Accomplice to the Villain

Kingsley has spent more than 10 years as a frog but still finds his condition exhausting. His only way of communicating is to write one-word signs to his companions. He feels stressed out by everything happening around him, too. Two weeks ago, the manor was attacked; their pregnant guvre, or magical creature, was kidnapped; and Nura Sage, Evie’s mother, returned after masquerading as a star while everyone thought she was dead. Kingsley is also worried about Trystan and Evie, who are in love but are barely talking. Kingsley’s only relief is Evie’s sister, Lyssa Sage.

When Lyssa tells Trystan that Evie left the manor with the guard Keeley, Trystan buries his face in the scarf Evie gave him.

Trystan has tried to avoid Evie ever since he received the divination about their future. A destiny monster told him that Evie would be his downfall, and Trystan her undoing. Now, Trystan struggles to keep his distance.

He hears Evie’s laugh, relieved she’s returned to the manor safely. Then he notices that her hands are “covered in blood” (14).

Evie explains that while she and Keeley were searching for clues to the unresolved Rennedawn prophecy, King Benedict’s Malevolent Guards attacked them. Evie fought back, killing one of the men.

Evie, Trystan, and their companions are trying to solve the Rennedawn storybook prophecy—a text that seemingly warns of doom if not fulfilled. They have part of it, but need the remaining lines to save Rennedawn. Without the prophecy, they fear the kingdom will be overcome by dark magic.

Trystan is upset that Evie put herself in danger. As his magic swirls around the room, Trystan dismisses her to her office to protect her.

Evie finds Nura in the kitchen with the ogre cook Edwin. Evie’s younger siblings, Lyssa and Gideon, join them, too. Evie wishes she could feel more affection towards Nura, but she grew up without her mother and now barely knows her. Nura explains that she burned herself while trying to make scones. Lyssa gets upset and storms out when she discovers that Nura used her special flour. Evie feels bad that Nura and Lyssa haven’t established a relationship yet.

The next morning, Evie is sitting alone when Marv appears, carrying a box of odds and ends. When he drops it, Evie notices an assortment of screws, a hammer, and a screwdriver. She wonders if they have anything to do with the broken ceiling. Then her own ceiling breaks and falls too. A furious Trystan races in and demands to know what Marv is up to, but Marv feigns innocence.

Evie and Nura discuss Nura and Lyssa’s relationship in Evie’s office. Evie explains how difficult it has been for the siblings to adjust to Nura’s reappearance.

Afterwards, Evie studies a series of notes on her desk, trying to work out the prophecy. Then Gideon, Kingsley, healer Tatianna, and Trystan’s sister, Clare Maverine, come into the room. Evie senses tension between Tatianna and Clare, who used to be in a relationship. They all discuss the prophecy until Marv announces that King Benedict has arrived with his guardsmen.

Trystan and Keeley catapult pumpkins at the approaching king and his Valiant Guard. Finally, Trystan stops the attack to negotiate with Benedict. The king is there with an offer: He will tell Trystan the rest of the prophecy in exchange for Nura.

Angry, Evie tells Benedict Nura is dead as Trystan’s magic swirls violently around them. Suddenly, Nura appears behind Evie. Evie begs her mother not to sacrifice herself. Then, an upset Nura accidentally shoots her light magic out of her body and toward Lyssa, who is watching from the mansion’s upper floor. Nura hits and breaks a stained-glass window.

Keeley dives in front of Lyssa to protect her. Gideon races to Lyssa’s side, shocked to see Keeley’s bravery. Keeley is injured by Nura’s magic, but Lyssa is okay. Gideon, overwhelmed by gratitude for Keeley, carries her to Tatianna for healing. On the way, he muses on the scene he witnessed below, wondering if Evie has dark magic, too.

Evie meets up with her new best friend, Rebecka (Becky) Erring, who works in Trystan’s organization as the Human and Magical Creature Resource person. Evie is telling Becky about her frustrations with Trystan when Lyssa barges in to see Edwin. Evie reflects on her complicated family dynamic, but then pushes away her anxiety about her mother and siblings to focus on the prophecy. Evie is desperate to save Rennedawn.

When the others leave, an unfamiliar man enters and claims he’s there to fix the stained-glass window. Shortly after, Evie learns from dragon tamer Blade that repairmen have already been working on the window all morning. Evie realizes the stranger is an intruder and races towards him with her dagger.

Trystan yells at the repairmen to hurry up and finish the window. One man, Leonard, sees that there are inscriptions on the glass. Trystan realizes they must be the Rennedawn prophecy.

Evie gets into a knife fight with the intruder, whom she recognizes as Calvin, the son of Otto Warsen, her former abusive employer, whom she killed when he attacked her. Trystan appears to help Evie fight Calvin. Calvin shoves Evie, who hits her head and gets a concussion. Trystan catches her, realizing anew how much he cares for her.

Clare helps Tatianna nurse Keeley’s wounds, but Keeley doesn’t want to take time off to heal because she wants to find the guvre and solve the prophecy. Then Clare, Tatianna, and two other guards insist that Keeley also needs a haircut. Just before they can go through with it, Gideon appears, forbidding them to cut her hair because he notices how upset Keeley is.

Later, Clare and Tatianna talk about their past relationship. They admit they haven’t given up on each other. Interrupting, Trystan races in carrying Evie. He explains what happened with the intruder and calls a meeting.

Trystan holds the staff meeting in his office. Keeley and Gideon plan to visit the Gleaming Palace in search of the guvre. Meanwhile, Trystan and Evie will go to the dungeons and torture Calvin for information. Suddenly, Trystan notices that Kingsley is acting strange—he seems more froglike than usual.

Kingsley feels different. He hops away from Trystan and Evie, unsure what’s happening. Alone, he fears that he will never be human again.

Becky sends her brother Roland a raven, summoning him to the manor. When Lyssa and Nura join Becky in the kitchen, Becky sadly remembers her own mother, Renna. Renna and Nura were friends until Renna betrayed Nura, relegating her to life as a dormant star. Becky is surprised when Nura reveals that she has forgiven Renna. Lyssa is excited to learn that Nura and Becky’s mother had a connection.

Evie finds Edwin lying winded on the floor. She comforts him, thanking him for all the time he has been spending with Lyssa. They grew up in a little village of eccentrics, and the manor has offered them the same community. Edwin shares that he fell and lost consciousness, but doesn’t know why. Clare and Trystan appear, and the companions discuss what could have happened.

Trystan and Evie visit the dungeons and torture Calvin. However, he won’t reveal how or why he got into the manor, so they decide to return tomorrow. In the meantime, Trystan hopes they will find the prophecy together.

Evie and Trystan visit the male guvre. The creature is sad without his mate.

Trystan reveals a picnic he packed for them. While they eat and chat, Evie feels increasingly attracted to Trystan. They flirt and she kisses him.