Assistant to the Villain, #3
Accomplice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Chapter 41
Overview
Gideon secretly follows the Malevolent Guard toward the palace tunnels and is intercepted by Keeley. After tense, flirtatious banter, Keeley permits Gideon to come on the recon if he does not interfere. Gideon reflects on true loyalty versus fear and privately decides Keeley may be the mole, raising internal stakes.
Summary
Gideon shadows the Malevolent Guard along the north road toward the abandoned tunnels into the Gleaming Palace, reflecting on how often he made the same approach for King Benedict and how fear, not loyalty, bound the Valiant Guard.
Keeley ambushes Gideon, furious he ignored orders to stay behind. Their whispered confrontation turns to charged banter; Keeley’s threat to run Gideon through is tempered by shared humor that briefly drops her guard.
Gideon admits he followed because he wants to help his sisters, and Keeley reluctantly allows him to accompany the recon on the condition that he not interfere. Their attraction surfaces in small moments—his noticing her braid and dimples—hinting at growing intimacy amid danger.
As they rejoin the mission, Gideon resolves a painful suspicion: despite liking Keeley, he believes she may be the traitor within their ranks. He continues after her, weighing what he will do if that suspicion proves true.
Who Appears
- GideonFormer royal knight trailing the Guard; banters with Keeley; joins under orders; secretly suspects Keeley is the traitor.
- KeeleyGuard member who intercepts Gideon; enforces noninterference; exchanges flirtatious banter; unknowingly becomes Gideon’s prime suspect.
- Malevolent GuardRecon team heading to abandoned palace tunnels; their loyalty contrasts with the king’s fearful forces.