Page 15 of Adversary to the Villain

Her mouth fell open in tandem with Marv’s, shock locking all her muscles in place, her eyebrows flying toward her hairline. “Sir…are you…are you trying to flirt with me?”

“I think you asking that question is a clear indication of how well I’m doing,” Trystan replied flatly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “And I beg you not to call me ‘sir’ any longer. It makes me feel like I’m your employer.”

“But you are,” Marv interjected quietly, foolishly.

The consequence? Trystan grabbing the back of Marv’s chair with lethal swiftness, pointing the disfigured sword at his face. “She is my accomplice, Marvin,” he said calmly, like they trulywerejust chatting over tea. “Do you know what that means?”

“Sh-She is your partner, sir?” Marvin stuttered.

“She is myequal,” Trystan stated firmly, with grit and resolve that made her knees want to melt. Straightening back up, he tossed the sword toward the corner of the room like it was a crumpled piece of paper and folded his arms. “You’re no good to me dead, Marv. Tatianna will see if the poison can be cured, and then we shall ask you all the questions we like without fear you’ll enter the afterlife too soon. Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir!” The front gate guard and suspected traitor nodded his head, his spiky tendrils bobbing with the motion. “I’d be most grateful!”

Trystan nodded, making for the door. “Sage, come along.”

Evie froze, not liking the airiness of his tone. “Come along where?”

“You and I are going for a walk.” He began walking backward toward the door, flicking a gold coin at her. When she caught it, a large smile transformed his expression into one of mischief. “Keep that.”

“For what?” she asked, helplessly following after him.

He chuckled darkly, and nerves twisted knots in her stomach when he gave his unpredictable reply.

“Why, for the wishing well, of course.”

Chapter 6

Tatianna

In the kingdom of Rennedawn, there were many ways to spread information. Some used ravens, some used the king’s official postal service, and some simply stated directly what they wanted you to know. Tatianna was of the belief that how one communicated represented who they were.

It was why a healer such as herself, with all her grace, decorum, and wisdom, was sprinting after Clare like her gossamer pink gown was ablaze.

For what felt like the twentieth time that day.

“You cannot avoid me forever!”

“Tatianna, I cannot do this right now,” Clare bit out, her dark locks pinned behind her ears, flowing about her neck, her eyes glittering when she turned to shoo Tatianna away. “I have more pressing matters than helping you savethatman.”

“Thatman is a dear friend,” Tatianna pressed. “Marvin was foolish, but haven’t we all made foolish choices in our lives? Are we truly to punish him for falling in with the wrong crowd? That’s how we were all hired!”

Clare skidded to a stop, spinning just in time for Tatianna to barrel into her. They both stumbled until Clare’s back hit the open sill of one of the windows. “I was not hired,” she gritted, rubbing her shoulder. “Trystan is my brother. He is my family. Small and broken as it is.” Her cheeks reddened with anger, her chest heaving.

Tatianna softened, her heart aching for Clare’s loss, for her own. “I know you’re mourning your father. Believe me. I would not ask this of you if I didn’t think it important. Won’t you just look at Marv? You know magical plants better than anyone; you might know what will cure him.”

Tatianna knew Clare’s resolve always began to waver when her eye twitched.There! There it was.“I suppose I could—”

A scream jolted them both as one of the pixies fluttered down the hall, screeching in indignation.

“Luella!” Tatianna called in alarm. “Whatever is wrong?”

Luella halted before them, her dazzling wings—no bigger than Tati’s pointer finger—moving at a furious pace. “There’s a madman running nude through the laundry room!”

Clare gasped, and Tatianna was so jarred by the statement that she clapped a hand over her mouth before questioning, “What? Who?”

But Clare had already bolted toward the small set of wooden steps that led down to the steam room.

What in the deadlands?