Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #2)

Evie frantically searches for the vial of stardust when she sees it rolling down the hallway, with Trystan chasing after it. The vial rolled into his room, glowing as it moved, before mysteriously rolling out again. When Evie finally grabs it, the vial vibrates in her hands but stops when she calmly asks it to. Rather than attempting to contain the unpredictable stardust, Evie and Trystan decide to use it immediately on Nura Sage’s letters in Trystan’s bedroom.

Evie cautiously explores Trystan’s bedroom, her attention drawn to a tornado-shaped nightlight. Her presence in the intimate space heightens the unresolved sexual tension between them. Together, they sprinkle some stardust on the letters, which triggers a small explosion. In the aftermath, the stardust transforms the letters into a glass map.

Blade enters, startled by the noise. He mentions that the guvre should give birth in the coming weeks. Trystan then announces that at the end of the week, they will head to Heart Village, where Nura Sage is located.

the Valiant Guard to Lyssa. She confronts Gideon for not returning home, leaving Evie to shoulder the responsibility of caring for everyone. During her outburst, Lyssa unintentionally reveals that Trystan threw the guard Damien off the roof.

As Evie and Trystan depart, Gideon watches them closely, noting Kingsley discreetly following behind.

During the ride to Heart Village, Clare, Evie, and Tatianna tease Trystan about his pillows.

Heart Village, situated on the border between Rennedawn and Kaliora, is an independent city without allegiance to any kingdom. To enter, visitors must cross a bridge guarded by creatures that challenge them with riddles. Trystan has previously had an altercation with the bridge creatures.

Soon after, Evie starts acting incoherently, intoxicated by a magical flower she picked along the way. As they cross the bridge, a voice suddenly calls out to The Villain.

Trystan, familiar with all the bridge creatures by name, knows they dislike him for destroying the previous bridge. As tensions rise, Evie bites Trystan, catching the creatures’ attention. They agree to let the group pass, but only if Evie answers their riddle. Evie successfully answers the riddle and wins over the creatures with genuine compliments. Impressed by her charm, they allow the group to cross if Trystan leaves his magic behind.

As they explore the city, Trystan struggles to keep up with Evie’s intoxicated ramblings. In her haze, Evie admits she has had trouble sleeping ever since using the sleeping-death fruit. Concerned, Trystan chastises her for relying on something so dangerous.

They search the shops for Nura, when a group of costumed men ambushes them, pinning Trystan down. One of the men holds up a wanted poster featuring Trystan’s real name and face, triumphantly shouting that they’ve caught The Villain.

The men bind and gag Evie and Trystan, pulling out another wanted poster of Evie as “The Wicked Woman” (186). The group is revealed to be a theater troupe using the encounter to practice their craft. Instead of turning them over to the king, the troupe decides to deliver Evie and Trystan to their boss. After a brief boat ride, they hide the pair in a cell beneath the playhouse, assuring them they will be dealt with in the morning.

With the mansion’s barrier failing, Gideon’s guards are reassigned to different posts, leaving Becky to watch over him. Gideon remarks that Becky looks familiar, but Lyssa interrupts before the conversation can continue. Moments later, a guard reports that the interns are quarreling over who will present their solution for fixing the barrier to Becky.

Trystan retrieves Evie’s dagger from the sheath on her thigh, the moment thick with unresolved sexual tension. He uses the dagger to cut through their ropes, but it burns his hands upon contact and leaps back into Evie’s hands as soon as he finishes. She stabs the bars with the dagger but only succeeds in heating them. In the ensuing chaos, Evie stumbles, pulling Trystan down on top of her. Just then, the door opens, revealing Helena—Evie’s cousin.

Evie feels a surge of frustration at Helena, yet another family member who has abandoned her. When Evie reveals that she is searching for her mother, Helena acknowledges that Nura was in the village some years ago. Trystan requests to be released, but Helena, the owner and manager of the Deadlands Playhouse and the boss of the theatrical troupe, refuses.

Evie and Trystan discuss their families. Trystan has a letter from Arthur that he has never opened. Evie persuades him to remove his shirt; she can use the fabric to reach the key to their cell. As she does so, she notices a gold ink circle on his arm that resembles the one she has on her finger. Trystan brushes it off as a coincidence, but Evie recognizes it as magic meant to alert him when she is in danger.

Evie takes off her dress to extend their makeshift rope, much to Trystan’s discomfort. She ties the clothes together to reach the key, but her attempt fails. Trystan tries next, but he accidentally breaks a window in the process. Water shatters the window and flows into the cell, filling it rapidly. Trapped inside, Evie and Trystan struggle against the rising water.

Becky yells at the fighting interns, and then jumps into the fray, subdues the interns, and orders them to clean the hall. Blade questions Becky’s fighting skills, but is interrupted when one of the interns turns on her. Blade forces the intern to apologize.

Gideon reaffirms that he knows Becky’s past identity but assures her that he will keep it a secret.

Trystan attempts to retrieve the keys but fails. As the water level rises, Evie asks Trystan to kiss her. Despite his desire to do so, Trystan hesitates, concerned that Evie might still be under the influence of the flower. Before he can respond, another window shatters, and Kingsley lands on them.

Tatianna and Clare appear at the window, and Kingsley manages to retrieve the keys. Trystan pushes Evie out the window, instructing her to wait for him at the door. However, before he can leave, the troupe recaptures him, with Helena holding Evie’s dagger against his throat.

Evie, furious, feels a familiar tingling in her shoulder and summons her dagger, which swiftly flies into her hand. Trystan rushes to her side. Helena calmly yields: She only kept them imprisoned to see what would unfold between Evie and Trystan. Helena disdains King Benedict, whose dangerous experiments with magic are causing it to fade from their world. Before they leave, Helena hands Evie a velvet bag that Nura left in her care. She adds that Evie should visit her old house for more answers.