Page 66 of Accomplice to the Villain

“I’ve only ever had my brothers for reference points when it comes to speaking with, um, with…”

“Men?” Evie asked with far too much interest for comfort.

Rebecka paused, then said, “Never mind.” She spun and attempted escape.

It was too late. Evie was already barring the door with a maniacal grin. “Now, Becky, we are all friends here. Do tell us anything that’s on your mind.”

“No.” She scowled.

Evie pouted, looking like a grown version of Lyssa. “Why?”

“Because you’re far too excited about it.”

Evie deflated with a glare.

Tatianna chuckled and slid over to the closed door next to Evie. “We will keep your confidence, Rebecka. I swear it. Say what you need to say.”

Horrific, foolish idea.“I think that I am infatuated with…with Blade.” There. She’d said it, the sky hadn’t fallen, and all her limbs were still intact. For now.

Evie jumped and clapped. “I knew it! You have a crush! This is marvelous!”

“Stop jumping, you one-woman circus show,” Becky growled, pointing a warning finger at her.

Evie stopped, looking properly chastised. Tatianna was observing, a serene smile on her face that was almost worse than Evie’s zealous excitement. “I donothave a crush. I have aninfatuation—they are entirely different things.”

Tatianna blinked. “In what respect?”

“Crushes are for children.”

“I have crushes all the time,” Evie objected.

Becky waved a hand at her. “See.”

Tatianna laughed, and Evie stuck her tongue out.

“Real mature, Evie.”

Evie dipped into a mock curtsy. “My goal is never maturity. I’m not that jaded yet.”

Becky put her hands over her face. “Oh, gods, I don’t even know why I bothered to ask.”

Tatianna pulled her hands away from her face. “Rebecka, are you perhaps trying to seek counsel on how to pursue your…infatuation?”

“No,” she said firmly.

Evie lifted a brow. “No?”

“No!” Rebecka yelled and then went silent.

One second passed, then two, then three.

Evie clicked her tongue. “Yes?”

Becky threw her hands up and then back down. “Yes! Are you happy? I can’t speak to Roland about this because then he will tell Reid, who will then tell Raphael, and then I will have to move kingdoms and change names.” Her eyes widened when it hit her.“Again!”

Tatianna poured tea into a small teacup and handed it to her. It was still magically warm despite it not sitting anywhere near a stove. “Before you claim another alias, why don’t we have a friendly chat and see if it helps?”

“Shirley,” Evie said, tapping her chin.