Evie
It was the worst possible time for her brother to bother her. The group was waiting in the courtyard, and she was already running late. As usual, she had packed too much.
“Keep a close eye on him while we’re gone, Keeley,” she instructed, dragging her overstuffed suitcase down the corridor. The head of the Malevolent Guard, now back on Gideon watch after his secrets had come to light, gave her a brisk nod.
Gideon’s cheeks flushed, and he looked down. “I deserve that.”
She didn’t want him wallowing in self-pity; it only made it harder for her to stay upset. It was a terrible thing to be angry with someone while also wanting to comfort them, and she wished her brother would be just a little more awful so she wouldn’t feel the need to console him.
When they reached the stairs, Gideon took the suitcase from her, motioning for her to go ahead of him. Damn chivalry. “You don’t deserve my anger for being manipulated,” she conceded. Evie understood what it was like to be played by their father. It wasn’t fair for her to be angry, but she was only human. Emotions didn’t always follow reason; they just reacted to the pain.
At the bottom of the stairs, Gideon handed her bag back carefully. “Here you are. I know better than to ask to join, but if you could tell me where Lyssa is, I’d like to spend some time with her while you’re away.”
Evie nodded, feeling a twinge in her chest. “She’s baking with Edwin. You should help her—she’d love that.”
Gideon brightened immediately. “Great! I’ll head there now. Keeley, will you join me?”
Keeley, guarding him from behind, rolled her eyes. “Unfortunately.”
Their conversation was interrupted when Tatianna came storming down the stairs, her thick brows furrowed, and her mouth set in a scowl.
This was a far cry from Tatianna’s usual composed demeanor. “Is everything okay, Tati?”
Tatianna flung a braid out of her face, her expression perplexed, her brown skin glistening with sweat. “Your menace of a sister stole my diary.”
Evie dropped her suitcase and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh no!”
Tatianna’s dark lashes lowered halfway as she scrutinized Evie. “Are you smiling under there?”
Evie shook her head, trying not to speak because she was, in fact, laughing. So was Gideon, who let out a bark of laughter before quickly masking it with his hand.
Tatianna adjusted her pink sleeves, having changed into long, silky pink trousers for the journey. She narrowed her eyes, dusted with vibrant pink shadow. “I think it’s a family trait.”
Evie studied her friend closely and pursed her lips. “Tati, did something happen in the cupboard?”
The healer froze, stiffening as Clare descended the stairs behind her. “I’m coming along too,” the youngest Maverine declared.
Every strand of Clare’s hair was out of place. Every. Single. One. “Unnecessary,” Tatianna grumbled as she made her way to the door, Clare trailing behind her. They were close but distant, like opposing forces that couldn’t help but stay near.
Once they were gone, Gideon was the first to break the silence. “Our sister is… something.” His laughter slipped out before he could stop it.
Evie moved her hand from her mouth, covering her eyes with both hands. Her laughter echoed softly, easing the weight of everything that was threatening to drag her down.
His low chuckle blended with hers, but when she lowered her hands and looked at her brother, his smile faded. She saw his eyes redden and glaze over. “I’m really sorry, Eve. For everything. I wish I could undo it all. You might not believe me, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
It was enough.
She threw her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. “It’s okay. I love you. It’s okay.”
Gideon sniffled quietly into her shoulder, clinging to Evie like a child to a mother’s skirts, as if he were once again a little boy, overwhelmed by fears he couldn’t control. “I’m sorry.”
She hushed him, rubbing soothing circles on his back. “No one will ever hurt us again. I promise.”
They slowly pulled apart, their faces sticky and red with tears. Keeley had moved off to the corner, clearly uncomfortable with the display.
Evie picked up her bag. “Make me something delicious with Lyssa and Edwin for when we get back? And take care of things while we’re away.”
“Count on it.” With a trembling chin, Gideon gestured toward the back door. “Now go out there and find our mother.”
She was almost at the door when she stopped and turned around. “Gideon.”
He looked at her, the ever-noble hero. He was good—different from her.
This was why she spoke carefully. “I want to hurt the king. Not because he’s done terrible things. Not because he’s bad for Rennedawn. I want him to suffer because I’m hurting, because he hurt all of us. Does that make me a villain?”
He smiled hesitantly, even Keeley seemed surprised by the question. “No, Eve. It’s okay to feel that way.”
But as she walked out to the saddled dragon for their long journey to Becky’s family home, she noticed something in her brother’s eyes, something behind his words.
Fear.
