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

As they fly to the Fortis Fortress, Becky grows increasingly agitated. Noticing her discomfort, Trystan, Blade, Evie, and Tatianna reassure her that they do not have to continue if she is uncomfortable. However, Becky warns them that neither the fortress nor her family is what they seem to be.

The latest wanted posters for Evie and Trystan are remarkably flattering, prompting Trystan to question the artist’s identity. The poster labels Evie as an “apprentice to The Villain” (305), which thrills her as she proudly celebrates her apparent promotion.

Becky announces their arrival, though all anyone can see is a thick blanket of fog. She pulls out a key, and the magical fog dissipates.

The fortress is vast, the grounds and interior brimming with lush, vibrant plants. A butler guides the group inside, and the enchanted plants extend toward the visitors, curious about their presence. After they settle in the green room, the group hears loud, boisterous noises echoing through the fortress. Becky explains that the source of the commotion is her brothers.

Two of Becky’s brothers—the adult Roland and the young Rudy—enter the room and greet her, their interaction hinting at tension between Becky and their mother. Becky inquires about her grandmother, who is suffering from the Mystic Illness. Roland replies that their other brothers, Reid and Raphael, are in the Trench. As Tatianna calls out to Trystan, the magical plants suddenly coil around him and drag him away. When Evie tries to intervene, Roland holds her back, explaining that the vines are taking Trystan to the Trench.

The vines coil tightly around Trystan’s nose and mouth, nearly suffocating him. Struggling for air, he thinks of Evie, and with a surge of will, his magic slices through the vines. As the tendrils fall away, Trystan realizes they have transported him to an arena. He moves toward a gate, but one of Becky’s brothers warns him to stop. Unfazed, Trystan declares himself The Villain. To his dismay, Kingsley is also there. Becky’s brother cautions that Trystan will likely die in the Trench of Anguish. Suddenly, the gate opens, releasing an overwhelming surge of magic.

Becky regrets bringing Trystan; she assumed that her family’s values of acceptance would protect him. When her mother, Renna, enters and greets everyone, they all agree to assume Trystan will survive, though they do not believe it. Renna immediately recognizes Evie.

Soon after, Becky’s grandmother, Ramona, joins them. Becky, with concern in her voice, inquires about Nura, but her mother snaps, chastising Becky for poor manners. Blade steps in to defend Becky, and Ramona and Renna turn their attention to Blade, remarking on his attractiveness, much to Becky’s discomfort.

Eventually, Renna reveals that Nura has left to visit another Fortis residence. She explains that Nura’s magic drained her, so they sent her to the best healers they could find. According to Renna, Nura should return in two days.

Pulling Becky aside, Renna tries to coax her into staying a few days after her companions leave, but Becky remains resolute in her refusal to forgive her mother. In the past, the land chose Becky as the next successor to the house. However, when Renna invited King Benedict to their home to help find a cure for the Mystic Illness, the king demanded access to Becky’s magic. Becky refused, the family censured her. Renna even tried to steal Becky’s magic.

Tatianna draws their attention to a dangerous plant in the room, which can store memories and siphon magic. Distrust escalates, but the charged atmosphere is interrupted by the arrival of Reid, who announces grimly that The Villain is likely dying.

Trystan relives several traumatic moments from his past: his parents fighting over whether to send him to the king, his imprisonment by the king, and the moment he first met Evie. These painful memories blur together, each one intensifying his inner turmoil. Finally, Trystan sees a haunting vision of Evie in his office, with King Benedict standing behind her, holding a knife to her throat.

Trystan’s agonized screams distress Evie as she watches a formless gleaming shadow attack him relentlessly. Desperate, Becky pleads with her brother, Raphael, to intervene, but he merely mocks her concern and warns that no one has ever survived interfering while the creature, known as the hands of destiny, searches for any trace of goodness in its victim. If Trystan fails, the creature will consume his soul. Determined to save Trystan, Evie leaps into the arena and offers her own soul to save him.

In his hallucination, Trystan desperately offers King Benedict anything to save Evie. The king releases her, and she runs into Trystan’s arms, promising to be his if he destroys the Fortis family and releases the “hands of destiny” (340). Evie kisses him, but Trystan, seeing through the illusion, pushes her away. The false Evie cruelly declares that the real Evie will never be his. Trystan retorts that he would rather live without the real Evie than endure time with the fake. The real Evie breaks through his nightmare, hurling a paperweight at the fake Evie’s head, shattering the illusion.

Fake Evie transforms back into its original form. The hands of destiny claims Trystan’s soul and demands that Evie hand it over. Trystan, resigned, tells the creature to take his soul but to let Evie go free. Evie refuses, offering her dagger in exchange for their freedom, but the creature recoils at the sight of it. As they argue, the hands of destiny tells them to leave: Trystan has already passed the test.

They return to the arena, with Trystan visibly shaken. As he is loaded onto a stretcher, he grabs Evie’s hand, pleading with her not to leave him. Evie reassures him with a promise, but foreboding settles in her heart.

Evie watches over Trystan in the infirmary. Renna checks in, and the two women discuss Nura. When Renna criticizes Becky, Evie defends her. Surprised by the unexpected support, Renna leaves, stunned.

Becky, who has been eavesdropping, assumes that Evie’s admiration was a lie. Evie insists she was not lying, praising Becky for her skills in the office. Becky returns the compliment. Evie comments that Becky should have gotten the Villain’s Assistant job, but Becky explains that the position did not exist until Trystan met Evie. Just then, Trystan mutters for Becky to stop revealing too much to Evie, causing them to share a light-hearted moment and take comfort in their growing friendship.

As Evie leaves the infirmary, she stumbles upon Becky’s brothers training nearby. They challenge her to join them and practice.

Evie makes steady progress during her training. Raphael steps in as she prepares to leave, insisting she has not sparred with him yet. During the exchange, Evie fumbles while switching weapons and ends up on the ground, a footman standing over her with a sword poised above. Raphael quickly reaches down to help her up, but just as he does, Trystan arrives. Misinterpreting the situation, Trystan’s eyes darken with fury, and he immediately threatens to kill everyone involved.

Evie explains to Trystan that they are training. While struggling to remain conscious, Trystan argues with Raphael. Roland steps in to mediate, commending Trystan’s evident love for Evie. Trystan denies it, saying he cannot afford the luxury of love—he is bound to hurt Evie. Raphael agrees that loving someone like Trystan would indeed be impossible. Evie counters—she has never found it difficult to love him.

As the others vacate the field, Evie and Trystan remain behind. Evie is not embarrassed by her unrequited feelings. Instead, she boldly asks Trystan to teach her to fight as his apprentice.

Trystan argues that the Malevolent Guard should be the ones to teach her, but when Evie moves to fetch one of them, he stops her. They spar, the air thick with unresolved tension. In a swift moment, Trystan traps Evie, pinning her in place. He tells her to stop overthinking. In response, Evie kisses him, using the distraction to break free from his hold.