Chapter 19

The Villain

As far as interruptions went, it was well timed. If the monster coming out of the blue sky had revealed itself even a moment later, Trystan would've lost control…and there was no telling what atrocity he would've committed next.

Part of him still wanted to find out.

BOOM!

The beast fully formed before them. A shrieking howl came from its large mouth, so loud it made them both stumble back. Its skin seemed to be made up of cloud and marble in equal parts, its face grotesque yet almost human, save for the horns growing from its giant head. Misted clouds surrounded its temples, almost like a crown, and they stayed perfectly in place, the way Kingsley's crown often did.

When it slammed its fist against the ground, the entire hidden oasis shook.

"Who disturbs me?" the monster howled.

Good—this was good, actually.

Dealing with mortal danger was far preferable to ruminating on what he'd almost done.

He would instead remain fixated on the monster's horns, its deathlike stare. Not on the gasp that had sounded out of Sage's lips mere moments ago, a sound that would surely haunt him in his dreams, his nightmares—should he escape the current situation, of course. He'd gone far too long without bedding a woman; it was the only reasonable explanation for losing control of himself so thoroughly. It had been six excruciating months of abstaining.

Abstaining for no particular reason, it seemed in this moment.

The monster slammed its fist into the ground once more, snapping Trystan back to reality, back to all that truly mattered to him. Revenge, villainy, murder—staying alive.

He sucked in a breath, feeling focused. That's better.

"I said who!" the monster cried.

It was a rhetorical question—surely they both knew this—and yet that didn't stop his assistant from cupping her hands around her mouth and screeching like she was speaking to an elderly grandparent: "EVIE SAGE!"

Trystan gawked at her before rubbing at his cheek. "You forgot to curtsy," he said incredulously. She shrugged and started to dip but halted when he gripped her waist. "Are you having an episode?" He needed migraine potion and a very long, very cold bath.

The creature was still reeling from Sage's response, furrowing its— Well, it didn't have eyebrows , but Trystan imagined they would be furrowed should they have been present.

"Back away," he warned it, praying the monster wouldn't see the emptiness in the threat. He could feel from its stillness inside him that his magic wouldn't work here; he had no means of protecting them, no means of protecting her. But he'd hardly have need to, because instead of remaining safely hidden behind him, Sage circled around and presented herself to the monster, dropping into a deep curtsy, smiling wide before yelling loudly, "Hello!"

…Was she attempting to make a polite introduction to a creature that would likely try to eat them? "Sage!" he hissed. "What in the gods' names are you doing?"

"What's your name?" She smiled at it.

Yes, of course she did.

But instead of eating her whole, the creature dropped to its large knees, knocking dandelion bristles through the air like party confetti and extending one of its long, gray hands covered in purple markings that looked like vines. Trystan lurched forward, ready to do battle, but instead he stopped in frozen awe.

One large finger was slowly extended. It was enormous compared to the size of Sage's hand, but it was extended nonetheless. She jumped, delighted, as she wrapped both hands around its finger and shook.

"I have no name," the creature said, slowly pulling its finger back, anger fading from its tone. "I am a part of this world, and by natural law, I can take none."

Sage frowned. "Well, that's a silly rule! Who came up with that?"

The monster frowned back at her, and then it…chortled.

"Sage," Trystan whispered. "Do you remember that time I confiscated those mushrooms from the interns? This is beginning to resemble that."

She scrunched her nose and scratched the side of her head when she looked at him. "Those made you hallucinate."

"Precisely."

The creature's voice boomed again. "The rules were made by the architects of this world, the creators—gods, you call them," it said; Sage gave it her rapt attention. "They made every corner of this world what it is. Every person, every living thing exists because of their sacrifices."

"Oh. They did a very good job!" Sage nodded encouragingly; he could practically see the thoughts spinning behind her eyes. "I'm a big fan of, um—oh, the trees!" She seemed calm, but she was nervous. He could tell by the way she wrung her hands.

She had no need to be, because after the compliment, the creature looked… bashful ?

"I think I am hallucinating," Trystan whispered.

Sage knocked him in the shoulder. "Hush!"

"They were my idea, actually." One of its large fingers began to draw circles in the grass, its attention glued to his assistant. She was charming the thing into a stupor.

He could sympathize with its plight.

She brightened. "And what a grand idea it was!" She did another curtsy, her head bowed in respect. "We owe you our utmost thanks." She elbowed Trystan, hard.

He rubbed the spot before frowning, then said, "Oh yes…thank you." He didn't sound thankful. He sounded befuddled and irritated.

The creature's attention went back to him, and it turned cold. "I don't like him."

Sage waved her hand and patted its finger. "That's all right." She stage-whispered behind her hand, "Lots of people don't."

"That's enough small talk." Trystan wouldn't stand here idle while Sage conspired with a monster of legend. He was The Villain, for gods' sake. "We are here for a vial of stardust. We need it to find someone who's lost. Someone who can help us fulfill Rennedawn's Story ."

The creature's large eyes rounded on him. "You want to fulfill Rennedawn's Story , Trystan Maverine?"

His stomach dropped into his shoes at his name on the creature's lips.

Before he could inquire as to how the creature knew who he was, it grinned, marbled teeth shining as it said words that rattled him down to his misplaced soul.

"It took you long enough."