Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant and the Villain, #3)(137)

And then it was over and he let go, dimple peeking through as he nodded, backing away.

There was a dark promise on his face. “You have been my downfall, Evie Sage, and now I…I will be your undoing.”

As he left her alone, the dark mist pooling around her feet, Evie stared at her window and took a breath.

Speaking to it as she always had, she tilted her head, pulling her lips into a malevolent grin. “Well. This should be fun.”





Epilogue


Clare


The following morning…

Clare had lost everything.

Hours after her father’s death, she was still numb. Nothing was real to her. The breeze brushing against her cheek was an illusion, the sun shining down on her a flagrant lie.

Her father’s body was being prepared to travel back to their village. He’d be buried by the sea.

They’d all failed.

Alexander had disappeared hours ago, leaping into Hickory Forest before anyone could stop him. Tatianna had told Clare this, but she had not registered it, her brain not processing the words. The only thing she found she wanted to do was wander aimlessly around the manor, its grounds, even into the forest.

Dead. All she knew was that her father was dead.

And it was her fault.

Alexander never would have had to be transformed back if Clare hadn’t gotten involved. He’d never have lost ten years of his life or his ability to speak; he’d never have lost himself completely because the magic had run out.

Standing now on the edge of Hickory Forest, she somehow managed to clock that it had begun raining again. Drops of water slid down her cheeks, dripping from her chin. But the sun still shone. It took her several moments to realize it was not rain after all, but her tears.

She wiped at her eyes, but that only seemed to make the tears come faster until she was sobbing, hunched over on her knees.

“It’s all my fault. All my fault.” She cried until her voice was hoarse and her throat burned. Not picking her head up— Until bare feet appeared in front of her, a hand reaching down with a handkerchief, and when she looked up, she gasped so sharply, it caused her to fall back on her elbows.

A man stood there. Tall. Dark, curly, long hair brushing just past his shoulders, skin a light brown, eyes the color of deep gold.

And he was stark naked.

He was struggling to speak, his full lips attempting to form words.

Clare watched, struck.

Finally, he gave up, dropping a slip of paper into her lap.

One that said the words: It’s me.

Something in the note gave her pause. It was the letter T—written with a crooked dash.

Clare responded with one word, eyes as wide as saucers, unable to believe what she was saying as a golden crown was dropped at her feet.

“Kingsley?”

the end…until we meet again, one final time.

hopefully—

you never know with these nincompoops.




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Acknowledgments


When I went into Accomplice to the Villain, I was so eager. It’s my third book in this world, with these characters that I so adore, with all the magic and humor I seek in my own life. I am so incredibly fortunate and privileged to work with the team that I do and have such a beautiful support system in my friends and family. It’s the reason I am so proud of this story, and it’s the reason I can keep writing and somehow find it more magical each time.

I have to thank my wonderful editor, Stacy Abrams, for her constant encouragement, for loving and caring for these books as much as I do. She is truly one of a kind, and I’m so grateful for everything she did for Accomplice to the Villain from start to finish. Another huge thank-you to Rae Swain and Hannah Lindsey for all of their helpful suggestions and their hilarious commentary while editing that helped get me through the more difficult moments. I hope all of you wonderful ladies know every LOL comment got me through another fifty pages. These books would not be what they are without you. Thank you so much.

To my incredible agent, Brent Taylor. I thank you every book for being the first one to believe in this series, to be as enthusiastic about it as I am, and that never wavered or changed. You still bring the same energy to this world that you did from the first phone call, and I’m so grateful that I’ve had you with me on this journey from the start. This year we are popping champagne!

To Liz Pelletier, who saw the potential in Assistant to the Villain when so many others didn’t. You’ve given me confidence in myself and my writing abilities that has been invaluable over the years. Know that I carry your words with me every day and use them to continue improving in every aspect of my life. You are a force, and I’m grateful to know you.

To Curtis Svehlak, Britt Marczak, proofreaders Claire and Jessica, Meredith and the social and marketing team, and all the people at Entangled and Red Tower who worked so hard on this book, from editing to formatting and beyond, and spent hours of their time making it ready for the readers, you are invaluable. Thank you so much to Elizabeth Turner Stokes for another stunning cover and for giving my books the most beautiful and creative home to live in. You are so brilliant in every way.