Page 126 of Accomplice to the Villain

Tatianna appeared at Evie’s side, throwing an arm about her shoulders. “I loved that confetti. It was very well done of you.” Tatianna’s pink-painted lips stretched wide, and she winked, then started healing the wounded members of her father’s crew.

“You don’t like celebrating your birthday?” Trystan asked after a beat of silence, noticing how Sage’s eyes took on a faraway look that wasn’t dreamy but disheartened. He should move on; he shouldn’t care. This was a perfect opportunity to put more distance between them, to show Sage there was absolutely no future in which they were anything but work colleagues.

But then she let out a low hum. “I don’t know. I don’t think anyone’s ever really tried.” She laughed. “On my last birthday, Lyssa drew me a card that had the two of us on a sailboat, but I begged for no cake or singing. My mother struggled for most of my childhood, and I didn’t want to give my parents anything else to worry over. So, every year when my birthday passed, I found that if I didn’t mention it, nobody would remember, and after my mother left and Gideon…temporarily died…there was hardly anyone left tonotmention it to.” She shrugged. “I suppose I pretended for too long and now I’m not sure what I actually want.”

He stared at her hard, hating himself for asking, “Don’t consider anyone else’s opinion. If you could be celebrated on your birthday—would you want it?”

“Yes.” Her wide-eyed gaze indicated that evenshewas shocked by her answer. “That is to say…I’d like to be celebrated. Even if it’s only once a year.”

He didn’t move, his every muscle rigid, his face blank as he stared at her. Unnerving her, if the way she chuckled, wiping her hands against her skirts, was any signal.

The silence broke when he growled, “Well, fuck!”

Sage jumped and clasped a hand to her chest. “Sir?” She reached for him, but he was already storming to the group of men gathered in the middle of the ship. Crewmen and pirate prisoners alike stared at him.

Don’t do this,his conscience begged.

Shut it, he ordered it.It’s her godsdamned birthday, and she wants to fucking celebrate. DAMN IT.

“It’s my accomplice’s birthday,” he called to the group, sounding as ridiculous as he felt, not daring to look back to see Sage’s response. “Wish her a happy birthday. Now.”

“Trystan!” Sage squeaked behind him and paused. “Wait…accomplice? Did you just promote me?” But he would not look. If he saw her eyes, he’d do more than wish her a happy birthday. He’d sweep her below deck and kiss her until she was senseless, kiss her until they both were.

The crew was silent, the pirates staring at him like he’d lost his marbles. He was on the verge of losing more than that. “I said NOW!”

A discordant chorus of “happy birthday”s sounded from every man on the ship, and Kingsley hopped up with one sign that read:

Happy

And another that said:

Birthday

Tatianna sprang into action. “Oh, yes! We should have a party! We’re stuck on the ship until tomorrow morning anyway. Dad?”

Captain Jones was beaming, clapping his crew to attention. “Take the prisoners to the brig! The rest of you, begin preparations!”

“Oh, that’s not—” Sage started.

“Evie,” Trystan warned, waving a finger at her still form. “Do not say it’s unnecessary.”

Her mouth closed, her eyes shining with an emotion that Trystan didn’t dare name. It was far too close to something he knew he’d never have.

One by one, the chained pirates passed him, the largest stopping to sneer at him. “The Villain my arse. You’re a soft little whelp with no backbone and a weakness for your whore.”

Trystan didn’t respond at first, allowing the wretch to finish.

“I got a birthday present for you right here, Wicked Woman.” The pirate took a chained hand and grabbed his crotch.

The thread snapped.

“Sage,” Trystan said low, not looking away from the pirate. “Does the fate of this man’s life impact the incidence board in any capacity?”

“No, I don’t think—” Sage replied, befuddled.

But Trystan moved before she finished, burying a fist into the man’s gut, dragging him to the side of the ship. “Accomplice,” he yelled, not caring who heard, clutching the pirate’s lapels. “She’s my accomplice.” He shoved the pirate half off the ship, holding him by only one hand as he said in a hushed voice, “She is mine.”

He let go, watching the body hit the water.