Page 51 of Apprentice to the Villain

A red bird soared over their heads, and Evie followed it with her eyes as it flew through the trees, sailing for the sun before diving back toward the earth. The forest grew denser this close to the eastern border, with the sun dancing through the leaves in wild patterns around them. It looked like every good dream she’d ever had.

Her eyes didn’t leave his as she deadpanned, “I was unsettled by the number of pillows on your bed. It kept me awake for hours.”

The Villain glared, releasing the horses’ reins. “I do not have that many pillows.”

Clare’s shoulders shook as she laughed from up ahead. “Still, Tryst? I’d have thought that when you became a dark, murderous figure you’d have rid yourself of the collection.”

Evie felt like tiny, joyous butterflies were fluttering in her chest. The sun beating against her back was making her feel warm. “He did this when you were children?”

“Clare. Don’t,” The Villain grunted.

She didn’t need to—Tatianna was already speaking, her fuchsia-painted lips moving a mile a minute. “Remember when we hid them, Clare? He went ballistic.”

“Because you were thieves! I bought them with my own money,” the boss grumbled, his black stallion chuffing like itagreed with him.

Clare gave him an evil grin. “I thought you were a fan of theft.”

He huffed. “Not when it’s something that’s mine.”

Kingsley held up a sign that read,Lonely.

Evie pouted and looked at the boss, her heart swelling at the possibility. “Is that why you have so many? You’re lonely in your bed?”

The Villain ripped the sign away from Kingsley before plopping it in Tatianna’s pink-gloved hand. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“My gods, it was such an odd habit that we couldn’t make sense of it. He’d have five to six pillows in there with him at all times. Malcolm thought he was having overnight guests. The four of us even spent the night spying once, but nope, all for him.”

Clare brushed her hand over Tatianna’s, likely to get her attention, but it lingered. Evie eyed that touch with a small, triumphant smile before realizing the implications of Clare’s words. “Four of you spying on him? Clare, Tati, and Malcolm—that’s three. Who’s the fourth person?”

The Villain’s head snapped toward Clare, who stared at her reins, her knuckles turning white. “I—I meant three! Only three of us.” But Evie didn’t miss her eyes flashing to Kingsley.

Rolling her neck, she was merciful and changed the subject. “My cousin Helena has been to the Heart Village quite a few times. When she wrote to me about it, she said it was a place of innovation and progress. Is that true, sir? I’ve never been.”

Granted, there were many areas of Hickory Forest she hadn’t explored, because that would mean leaving the comfort of home, and Evie had never been very good at venturing away from where she felt safest. She loved destinations; it was the journey that always seemed to stifle her. And it did help to have a comfortable place to return to as well—though the small cottage she’d shared with her parents was not her home any longer. The thought sent sorrow piercing through her chest.

You can’t be sad when you’re trying to be professional, Evie!

But being professional is so sad,her mind argued.

The scar on her shoulder tingled for a moment, and the dagger sheathed beneath her skirt answered it, like the two were having a conversation she wasn’t privy to. “Rude,” she mumbled.

“Sage, are you listening?” her boss asked.

She frowned—oh dear, had he been speaking? She hated when her mind would follow a thread inside her head, tugging so strongly that she completely missed what was happening outside of it. It made her feel flustered and silly.

Which was why she lied, “I was,” all wide-eyed innocence.

“You’re all right being bait, then?”

Hold on!“Bait?”

Magical plants and flowers glowed against the mid-morning sun. To distract from how little she’d been listening, Evie reached out to the nearest branch and plucked one. Rolling the stem between her fingers, she lifted it to her nose and took a large whiff.

“What am I to be bait for, exactly?”

A large stone bridge appeared ahead—the entrance into the Heart Village. Evie had heard of this place, and not just from Helena; it sat on the border of Rennedawn and the eastern Kingdom of Kaliora. Because of this, it was often considered to be the heart of Myrtalia, a village with no kingdom—perfectly neutral, and a bustling enterprise of different humans and magical creatures alike. But to enter, you had to pass the bridge entrance.

Suddenly, it became clear what she’d been volunteered for, and her heart started beating erratically. And was the ground getting a little fuzzy on the horizon?