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

Unfortunately, the female guvre is already pregnant. Trystan feels torn, deeply concerned about the potential dangers of keeping a baby guvre in captivity, yet he knows releasing the creatures would risk them falling into King Benedict’s hands.

Later, Trystan and Blade discuss Rennedawn’s Story, a text transmitted orally and used to control children’s behavior. It refers to the guvres as destined, hinting at their connection to larger, prophetic events. The text also mentions the starlight magic of Nura Sage, Evie’s mother.

Blade advises against separating the guvres, suggesting this could have unintended consequences. Their conversation is cut short when Tatiana interrupts with a letter from Arthur, who left earlier that morning. She also warns Trystan that his office is filled with people.

Evie tries to control the chaotic crowd of employees in Trystan’s office, but quickly loses patience and resorts to threats. With Trystan’s arrival, the employees finally scatter.

Inside the cleared office, they find Evie’s sister Lyssa. Soon after, Edwin, the ogre chef, arrives with sweets. Trystan convinces Edwin to teach Lyssa how to make tarts to keep her occupied.

Evie then shares her mother Nura’s letters and a page from Rennedawn’s Story, which suggests that whoever fulfills the prophecy will rule the land. Realizing they need Evie’s estranged mother, they decode a poem in the letters, which points to a location. They plan to go there the next day.

Evie asks Becky to search for Evie’s missing notebook while she is away.

Trystan feels a surge of irritation upon noticing Otto Warsen’s severed head mounted on the wall. Warsen was Evie’s abusive former employer. Trystan’s concern stems not from the fact that someone killed this blacksmith, but from the circumstances that led Evie to kill the man. When he questions her, Evie calmly explains that Warsen tried to kill her first. At this, Trystan’s death magic slips out, swirling around Evie as if trying to interact with her. Blade interrupts—Fluffy is growing restless.

They fly to Rennedawn’s northern border with the country of Roselia, landing near a mysterious, magical region. Shortly after, Evie disappears, prompting Trystan to follow her. He finds her standing before a sentry—an immortal, humanoid guardian of the enchanted area. Knowing how dangerous sentries can be, Trystan quickly pulls Evie away, explaining that one had nearly killed him in the past. When Tatianna attempts to pass, the sentry pushes her back with its spear. Then Evie, in a calm and polite tone, asks for permission to pass. To their surprise, the sentry steps aside, revealing the entrance to a cave.

Evie enters the cave with Trystan close behind, but the sentry blocks Tatianna and Clare from following. Suddenly, Evie falls into a trap, with Trystan plunging after her.

Becky is puzzled that Lyssa seems to enjoy her company and often finds excuses to spend time with her. During one of their conversations, Lyssa pulls out a small knit dragon that Blade had given her. Becky immediately recognizes it as her childhood toy, a gift from her father. Lyssa offers it back, but Becky insists Lyssa keep it. They discuss Evie’s habit of prioritizing others’ needs but are interrupted by a guard informing them that the wards protecting the manor have been breached.

Evie and Trystan fall for a long time before landing on a cloud. As Evie peers over the edge, she spots a field of dandelions below, which triggers a painful memory of her mother accidentally killing her brother, Gideon, and then abandoning their family.

Without hesitation, Evie jumps off the cloud. Trystan follows, scolding her for her lack of self-preservation. However, this time, Evie snaps, calling him a coward. Their argument escalates until Evie realizes that Trystan’s anger stems not from condescension but from his desire to protect her.

The attraction between them increases, and they almost kiss—only to break apart as the sky shakes ominously.

A fearsome beast lands before them, demanding to know who dares disturb him. Without hesitation, Evie shouts her name and asks the creature for its name. It responds that it has none.

With her usual charm, Evie wins the creature over, much to Trystan’s frustration. Growing impatient, Trystan demands a vial of stardust to fulfill Rennedawn’s Story. The creature laughs that he already knows Trystan’s true identity and questions why it took him so long to make the request.

The monster explains that, as a force of nature, it possesses knowledge of all things but is powerless to interfere in human affairs. The other creators have abandoned this world, and magic is fading due to human greed. After giving Evie a vial of stardust and seeing her and Trystan off, the creature stays behind to protect its cave.

At the mouth of the cave, Tatianna and Clare are in a heated argument when a sudden yelp draws their attention—a Valiant Guard holds a sword to Blade’s throat.

A Valiant Guard holding Evie at sword point nervously nicks her—it is his first day on duty. In response, Trystan’s anger triggers an unintentional release of his magic, which starts playfully tugging at Evie’s shoes. Evie tricks her captor, but another knight knocks Trystan unconscious. Evie rushes to Trystan’s side, but her dagger—seemingly acting on its own—strikes down a Guard who tries to intercept her. Kingsley, who has stowed away once again, Tatianna, and Clare subdue all but one of the Guards. The Guard captain orders the remaining knight to kill The Villain, but the knight refuses, turning his sword on the captain instead.

Trystan recognizes the knight from his time apprenticed to the king. As Evie and the knight embrace for an uncomfortably long moment, Trystan’s irritation grows. Evie then explains that the knight was supposed to meet them earlier and introduces him as her brother, Gideon Sage.

Two weeks earlier, when Trystan was still imprisoned. Gideon, wearing his Valiant Guard uniform, startled Evie by appearing unexpectedly and offering to help free Trystan. Alarmed, Evie attacked, but when his helmet fell off, she recognized him as her long-lost brother, Gideon, whom she had believed dead for the past 10 years.

Gideon revealed that his magic suppresses other forms of magic, which was how the Valiant Guard captured Trystan. He explained that Nura’s magic outburst had teleported him to the king’s palace and had erased his memory. Over the last five years, Gideon’s memories gradually returned. The king recognized him but never revealed Gideon’s true identity. Evie then used Gideon’s connections to free Trystan.

In the present, Trystan and his people remain wary of Gideon, keeping him confined to a guarded room. Becky informs Evie that the barrier surrounding the manor is failing and that they could not find Evie’s notebook. Shortly after, Trystan emerges from his office holding Evie’s notebook, pointedly asking about a sketch of her kissing someone, which Trystan does not realize is himself.

Gideon escapes and attempts to defuse tensions, but Damien, a new member of the Malevolent Guard, threatens to lock Gideon in the dungeons alongside his father. Overwhelmed, Evie begins to cry, prompting Trystan to kick everyone out of his office. Before leaving, Evie warns Damien never to threaten her brother again, but Damien responds with a sharp insult.