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Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Assistant to the Villain alternates between the perspectives of Evangelina (Evie) Sage, an optimistic and resourceful young woman, and Trystan Maverine, the brooding Villain of the kingdom. After losing her job with the town blacksmith for rejecting his advances, Evie is desperate to find work to support her younger sister and ailing father. One fateful day, she accidentally crosses paths with Trystan while fleeing for her life. Contrary to the grim portraits hung in the town square, the Villain is devastatingly handsome. Impressed by her determination and inexplicably drawn to her, Trystan hires Evie as his assistant, and she unexpectedly finds it to be the best job she’s ever had.

Months into her new role, Evie and Trystan discover a spy within the office leaking information to Trystan’s rival, the king. The investigation forces them to rely on each other, deepening their bond as they navigate the treacherous secrets surrounding them. Their search leads to Trystan’s estranged siblings, offering Evie a glimpse of the man behind the Villainous reputation—a man loved by those closest to him. As Evie finds herself increasingly attracted to Trystan, she can’t help but reconcile his tender moments with his penchant for hanging severed heads in the office entryway.

Evie also builds connections with her officemates, particularly Blade, the dragon tamer, who joined Trystan after stealing a dragon to protect it from the king. When Evie finds an incriminating letter from the king among Blade’s possessions, she urges him to come clean. Blade hesitates, and Trystan eventually discovers the letter in Evie’s belongings, leading him to accuse her of betrayal. Devastated by the mistrust from the one person she truly believed in, Evie quits.

In her absence, the office descends into chaos, and Trystan, for the first time in years, feels guilt. Evie, while mourning the loss of her job, realizes her own strength and returns to confront Trystan. He apologizes and offers her the job back, tentatively placing his trust in her—a vulnerability that unsettles him after years of guarding his heart.

The plot thickens when Blade removes the dragon’s chains, uncovering a warning for Trystan and the mark of Evie’s former employer, the town blacksmith. Evie’s past comes back to haunt her when proximity to the blacksmith’s enchanted dagger, which caused her an unhealing wound, triggers unbearable pain. Furious over Evie’s mistreatment, Trystan orchestrates a fatal “accident” for the blacksmith, leaving Evie both stunned and touched by his fierce protectiveness.

As tensions rise, the king seeks to capture guvres—deadly creatures with toxic breath. Trystan preempts him by securing the beasts himself. When Evie and her officemates receive invitations to a party hosted by Trystan’s estranged father, Arthur, they suspect a trap but attend. Trystan reluctantly joins, sharing a bittersweet dance with Evie, savoring one moment of happiness before resolving to let her go to keep her safe. The night takes a turn when the guvres, unleashed by the office spy, attack. Trystan, Evie, and their allies subdue the creatures, but Arthur is captured, accused of being the true Villain.

Determined to rescue Trystan’s father, the office begins planning. Meanwhile, Evie works to neutralize the dagger’s lingering effects. A revelation from Trystan’s sister connects clues about Evie’s father, including his use of an alias and the special ink he gave Evie. Suspecting him of espionage, Evie confronts her father, tricking him into confessing and subduing him with a sedative.

Evie moves into the office, finding a new sense of purpose. Just as things seem to stabilize, the king captures Trystan, leaving Evie under the guard of his men—one of whom is the blacksmith. Using the enchanted dagger, Evie kills the blacksmith, ending her torment and claiming her power. Hanging his head in the office entryway, Evie vows to rescue Trystan, even if it means embracing the Villainous mantle herself.


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