Page 29 of Adversary to the Villain

“You think I give a damn how the citizens of Rennedawn feel about me?” Maverine spat the words in disgust. “Benedict didn’t do this because it is the truth. He did it to make it even more difficult for us to leave the manor, to fulfill the prophecy.”

“He told us a mistake was made twenty-four years ago.” Evie was swaying, and Trystan surged forward to catch her before she caught herself with a hand on the back of her chair. “He’s simply undoing it.”

“To my understanding, Benedict orchestrated all of this, Evie.” Becky stepped up beside his sister to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and Evie let her. “You surely aren’t going to credit him for fixing what he purposefully damaged. He’s trying to put focus on this to distract people from whatever atrocity he’s committing this week.”

“Or perhaps…Iamthe atrocity.” Evie nodded absently, her curls having dried in wild patterns, framing her face in vines of dark strands. “I’m feeling a little tired. I may go and lie down.” Evie managed a small smile that Gideon suspected cost her something dear. “Don’t worry after me. I’m all right.”

No one stopped her when she drifted past them and out the door. All were frozen in the wake of watching the brightest person in the room…dim.

Yes. Evie had always been generous with her words.

And Gideon feared the consequences had finally arrived.

Chapter 13

Blade

Blade Gushiken was a happy person by nature.

Rebecka Erring Fortis was a happy person by force.

“And then you throw the ball into the picnic basket,” Blade instructed the reluctant Human and Magical Creatures Resources woman with an encouraging grin.

“I know how to play Ball Basket,” Rebecka grumbled, tossing the ball cleanly into the basket rigged to the courtyard roof several feet above her head. The white rubber ball rolled around until the bottom of the picnic basket gave and the ball came down with a large bounce.

They’d taken a break in the midst of their haphazard planning. After many, many,manydisagreements on the best manner in which to catch the guvres, Blade had decided their best course of action was to catch them once more. In a giant wicker basket, much like the one they were playing Ball Basket with.

When he’d suggested the game, she’d acted indifferent. Naturally, she was as effortlessly skilled at this as she was at everything.

What in the deadlands was she doing with him?

Her grin of victory made his heart take off at a gallop, her glasses slipping down her nose. “What does it mean if the ball goes in, again?” she asked with exaggerated ignorance. The laughter that followed was like the chiming of lovely bells, her eyes glinting with mischief when she chucked the ball at him with no warning.

He caught it with a grunt and a smile. “It means you have to kiss whoever you pass the ball to next.” He clicked his tongue. “And the rulesmustbe observed.”

She gave him a dubious glance and then took three sure strides toward him, grabbing his cheeks and slowly coming up on her toes, pressing her lips to his in slow measures. One kiss, then two. His eyes pinched shut almost painfully at the sweetness of her lips, the softness of her sighs, the feel of her fingers coming up to comb through his hair.

It ended too soon, but she remained on her toes with her arms around him, staring up at him with an expression that was a mixture of joy and disbelief.

A mirror to his, likely. His hands flexed around her hips, heat growing beneath his skin. “I didn’t think that would actually work,” Blade said softly.

Rebecka gave him a hopeless grin, shaking her head, and then leaned her forehead against his. “I suppose it’s because you and Iactuallywork.”

He gave no warning—too overcome with how much he loved her—merely lifted her and spun her about, reveling in her giggles as she clutched at his neck. When he put her down, they were both breathless with red cheeks. “You’re the loveliest thing I’ve ever held.”

Her eyes glistened. “I won’t tell Fluffy.”

The dragon, who was lying steps away, snorted out a puff of smoke on what sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.

Blade feigned a wince. “I fear he already knows.”

The animal was content, enjoying the last of the daylight after a large supper. Rolling onto his back, he allowed his long tongue to roll from his mouth with a sigh.

“He’s rather one of a kind, isn’t he?” Rebecka observed with a soft smile. Then Blade watched with growing distress as the smile faded and worry etched itself between her brows. “Do you think I should answer my mother’s letter?”

Oh no you don’t, you little sneak.“Rebecka, I am not deciding that for you.”

She folded her arms with a frustrated growl. “Why?”