Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant and the Villain, #3)(133)

But, for the first time since Evie met her, Tatianna did not look confident. She looked like she was already in mourning.

“Why did you do that?” Evie asked Arthur. “Why would you— I don’t understand.”

Arthur smiled, coughing, blood coating his lips. Then he looked at Trystan, who gripped his hand, face hard. “I was a bad father to you.”

Trystan shook his head. “Arthur—”

“No, I was. I married your mother because I thought it was the right thing, and I spent the most vital years of your life absent. I should’ve been there for you.” Arthur groaned in pain when Tatianna removed the sword. He squeezed Trystan’s hand tighter. “I should never have done that. I think I was afraid of what would happen if you found out the truth, but that was my burden. I never should’ve made it yours.”

“What? What truth?” Trystan asked.

Arthur coughed, blood vessels bursting in his eyes. “When I married your mother. She was already pregnant…with you.”

Trystan paled, releasing Arthur’s hand. “What are you saying?”

“I wasn’t your sire. But I was your father, Trystan. I was.” Arthur reached for him, and Trystan stared into the distance, looking queasy. Evie felt her face flush, and she was terribly unsure of what to do, all the words she could say catching in her throat as Arthur found his. “I should have been better, should’ve protected you from your mother’s resentment. But despite all our failings, nothing could stop you from becoming what you were always meant to be.”

Trystan blinked back into awareness, staring down at Arthur as his father finished with a smile.

“Remarkable.”

A slow tear spilled down Trystan’s cheek, and he swiped at it, nostrils flaring. “Thank you for saving her,” he whispered.

“A life without love is an empty one, Trystan. You can live your years without me, but not without her. Don’t leave behind regrets. I have three children who grew into fine adults. I can go happy.”

“No,” Clare argued, pushing damp strands back from Arthur’s forehead. “No. Tatianna’s going to heal you, and you’re going to be fine. Right, Tati?”

Tatianna sniffed, rubbing a hand at the tears spilling down her cheeks. “The blade was tipped with poison. There’s too much damage, love. He’s going now—I can’t do anything to stop it.”

“No! You can! You’re a healer!” Clare screamed. “Please, Tati, I know I’m a terrible person and a terrible sister, but Arthur is good. Arthur is good, and he deserves to live. Please!”

“Clarissa.” Tatianna reached for her, and Clare fought her, slamming her hands against Tatianna’s chest until she fell headfirst into it, sobbing.

When Evie looked back at Arthur, his eyes were closed, his chest not moving.

The core healer was gone.

And it was all Evie’s fault.





Chapter 82


Gideon


Gideon’s mother was still, chest barely moving. Lifting her gently, he placed her in the bed. Her golden skin was dull, like the life had been pulled from her soul, leaving a living husk.

Griffin was long gone, the strange plant in his possession, along with his mother’s magic, the essence of who she was. “Sir knight!” Keeley yelled, slamming a hip against the door until she fell through, blade raised. “What happened?”

“Griffin Sage,” Gideon said hollowly, pulling the covers over his mother before storming for the doors. “Where is Marv?”

“The Malevolent Guards have him in a hold down in the courtyard.” Keeley rushed after him. “Gideon. Gideon!”

“What!” he yelled. “I fucking failed, Keeley. I failed. I failed my sister, I failed my mother—the guvres! You name it, and I will have screwed it up. It’s what I do. I try to make things better, and I only know how to make them worse!”

Keeley hugged him.

Gideon clutched at her like she was the only thing he had left to hold on to.

“You did not fail. The fight’s not over yet,” she said into his neck. She smelled like lemons still, which was ridiculous when she’d been fighting tooth and nail for gods knew how many minutes. “Are you going to give up so easily?”

Her fingers played at the nape of his neck, and he was horrified to find his knees buckling at the sensations spreading all the way from the top of his head to the tips of his fingers. With reluctance and regret, he pulled away from her.

“Marv?”

Keeley’s light-gold eyes filled with hate. “Come.”

Together, they went to the courtyard. Gideon surveyed the bodies strewn about, noting that most of them were Valiant Guards, with a few Malevolent Guards. And Marv. On his knees, spiky hair in every direction, and he was pleading.

“I didn’t do this—I swear it!” Marv pleaded, his wide brown eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I would never do anything to hurt The Villain. You don’t understand—I didn’t have a choice.”

Min, one of the kinder guards, looked hesitant. “Keeley. The ink tattoo we get when we’re inducted. If we betray the boss, it kills us. Yet here he stands.”

Keeley arched a golden brow. “Where is your tattoo?”

Marv shakily lifted his sleeve and showed the swooping pattern of vines around his wrist.