Page 16 of Adversary to the Villain

“Clare!” Tatianna called after her former betrothed, utterly befuddled as to why a nude man should send her into such a fuss. The heat brushed Tatianna’s skin when she took the final step down the stairs, where she was greeted by the utter chaos of pixies and interns alike running about, frantic.

Summoning her healing magic had never been a difficulty, the warmth of it a gentle comfort, the deepest sort of nostalgia, like greeting a friend she had known all her life. So, such was this part of her. Her magic. Her friend.

It glowed from her fingertips, lighting her way as it always did.

Scanning past the bustle of people scattering about, she saw Clare’s sable hair across the steam room, her furiously moving hands aimed at the tall figure draped in multiple cloaks. “What in the deadlands is going on?” Tatianna demanded, footsteps fast and sure, strutting toward the pair in the nearly deserted space. “Who is this!”

Clare stepped around, blocking the hunched figure from her view. The person’s head was aimed toward the ground, the cloak entirely covering their face. “I’ll help you with Marv.”

Clare had always had a taste for the dramatic ever since they were children, and Tatianna had always had a taste for entertaining it, but this was a bit more than even she could stand. “You’ll help me with Marv, huh? Meaning you truly expect me to ignore the giant coatrack of a person standing behind you?”

Clare didn’t answer her, earnest pleading in her face. “From the poison you’ve described, it’s likely magically bound. The only cure is—” She paused to glance behind her, ensuring the figure did indeed still stand there. “A, uh, a flower that shoots heat. They’re found south this time of year, inland. We can discuss more tomorrow. Is that agreeable?”

“No! It’s notagreeable!” Tatianna screeched, wondering if she’d tied her bow too tightly about her head. “What are you hiding?”

“Shhh!” Clare gripped Tatianna’s hand in hers, then dragged herandthe cloaked figure to the storage closet in the back corner, shoving the being through first before closing them in with only a small window for light. “If I tell you…if Ishowyou…you must promise not to alert Trystan.”

Tatianna’s blood went cold, and an icy feeling climbed in her veins, finding its way to her heart. Because Clare had set such terms before. Years ago.

If you continue to associate with a wanted criminal, I will not get past it. You will be choosing him over me. You’ll destroy us.

Tatianna had walked away from Clare that day—from their betrothal—shattering both their hearts in one fell swoop. But there was nothing to be done, for Tatianna could not neglect Trystan without neglecting a part of who she was.

Her heart would not abandon family.

The day she’d begun working for Trystan was the same day she returned her ring to Clare. Neither of them dared cry in front of the other. But when the tears did finally stream down Tatianna’s cheeks, as she walked away from the only woman she’d ever love…she knew Clare, too, was turned away and weeping.

“Surely fate is not so cruel it would force me to make this choice twice,” Tatianna whispered to herself, feeling Clare’s eyes on her. “Surelyyouwould not be so cruel.”

Clare grabbed her hands, her face softening into tenderness, hand shaking when she lifted it to brush a braid gently behind Tatianna’s ear. “My love, I would never—this wouldn’t be forever. I just wanted to…sort it before we presented him to the others.”

Confusion replaced her rising panic, her heart slowly returning to a normal pace. “Him?”

The figure turned, lowering his hood.

Tatianna gasped, the shock of his face sending her reeling into the door, pointing at him like he was a specter, whispering in disbelief and awe.

Clare gave her the tiniest of grins.

“Him.”

Chapter 7

Becky

Rebecka Erring was watching Lyssa Sage like a hawk. The little girl was up to something.

Her dark braid was coming undone at the end, her face scrunched in concentration. The quill between her small fingers moved furiously and without respite. Becky’s wrist ached just from watching.

“How long has she been at this?” Becky murmured to Edwin, who was watching Lyssa with a fondness that warmed the room far more than the oven.

Edwin shrugged, smiling helplessly. “A few hours at least. I got her to eat something around lunch, but she hasn’t paused since. Miss Evie came in to check on her before she and Trystan departed. Said when Miss Lyssa gets like this, it’s best to let her be.” The ogre chuckled to himself, stirring the vat of cauldron brew, the liquid rough and fragrant.

Becky harrumphed before stalking to the table where the little girl sat and peered over her shoulder shamelessly, though she nearly leaped from her skin when Lyssa said, “If you’d like to read it, Ms. Erring, it might be easier up close.”

Her cheeks burned at the teasing censure from a child as she moved to take her place in the opposite chair. “I was merely making sure you were not planning something nefarious.”

“I’m always planning something nefarious.” Lyssa finally looked up, grinning wide, brown eyes glimmering. “But this is merely for fun.”