Page 131 of Apprentice to the Villain

Wanting to be no one.

Harvested from the stars themselves.

The words and pieces filtered in all at once. Goose bumps rose on Evie’s bare arms as she knocked a small chair over, pacing the floor as one more defying sentence clattered in her mind.

I hope you will return to see them.

She knew why the shape of the slab was so familiar.

A large hand closed over her shoulder, and she turned to see Trystan’s face. “The daughter of wishing stars,” she whispered. “We have to go to the caves. I’ll explain on the way.”

Trystan’s eyes widened, shock and questions in his own fathomless gaze. “All right. Let’s go,” he said urgently, removing his tea party attire and carefully placing it on the table by Lyssa, and Evie’s heart warmed at his immediate trust.

Lyssa was incredulous, of course. “Why are you taking my plate? And what about our party?”

Evie knelt to be level with her sister. Kingsley hopped up beside them, holding up a sign that had a question mark on it. She placed a hand on her little sister’s cheek. “Lyssa, I promise Lord Trystan will have a tea party with you at least once a week from now until the end of time, but I’m afraid we need to end it early today. And I need to take this.”

Lyssa was confused but seemed satisfied with the bargain, since with a bite of a teacake she said, “Okay!”

When Evie finally looked up at her boss, he wasn’t moving with urgency any longer, just staring at her with a strange expression she couldn’t figure out. He cleared his throat, unreadable emotion on his face. “I’m following you, Sage.”

She nodded, and they both bounded into the hallway, where the others still loitered, waiting to get another look at the boss in all his finery. “Blade, how soon can you have Fluffy ready to go?” Evie asked.

Blade looked startled, but only for a second before his face set in a look of resolve. “Ten minutes, maybe fifteen? Why? Where are we going?”

Gideon’s eyes were searching her face. “Eve?”

“Ready him now, Gushiken,” Trystan boomed, looking ready to do battle on her behalf while lifting Kingsley onto his shoulder.

Blade was gone in a flash.

Gideon gripped her arm as Evie made to follow. “Evie, please. What’s happened?”

She held both of her brother’s hands before saying with as much gentleness as she could manage, “I know where our mother is.”

Chapter 82

Evie

They were in the sky.

The sun set behind them as darkness descended, following them back to the beginning, back to the cave. When they landed, she saw that the landscape was different now: the kissing trees, once whimsical; the land, once vibrant; it was all transformed—and not for the better. Everything was duller, grayer, like someone had come to leach the color away. The kissing trees, once forever touching above the cave, were separated, cracked down the middle.

“What happened here?” Evie whispered.

“The magic is dying, with the guvre’s capture, and Fate’s consequences can only be worsening it… I fear this is only the beginning,” Trystan answered, helping her jump down from the dragon.

“Blade?” Evie called up to him, unsure.

Blade frowned. “You want me to stay here?”

Evie spoke gently. “Our friend in there doesn’t know you, and I don’t wish to startle it.”

Blade nodded, rolling his shoulders and then waving a hand. “Go, go! I’ll be right here.”

They approached the cave entrance, where torches were still lit on either side. But twisted brown vines had spread across the opening.

The sentry was gone. All that remained of him was his spear, abandoned on the ground. The magical crisis had clearly seeped through the land, consuming this place and all that it had. The area was run-down, ravaged.