Chapter 44

Evie flees to an alcove after laughing at Trystan’s quip about torture. Trystan apologizes for mentioning Warsen’s son, but their banter turns risky as Evie admits she’s trying to enjoy the party. When Evie reapplies rouge, Trystan suddenly freezes, flustered, before realizing Kingsley the frog has gone missing.

They trace muddy frog prints back into the ballroom and search the crowd. A spiked brute jostles Evie, apparently trying to take her tattooed ring. Trystan intervenes with a ruthless threat, but the exchange softens when the man—Dax Devourox—recognizes Evie as the “Wicked Woman” and proudly shows her embellished wanted poster. Trystan’s jealous magic blasts Dax across the room; Dax recovers and drifts away to cards.

Playful teasing about Evie’s chest slips into an unguarded compliment from Trystan, spiking palpable tension just as Tatianna and Clare arrive and overhear. Trystan’s loud outburst to stop the conversation draws dangerous attention to him, risking exposure among Fowler’s criminal guests.

To divert scrutiny and still find Kingsley, Evie jumps onto a table and announces a game: the guests must find their frog, described by his jester hat and crown. Pressed for a prize and urged on by Fowler, Evie impulsively declares the reward is “a night with the Wicked Woman.” The room erupts as guests scatter to search, leaving only Trystan unmoved and the stakes for Evie’s reputation—and their mission—sharply raised.