Assistant to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #1)

by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

The Villain had his hand around her ex-lover’s shoulder, squeezing so tightly that she could see Rick’s face pinched and frightened as he tried to lean away. “Luck is something you will most certainly need if you ever bother her again.” The dark rasp to his voice sent the hairs on her arms standing on end.

“My apologies—I wasn’t prepared for quite such an honest answer.” She shook her head at him, tsking with disapproval. “And yet you’re fully aware you’re conversing with me.”

Evie wasn’t certain why it mattered, but she was addicted to feeling useful. Without it, what value did she hold?

Oy.

The Villain put two fingers to his temples. “I’m angry with myself for even trying.”

“You laughed.” “I know,” Trystan said, shaking his head, hoping to knock the building ache out of it. “You’re fucked.”

He had an unfamiliar mocking look on his face that made a bubble of anger curl so tight within Evie, the rest of her feelings needed to move over to make room for it.

Analyzing every move, every word said. Over and over, until she wanted to find her reflection somewhere and smash it just to watch herself break.

“Can we fix it?” Lyssa had asked. “With the paste?” “No, love.” Evie had sighed. “It’s hard enough to put something back together once. A second time, I’m afraid, is far too much to hope for.” They’d thrown the pieces away.

But he was so happy to see her. What an obscene, unnecessary emotion, but there it was. He was happy… How positively vile.

Adulthood should be illegal.

“He told me that ‘the opinions of others are ever-changing.’ And to ‘never care quite so much of the world’s perception of you.’”

He stared at her, wholly unfazed by the gruesomeness surrounding them. Acting as if he’d just closed a business deal rather than murdered a man in front of her. And she was smiling at him. The Villain came to an unbidden realization then, so completely tragic that his mind tried to reject the words. But they were there, so plainly it was almost comical. He was in love with her.

“Oh, she’ll be fine. Evil never dies.”

“You always do this.” There had been many times in her life when Evie felt like she was being looked down on, being made to feel childish, or silly, or frivolous with her thoughts and feelings. To the point where even if she felt completely strong and valid in what she wanted to say, she went ignored, unheard. Invalidated.

“We’re all monsters in the end. At least mine lives in the light.”

“Actually,” she rasped out. She opened her eyes. “I’m. His. Fucking. Assistant,” she whispered and smiled, before whipping the dagger up and slitting his throat.