Page 27 of Adversary to the Villain

“See that you do,” Trystan advised, and then, turning to address the rest of the table, he noted, “Tatianna and Clare aren’t here. Where are they?”

“I haven’t seen either of them all day.” Ms. Erring’s brow furrowed, her fingers fiddling with her glasses as she scanned the room. “Not since the incident this morning.”

“What incident?” Evie asked warily.

“It was nothing. A misunderstanding.” Ms. Erring placed her glasses back atop her nose, clearly unperturbed by whatever had occurred. “Clarewasacting a tad odd, but I would, too, if I’d just lost my father.” The reminder of Arthur Maverine swept through the room like a wave, grief knocking everyone’s shoulders downward along with their eyes. “We should begin without them,” Becky continued. “Tatianna may be working on the cure for Marv.”

“What?” Keeley snapped. “You’re going tocurethe traitor?” There was something incredibly sharp in the question. Gideon made note of it as he awaited the answer.

Maverine sighed, gesturing toward Gideon, then Keeley. “You both were the ones to find him out—you heard his tale of woe. You also know that Marv is not a mastermind; he’s been used as a puppet. Besides, I won’t have any such poison dispatching him before I know who is responsible.”

“But—”

“Keeley.” Maverine’s voice was firm. “I respect your advisements, but I’m afraid on this matter, I am decided.”

There was more the captain wanted to say—it was clear by the pinching of her lips—but she deferred to her higher-up and nodded. “Understood, sir. Now, how would you like us to proceed with plans to steal the book of Rennedawn?”

Gideon stood so fast, his chair tipped over. “You’re planning to steal the book of Rennedawn, and you didn’t think to consult me? The only one who’s actually seen it?”

“Believe it or not, Gideon, I endeavor not to think of you at all. Ever,” Maverine answered flatly. “Our meager pages of the book have been burned by some reprobate on the property, and they were hardly enough to begin with.”

Maverine rubbed at his temple and continued.

“I am making the fair and correct assumption that the book of Rennedawn contains far more than the prophecy alone can give us.” Maverine’s air of boredom did not reflect the gravity of their circumstances. “The magic in the manor—what’s left of it—could give way at any moment. The prophecymustbe completed before then.” He slid the paper he’d been scanning to the middle of the table. It was the parchment etched with Rennedawn’s storybook prophecy.

Gideon picked it up first.

At the start of the world, the magical gods knew

That color would bleed and all would undo.

So to save this place they knew humans would break

They enlisted the tools of Destiny and Fate.

The beauty of stars that gleam at night

The children of Fate, created in light

And the magic that balances all dreamed of

Is the key to saving the world in true love.

The person who rescues the magical lands

Will take this Fate’s youngling well in hand.

When luck and starlight must fall together,

The land will belong to you forever.

But beware the unmasked Villain

And their Malevolent dark—

For nothing is more dangerous

Than a blackened good heart.