Page 120 of Apprentice to the Villain

Evie felt her heart rate calming, her fingers loosening around Kingsley, who remained in her hands as if sensing she still needed his support.

“We were about to leave when one of the plants started shrieking the most terrible sound I’d ever heard,” Tatianna finished.

It was the most terrible sound Evie had ever heard, too.

Becky shook her head, moving a vine out of her way. “No, that can’t be. Memory flowers are extremely rare—there are only three documented living specimens! And it’s dangerous to produce them. Nobody in my family would ever be so reckless.”

Raphael came in as if on cue, followed by the rest of the boys and Julius. The screaming halted for a moment, giving Evie a much-needed reprieve.

Raphael spoke first, shaking his head in disgust. “Tell them. Tell them what you’ve done.”

Evie followed his eyes.

Right to Renna.

Becky stumbled away from her, aghast, as a vine wrapped carefully around her wrist. “Mom? What does he mean? What did you do?”

Renna stayed silent, but tears were pooling in her eyes now. The sight of them sent Evie’s heart plummeting toward her feet.

“What did you do!” Becky screamed.

Evie stood up and looked at Blade. “Go,” she offered. Blade was up and over to Becky in seconds, a gentle hand at her elbow to hold her up.

Renna broke down in heaping sobs then. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean any harm! Rebecka, please.” She reached for Becky’s hand, but her daughter slapped it away.

“Renna.” Julius put a reassuring hand on her back. “It’s enough now.” Renna looked at her husband, seeming to absorb strength from him.

She stood taller, her loose auburn hair moving with her as she pushed her chin up. “We have been aiding King Benedict in fulfilling the prophecy for some time.”

Raphael bit out, “You, Mother.You.”

Renna licked her lips, folding her hands primly together. “I’ve been trying to find a cure for my mother. That is not a crime! That is not wrong! And everything I’ve done has been in service to Rennedawn and the Fortis line.”

She addressed the group as she continued. “We’ve been working to develop a plant—a hybrid between the memory plant and another rare flower we grow on the estate to siphon magic. To relieve the burdens of overbearing power.” Renna looked to Evie. “Like your mother’s.”

The boss, who’d been quiet, leaning against the wall in the corner, stood up and moved next to Evie, spearing Renna with his coldest, most threatening look. “Nura Sage isn’t coming tomorrow morning, is she?”

Renna looked to Evie and only to Evie. She cried out, “Your mother was my very best friend! Please know that I loved her as if she were my own sister. My own blood. I have never in my life sought to hurt another human being.” She inhaled hard. “Nura arrived at our gates, asking for aid. I knew of the accident; I knew of her power. I knew the king was looking for her, too, so instead of turning her over, I tried to siphon her magic away. I wanted to help herandthe kingdom.”

Evie stood, lip wobbling as hot, angry tears slid down her cheeks. “Then why…was she screaming?”

Renna got up, strode to the other side of the room, and pulled out a small vial of dark-silver dust. “I used the flower on her.” She handed Evie the vial, which felt weightless in her hands. “But her magic had already been so abused, it was like trying to repair an already-stopped heart.”

Evie looked up from the midnight vial. “Was. You said shewasyour very best friend?”

Renna’s neck strained—Evie could tell by the veins protruding out. “Your mother’s starlight enveloped her, Evie… She screamed for mercy one moment, and in the next, this stardust was all that was left of her. I’m so sorry, dear one. She died.”

Chapter 75

Gideon

“Fortify the borders!” Keeley commanded. “Move, sir knight!”

Gideon jumped out of the way, searching for any means to assist, but this was a siege unlike anything he’d ever seen. The front of the manor was lined with Valiant Guards striking the gates with a battering ram as others shot arrows over the walls. But the Malevolent Guards showed no fear. With raging battle cries, red dove against silver. The Malevolent were less in numbers but not in ruthlessness.

On the high rampart at the front of the manor, Keeley held a match to a glittering pumpkin projectile. The king didn’t have them in his arsenal, but Gideon had seen them in action. One light of the magical vegetable, and it would flame as many as fifty knights in one drop. Gideon gripped Keeley’s wrist out of instinct, for he knew the men below. “Don’t—they’ll burn.”

Keeley sneered at him, shaking her wrist from his grip and shoving him till he fell. “Until you know what side you’re on, go mind your sister. It’s the only task you can be trusted with.” She looked right at him as she ignited the charge and hurled it over the edge, her face glowing orange in the flames.