Free The Villain Keeper by Laurie McKay Page A

would reopen in its presence. He could have sliced him to wriggling prince bits where he’d sat.
    Was he that flippant about Caden’s abilities? Caden wasn’t a match for Rath Dunn yet, but he was capable. To leave Caden with air in his lungs and fight in his heart was the worst of mistakes. From what Caden knew of Rath Dunn, he didn’t make mistakes. Although, Rath Dunn was also supposed to have died horribly after banishment to the land of shadow, and not to have been in the odd land of Asheville teaching math, so perhaps what Caden knew wasn’t exactly correct.
    Did Rath Dunn have something to do with why Caden and Brynne were stranded? Perhaps he wanted revengeagainst their parents? Though, why would he grab Caden, youngest son, and not one of the others? Their loss would hurt the kingdom more. Why Brynne? As far as Caden knew, Rath Dunn knew nothing of Brynne’s parents’ role in bringing him to justice and banishment.
    Caden shifted, uncomfortable with his thoughts. “I don’t know why he let me live.”
    â€œDon’t sound so disappointed,” Tito said, and cocked his head. “Bro,” he said, “are you upset he didn’t kill you?” He sat beside him. The pink and orange quilt pulled from its tuck, and Caden tried not to let it annoy him. “He’s just following school policy.” Tito’s face twitched like he was trying not to quake with laughter. “No killing allowed.”
    As long as Caden lived, he would fight. He would warn those at risk. He reached across to fix the quilt and caught Tito’s gaze. “He’s the enemy.” Jane Chan had also been in Rath Dunn’s math class. All these things could be connected. “Before she went missing, did Jane seem suspicious of him?”
    Tito’s mirth fell away. “Leave Jane out of your delusions.”
    Jane might be their best chance to find out why Caden and Brynne had been trapped in Asheville and why Rath Dunn was alive and teaching math. She was a connection to both. “Perhaps she ran away because she learned who he was?”
    Like Tito couldn’t contain the words, he blurted, “Jane wouldn’t run away!”
    The fierceness of Tito’s words caught Caden off guard. He studied his new foster brother. “When I was captured, the policeman Jenkins called her a runaway.”
    Tito fidgeted, and the quilt came untucked again. “Her clothes and backpack are gone. The police think she ran away. Rosa does, too.”
    This was why Tito was angry.
    â€œBut you don’t believe it.”
    Tito looked to the floor. “I don’t know what I believe.” Caden recognized the pained waver of his words and the heaviness of his tone. His father and brothers sounded that way whenever the first queen was mentioned.
    Jane was Tito’s friend. Tito needed to know what Caden knew. He needed to be part of the quest to find her. If Caden perished, Tito could fight the dark happenings that seemed to be going on and could protect his dragonless people.
    â€œMr. Rathis is Rath Dunn. He is a monster.” Caden stood and nodded to the window. Maybe Jane had run away; maybe her disappearance was more sinister. He thought of the strange whispering in the woods and the trap where Brynne had gotten stuck. There seemed to be some magic in Asheville, after all. “There’s a nature trap set on the mountain,” Caden said. “Maybe it is related to her disappearance. That’s where we should look for clues.”
    Tito scrunched up his face. “A nature trap?”
    â€œAn ensnaring magical clearing,” Caden explained.
    â€œRight, the math teacher’s evil and magic took Jane.” Tito shook his head. “Come on, bro. It’s hopeless.”
    â€œMagic brought me here at the same time she disappeared. The enemy of my people was her math teacher and now is mine. You don’t find that