Free The Villain Keeper by Laurie McKay

his life might end far from home long before he had slain a dragon and completed his quest.
    Caden’s father and brothers had defeated Rath Dunn fifteen years ago, after eight years of war. Caden would study, train, and fight until he was as good a man as them, until he was strong enough to face men like Rath Dunn. He wasn’t strong enough yet; he wasn’t even an Elite Paladin yet. Rath Dunn—Mr. Rathis as he was callinghimself—would destroy him.
    With a thunk, Caden leaned his forehead against the window. “I can’t stay here,” he muttered.
    Sadly, that Rosa took seriously. “You will stay,” she said. “And you’ll go to math class tomorrow.”
    Tomorrow, then, Caden would die. His father would never be proud of him. Without Caden to slay a dragon, one more would prowl Razzon, devouring hapless villagers, stealing jewels and trinkets of value, and burning thatched homes.
    When they got back to the house, Caden went to the attic room and barricaded the door. He sat on the floor and watched as the light from the windows faded from afternoon to evening. He and Brynne became stranded in the land at the same time Jane disappeared. Now, it seemed, Rath Dunn—the Greater Realm tyrant—had been Jane’s math teacher. Was there a connection?
    At nightfall, Tito pounded on the door. “You done sulking?”
    Sulking? Caden was most certainly not sulking. These were his last hours of life. He was trying to make sense of why he was here while preparing for death. He would die bravely. He hoped.
    The doorframe shook. “It’s my room, too,” Tito said.
    Across the black tape, the purple bed was unmade. Books were scattered on the floor. The rugs were covered with wrinkled clothes. Caden stood and brushed off hisjeans. He turned his nose at the mess. “Then you should be able to break the defenses. And clean it up.”
    â€œLet me in before I get Rosa.”
    Caden wanted to say no. He wanted to say something snide about the quality of Tito’s training, but it was an order. Frowning, he walked over, unblocked the door, and opened it.
    Tito was a picture of steely irritation. “Rosa’s decided to keep you,” he said, pushing past Caden into the room. “Despite the crazy.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. I’ll likely die tomorrow,” Caden said.
    â€œWell,” Tito said, and flopped down on his bed. “I guess we’re stuck together until then.”
    â€œYou mock me,” Caden said. He settled on his neatly made pink and orange bed and crossed his arms. “I’d prefer to prepare for my death in silence.”
    â€œLook,” Tito said. “We need to make nice. We’re stuck here together until you manage to get committed or Rosa kicks us out.”
    â€œOr we die,” Caden said.
    Tito threw his arms out. “All right, fine, or that. So tell me, your craziness, why do you think you’re going to die tomorrow?”
    â€œRath Dunn—your Mr. Rathis—is the enemy of my family, my kingdom, and all the good peoples of the Greater Realm. I’m the youngest son of the man who banished him. He’s killed for much less.”
    Caden waited for Tito to brush off his concern, but he seemed to be listening this time. Listening, however, didn’t necessarily mean believing. Tito raised his brows and wrinkled his nose. “Well, he didn’t kill you today.”
    Caden had not considered that. His heart still beat; his blood still pumped. “Your point?”
    â€œSo, maybe he won’t kill you tomorrow.”
    It was a good point. Why had Rath Dunn let Caden walk away? When the most evil of the Greater Realm were banished, they were often sent to their deaths with a token of their deeds. According to council record, Rath Dunn had been banished with his blood dagger, magic item number forty-three. It was an evil blade. A wound made with it would never fully heal, and