Page 58 of Adversary to the Villain

Blade chuckled good-naturedly, turning on the balls of his feet to stand sentry for them.

And Rebecka realized that if anything went wrong… No. Nothing would go wrong. Everything would be fine.

Still, just in case…she turned Blade around and planted a firm kiss on his lips.

“Be careful,” she said, “and do not die. Or I will be very displeased with you.”

The smile on his face glowed as brightly as Lyssa’s hands as he saluted her, then turned back around.

The two eggs continued to glimmer underneath Lyssa’s hands, now beginning to roll back and forth within the nest, clanking against each other, the faded rainbow scales on them so similar to the male guvre’s skin.

They listened for the rustle of wings for several minutes before Lyssa spoke. “How long is this going to take, do you think?”

“Have an appointment to keep?” Becky asked from the other side of the oak tree.

“Yes, it’s Tuesday. Lord Trystan and I have our tea party on Tuesdays.” The little girl was dead serious, and Rebecka laughed again. The act wasn’t as unpleasant as it once had been.

“It could take hours, Lyssa, but we won’t stay long past nightfall. And if you’re tired or at all uncomfortable, we’ll return at once and try again tomorrow,” Tatianna offered kindly.

More silence followed, Lyssa’s hands growing even brighter.

And then—

A crack.

Chapter 27

Trystan

So much had changed in his life recently. But Trystan found that he still fucking hated Lionel.

There was at least consistency in this.

“He’s definitely human.” Lionel rubbed at his chin before grinning at Alexander Kingsley.

“I’ve requested your services at the manor a dozen times at least, and the first time you actually show up,that’syour diagnosis?” Trystan gritted out. The office common area had been cleared of employees, desks emptied that were normally full. “I can make obvious observations, too.”

“You couldn’t tell your assistant was in love with you for the first six months that you knew her,” Lionel pointed out.

“That was hardly obvious.” Sage scoffed, tugging the ribbon from her hair to unravel the braid and fidget with her curls.

Gideon sat at one of the empty desks, boots propped atop the surface, sipping on a glass of rum. Chugging it, more like. “Eve, you could’ve been hitting him with a board that said ‘I love you’ and he still would have missed it.”

“Thank you, Gideon,” Sage said with over-the-top sweetness.

Gideon raised his glass. “Here for you.”

“Where is this enchantress? I’d like to meet her,” Lionel interrupted, looking at Alexander with a more speculative gaze. “It appears your curse was merely half broken. Such curses can only be fully reversed by the person who cast the enchantment in the first place.”

Alexander winced, brushing hair from his eyes.

“She’s made of stone,” Trystan objected.

Gideon tsked. “Now, now, Maverine, that’s hardly a way to speak of a lady.”

Trystan stared at him for a beat before addressing Sage. “Would you be upset if I killed your brother?”

Evie paused. “Probably.”