Page 90 of Adversary to the Villain

“Not with you and Maverine,” Helena deadpanned, waving her hands and howling in laughter when she spied Evie’s face. “I’m kidding! Oh my gods, you are so unfunny when you’re having an identity crisis.”

“Sorry my life being in shambles isn’t entertaining for you. How can I be more fun?” Evie asked hollowly.

“I don’t know. Do some jumping jacks or something.”

Evie stood and did ten of them, the gin pooling in her belly and making her warm and languid.

Helena clapped and shook the empty gin bottle with a huff of disbelief. “The gin was stolen by invisible pixies.”

“I’ll get more! Where?” She turned, holding her hands over her eyes as she squinted toward the spotlight.

“There’s a cart around the corner.” Helena tossed Evie her coin purse and popped up to fiddle with a set piece out of place.

Evie stumbled down the stage stairs and toward the back of the theater, where the three security guards stood, stoic and unmoving. “Excuse me?” Evie took a step closer. “Could you move? I have to run a quick errand.”

“Allow us to escort you, miss,” one of the guards said under their breath, head tilted down. But the voice was familiar.

Warning bells blared, and though she could not tell the difference anymore between actual danger or the hint of it, she still knew caution was safer. “Oh, thank you, but that is not necessary. It is right around the corner, and I’d prefer to go alone.” She delivered this answer with her shoulders back, looking at them head-on, letting them know she was not intimidated.

I am doom!

And not just in a bad pun sort of way. Like actually.

The guard nodded stiffly, stepping aside to let her through. Her hackles were up until she was outside, the pretty colors in the sky and the brisk evening air sending goose bumps down her arms in a pleasant refresh, with the alcohol heightening the effect. All at once, she felt a weight lifted, walking the water’s edge of the Heart Village in a peaceful quiet. The villagers were making their way home to their families, most not sparing her a second glance.

Most but not all.

Because while Evie was rip-roaring drunk, she had not trained under The Villain of Rennedawn and come away with nothing. Her peace fell away like worn thread when she realized—she was being followed.

Dodging the cart selling the alcohol, she made another right turn until she’d done a full ciruit around the square. The presence still loomed, and she had no magic to protect her. Her dagger had been left behind. Inside Trystan’s chest.

She turned down another street, this one empty.

The art of surprise was to her advantage, but Evie was vehemently opposed to the word “subtle,” so on a cry she turned and swung her fist, connecting with hard muscle. A grunt followed before she was lifted off her feet, and when she saw the man’s face—

She screamed.

Chapter 44

Evie

“Why. Would. You. Sneak. Up. On. Me. Like. That!” Evie yelled, punctuating each word with a slap to Raphael Fortis’s arm.

“It was Roland’s suggestion!” Raphael bit out, gesturing to Roland and Marv, who gave her a gentle wave.

“I told them it was a bad idea, Ms. Sage,” Marv told her, rubbing at his wild hair.

Rebecka Erring’s older brother had the good sense to look guilty, albeit begrudgingly so, but Evie was still trying to nail her soul back into her body. “I apologize.” Raphael bent at the waist, giving her a gentlemanly bow.

She stared at him. “I’m not going to curtsy.”

Roland coughed.

Raphael looked different than when Evie had seen him last. Sadder. More defeated. She understood the feeling.

“You look horrible,” Evie said.

“How good of you to notice.” Raphael rolled his shoulders. “We didn’t sleep last night. We rode all day to get here.”