Page 49 of Accomplice to the Villain

Silence fell among the group, the only sounds the chirping of birds and the swaying of tree branches.

Blade broke it first. “Do prophecies have to rhyme? Or do the gods just have a sick sense of humor?”

“It doesn’t even follow a consistent rhyme scheme. What is this sentence structure… Good grief. Does that mean anything?” Tatianna wondered.

Evie pressed her fingers to her temples. “Starlight magic, the guvre’s youngling, the unmasked villain, and…the heart of the true prince, saving his fated love.”

All at once, everyone’s eyes fell upon Alexander.

And he was once again confused.

“The fourth piece of the prophecy,” Trystan said, looking forlorn and cold, “is Kingsley.”

Chapter 25

Evie

Evie read the prophecy aloud to the group as they gathered for their second meeting in a two-day span. She’d had nightmares about such things, but since she’d also been physically attacked and slapped with a frog in that same two-day span, a stacked meeting schedule really was the least of her problems.

At least this one came with fried dough rings.

Although they came with the risk of choking, particularly Gideon. Particularly loud.

“I’m sorry.” He coughed, crumbs expelling from his mouth, and Becky wrinkled her nose at him in distaste. “The heart of the true prince?” Gideon’s eyes fell to Kingsley, who sat in the middle of the table.

“What is confusing you, Gideon?” The Villain asked, dropping another tray of dough rings on the table.

“The part where you think it’s the frog?”

Tatianna snorted, and Clare jolted next to her, like the sound of her ex-betrothed’s laughter sent a shot of electricity along her skin.

“Kingsley is not just a frog,” Evie said gently.

Blade tilted his head, his shoulder-length hair pulled back with a strip of leather. Bright-yellow leather that matched his vest. “Yes, Gideon. Kingsley is far superior to the average amphibian. Haven’t you seen his signs?”

“No, that’s not—” Evie began, but they continued like they hadn’t heard her.

“Aha! Which brings me to my next point.” Gideon looked serious when he added, “How does he have so bloody many? And where does he keep the damn things?”

Trystan cut in. “We have a carefully crafted system when in office, but when traveling—”

Evie put two fingers in her mouth and let out a whistle so loud she nearly shattered another window. “I do understand that men derive enjoyment from interrupting women mid-sentence, so I’d hate to be a spoilsport, but could you allunkindly shut your traps so I may continue?”

Becky snapped her fingers in agreement without even looking up from her notes.

Trystan’s face went so red Evie began to worry.

“You may, uh, breathe, though,” she said, and she swore she saw Trystan’s chest begin to move again.

“So generous of you, little sister. Please continue, with our apologies.” Gideon beamed with pride, which Evie shouldn’t enjoy but of course did anyway.

She smoothed a hand down her cherry-colored skirts, straightening herself up as she spoke again. “Alexander Kingsley, prince of the southern kingdom, is the frog before you.”

Blade’s jaw dropped, Becky looked up from her notes with astonished eyes, Gideon held out a hand like he needed a brief pause to process, and Keeley’s normally golden skin went wan.

Tatianna raised a skeptical brow, adjusting one of the bows at the top of her dress as she looked around the room. “You all can’t bethatshocked. We call himKingsley.”

Everyone stared at her blankly.