint?”

Evie gave her a look that suggested Becky’s hopelessness, but instead of admitting to it, she merely picked up Becky’s hand and made her look at the flower again. “Aside from me, you’ve been kinder to my little sister than any other adult in her life. Sheadoresyou.”

Becky felt her cheeks heat and hated the burst of elation at the compliment. “Lyssa is an easy audience.”

Tatianna scoffed. “She locked Clare and me in a cupboard! I’d hardly call hereasy.”

Becky clapped a hand over her mouth to trap the inappropriate laughter. “She, um, she should not have done that, certainly.”

The healer picked up another potion bottle, one in a funny shape and the color of melted gold. It clanged against the others as she placed it into a bag. “I admire her audacity, and I am not without my own issues when it comes to romantic entanglements. Seeing as I am still foolishly in love with my ex-betrothed.” Tatianna leaned against the wall by the window and slowly sank to the ground. Becky walked over to join her, and Evie did, too.

The three of them sat quietly side by side. Becky had to admit, it was a companionable silence.

“Clare still loves you.” Becky broke the quiet. “It’s obvious every time she looks at you.”

Tatianna rubbed at one of her eyes, and some of the pink glitter on her lid was transferred to the back of her hand. “You are probably right. And at one point in our lives, that would’ve been more than enough. But adulthood brings with it far too many complications to untangle.”

Tatianna took hold of one of Becky’s hands, and Evie took the other.

“In any case,” Tatianna added, “enough about me.” She looked at Becky expectantly.

“I don’t know how to flirt,” Becky blurted, and Evie’s head now whipped around to look at her, too. “I have no idea how to be charming or witty without being scathing, and every time I talk to Blade I lose all my faculties. That’s why I came to you two.”

Tatianna furrowed her brow and held up a hand, mock whispering behind it. “Have you seen Evie attempting to speak to Trystan? She doesn’t just lose her faculties—she loses her mind.”

Evie appeared unable to argue, her lip twitching as she said gravely, “It’s true. I am flattered you think I have any idea what I’m doing, but truly, I hardly ever know what is going to come out of my mouth. Which has gotten me into as many bad situations as it has good ones.”

Tatianna gave Evie a pointed look.

Evie admitted, “Mostly bad ones.”

“The point is, Rebecka, flirting is just a way to play and indicate your interest. There’s no right or wrong way to do that if the other person understands the language you’re speaking.”

Becky sulked, releasing Tatianna’s hand to push one of her hairpins deeper into her bun. “We’re always speaking the same language.”

“She means metaphorically, dear.” Evie squeezed her other hand, refusing to let go. “I would wager a guess that your direct manner of address is one of Blade’s favorite things about you. You don’t have to mold the way you speak to fit someone else’s ideal. Blade will like you as you are, and if he doesn’t, he is the worst kind of fool.”

A warm comfort made all her limbs feel languid, her body relaxing after releasing a tension that she may have been holding on to for years. A clear explanation for the headaches and the irritability.

“It’s strange. I don’t think I’ve ever spoken this candidly with anyone. I adore my brothers, and we have our own sort of bond.” She looked back and forth between the women on either side of her. “But this is different, with women, I think. I never had sisters.”

Tatianna leaned her head on Becky’s shoulder, and then Evie did the same. They sat there in silence for a few more moments, taking in a level of safety that only other women could give.

“You do now,” Evie said.

Becky’s heart felt like it was much too big for her chest.