Page 49 of Apprentice to the Villain

“Are you questioning how I care for our sister?” Evie narrowed her gaze, and he suddenly felt like a trapped rodent surrounded by hungry felines.

“No, of course not!” Gideon reassured, looking for a shovel to dig himself out of the hole he’d made.

A little girl came around the corner then, and the sight of her knocked the breath from his lungs. It was like looking directly at their mother. “You— I— Hello.”

“You’re Gideon,” Lyssa stated, her small voice high and melodic as she stuck out a hand toward him. “I am Lyssa.”

Evie looked pointedly at Lyssa’s outstretched hand.Shake, she mouthed to him. So he did. “Yes, I know. We’ve met before.” His lips tugged upward as he clasped her small hand in his.

Lyssa tapped her chin. “True, but I was just a baby then, so it doesn’t really count.”

Gideon crouched down until he was eye level with his youngest sister. “Good point. I suppose this is our first real introduction.”

Lyssa regarded him carefully. “Evie said you lost your memory and that’s why you didn’t come home.”

Gideon nodded, noticing the dragon trainer hovering behind them, along with the healer, Tatianna, and another woman he didn’t recognize in very large glasses. All that was missing was— Never mind. The Villain wandered out of his office and leaned against the doorway, folding his arms and gazing at her in intense scrutiny. His sisters had a horde of protectors, and they all godsdamn terrified him.

Lyssa spoke again. “When did you get your memory back?”

Gideon was struck silent. He hadn’t expected such a direct question. Once he’d overcome his initial shock, he replied, “I suppose it was around…five years ago now?”

The little girl scrunched her nose and tugged at the end of her braid. “Then why didn’t you come back?”

Now he understood why he had finally been permitted out of his rooms. This was beginning to feel like an ambush, and not at all an undeserved one. “I think about that a lot, and I don’t really believe there is a very good reason. At the time, I felt like I couldn’t leave, and then I suppose I was too afraid to face all that I’d left behind.”

Lyssa’s curiosity turned to a glare. “Evie was afraid, too. She had to do everything by herself.” It felt worse than a knife to the gut.

“Lyssa,” Evie crooned, brushing back her braid. “It’s okay.”

Lyssa shook her head, and Gideon knew: his father’s betrayal, Evie’s struggle to care for them—itwasall his fault. Gods, when he’d found Evie in the woods, surrounded by knights, he’d thought it was his chance to redeem himself, to finally reunite with his family. How selfish he’d been to think that all those years could be forgotten merely because he wanted them to be. He despised Benedict, but not half as much as he despised himself just then.

“Sage, we need to depart,” The Villain said coolly. “Tatianna and Clare are coming along to investigate a lead on an enchantress to fix the manor’s defenses. In addition to the visible door, there’s now a second-floor window that can be clearly seen from the forest.” The man walked forward, past where Gideon knelt before Lyssa. “The horses have been saddled, and I want to get on the trail before the clock strikes ten.”

Evie nodded, looking like she pitied Gideon just a little before leaning down to Lyssa. “Go easy on him, Lyss. You are afearsome adversary.”

“Wait,” Gideon called, feeling his heart race with desperation. “Where are you two going? Might I join?”

“No,” The Villain boomed at the same time as Evie. They glanced at each other and then promptly looked away. “You will remain here,” The Villain said.

Lyssa tugged at his pants, and Gideon gave her his undivided attention. “You may play with me while they’re gone.”

Gideon swallowed through a well of emotion. “That’s very generous of you, Lyssa. What shall we play?”

“Flying Guard,” Lyssa said succinctly.

Gideon furrowed a brow, as did Evie, and The Villain stiffened. “How do you play that?” Gideon asked.

“You fly off the roof! I saw one of the guards do it just this morning!” Lyssa said excitedly. Gideon didn’t know whether to laugh or run at the realization that said guard must have been falling to his death.

But Evie had no such confusion as she turned and smacked The Villain on the shoulder. “What did you do?” she whispered furiously.

The Villain actually looked…sheepish? What had his sister done to the poor sod?

“He was making the other guards discomfited. I don’t begrudge cruelty, except when it is careless.”

“Who was it?” Evie hissed.

“Damien,” Keeley cut in from behind them. “I promise you, Ms. Sage, it is no great loss. It’s rather a fortunate one.”