Chapter 15

Trystan discovers Otto Warsen’s severed head displayed at Massacre Manor and is stunned by Marv’s casual praise of Evie’s clean work. The Malevolent Guard is training in the entryway because their usual space is being cleaned after an intern’s prank, forcing Trystan to process the sight in public while he should already be preparing to leave.

Trystan knows Blade, Tatianna, and Clare are in the courtyard saddling Fluffy for a dangerous journey that must begin before nightfall. Even so, Trystan cannot stop focusing on Evie’s shocking act and calls for Keeley to find her.

Evie appears cheerful and tries to hurry past the head toward the courtyard, but Trystan pulls her aside into a stone alcove. When Trystan questions Evie, she deflects with jokes about knitting and using a paperweight as a weapon, but Trystan senses that Evie is deliberately withholding something.

Trystan notices the fading bruises around Evie’s neck and asks directly what happened after Otto Warsen took Trystan. Evie admits that Warsen tried to kill her, so she cut off his head. Trystan’s death magic surges in rage, but it unexpectedly curls toward Evie, who treats it with delighted affection before Trystan calls it back.

Evie apologizes for possibly overstepping by adding Warsen’s head to the display, explaining that Evie wanted to prove herself capable. Trystan clarifies that Trystan is not angry about the display but about not being there to stop Warsen from hurting Evie. Evie insists Warsen did not hurt her because Evie hurt him, and Trystan, despite fearing the darkness growing in her, tells Evie, “Good.”

Blade interrupts to announce that Fluffy is restless and the group must go. As Trystan helps Evie onto the saddle, Trystan sums up her recent feats: killing Warsen, organizing the women of the Malevolent Guard into the king’s castle, faking her death, and rescuing Trystan. Trystan feels pride, but that pride turns back into worry that Evie is being corrupted by Trystan.