Page 99 of Apprentice to the Villain

Scrunching her nose, Evie said coyly, “I think I will be the judge of that.”

Roland’s eyes sparkled behind his glasses, and Becky glared in tandem with The Villain. “Stop flirting with my brother.”

“Yes,” The Villain said through clenched teeth. “You’re making Rebecka uncomfortable.”

Tatianna’s eyes dipped down to where their boss gripped the back of a wooden chair. “You’re bending the wood, Trystan.”

Roland’s face signaled alarm as he turned in Trystan’s direction. “Wait, you’re The Villain? We have to get you away from—” But it was too late.

Plants from every corner of the room shot out at once, wrapping tightly around the boss like a serpent wrapping around its prey. And then they squeezed.

Clare yelled, Tatianna’s hands began to glow, and Blade pulled a switchblade from his boot, ready to cut at the vines, but Evie was quicker.

“No!” she screamed, her dagger already drawn as she ran to cut at them. Kingsley ran alongside her, leaping on the first vine and biting just the way she’d taught him. The vines didn’t take well to being attacked; they slithered around, trapping the frog along with her boss.

But Roland grabbed Evie’s hand and twisted until she dropped her blade. “You can’t hurt them!” Roland pleaded, apology in his tone.

An anguished shout came from Trystan, his eyes never leaving hers as one of the vines wrapped around his mouth, and beforeanother word was said, the plants enveloped him completely, dragging him across the room and through a hidden passageway behind the bookcase that shut tightly as soon as he was through.

He was gone.

“Let me go!” Evie cried.

Roland didn’t release Evie’s wrist until Becky landed a hard punch to her brother’s face. He dropped her, and Becky tugged Evie close. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Roland?” Becky screamed. “That was myboss!”

Clare sprinted to the bookcase, trying to get it to budge, but to no avail. “Where are they taking him?”

Roland held his now-bleeding nose, glasses dislodged. “Where all villainous intruders with dark magic are taken if they enter Fortis land.”

The entire room stood still.

Becky finished his sentence, whispering in horror: “The Trench.”

Chapter 60

The Villain

Trystan was going to die.

Vines and leaves closed over his nose and mouth, cutting off his air, wrapping around his middle and squeezing at his lungs. Black spots clouded his vision, and a chant began in his mind.

Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out.

But his body was failing him. If he didn’t get a breath of oxygen in the next few moments, his eyes would close, and there was no telling if they would open again. His mind reached for something to hold on to, something to sustain him against the creeping darkness.

Revenge. If he didn’t stay alive, Benedict would continue playing the gallant leader adored by all. Doing whatever was necessary to stay on the throne, even if it meant infecting his people with an incurable disease. The prophecy was Trystan’s to fulfill—he had to live so he could continue to seek revenge.

But he was letting go…

Evie.

Her lovely face appeared before him: her lips, her eyes, her smile. The snorts that came out of her and the shock on her face that always followed, like she didn’t realize herself capable of such untethered amusement. He saw her face pale, lifeless on a marble table, her hands clasped over flowers, her eyes closed.

Black spots. No air.

She was alive. She was alive, and the makers of this world were in for a true surprise if they believed he would ever be separated from her again. Heavy lids weighed down over his eyes, but his power didn’t sleep.

It woke up.