Read Online The Villain Keeper by Laurie McKay - Free Book Online

“For days my diet has consisted wholly of starchy tubers and edible winter grasses.” He smiled at her. “I’ve heard much worse.”
    She smiled back but it seemed unnatural on her face, like it was an uncommon expression for her. She reached up and touched her lips, as if surprised. “You’re an interesting one, aren’t you?”
    It wasn’t the most humble thing to say, but Caden felt itbest to agree with her. “I am.”
    She shook her head like he was the biggest of difficulties for her. “I suppose I could read the test to you. I don’t need to eat just yet,” she said, and sounded sad. “No lunch today. Relax, dear. Take the test.”
    It was an order. Caden took the test. As soon as they’d finished, she scored his answers with pursed lips and an irritated expression.
    Caden was not put in the gifted class. He was put in the special class. “It doesn’t sound special,” he said as he followed her through the long school hall.
    â€œYou need to learn to read and write,” she said. Her manner had turned cool since his poor test performance. “After your morning literacy class, you have science, lunch, and math with the rest of the seventh graders. We have accommodations we can give you for those.”
    The floor was paved with unattractive tiles. Hundreds of overlapping shoeprints were scuffed atop. The walls were crowded with pale pink locked boxes. Despite the evidence that countless people usually walked these halls, it was now quiet except for the click-clack of Ms. Primrose’s steps.
    She squinted down at a paper in her hand. “Twelve-four. This is your locker.”
    Twelve-four—his age and the length of years until Brynne said the moon and sun would align such that she could attempt a spell to return them. No doubt, it was unlucky. The locked box opened with a creak. Inside werecrumpled papers and stale crumbs. This was not the locked box of a well-mannered prince.
    â€œI must decline,” Caden said.
    â€œYou’ll need it to store your things, dear,” she said.
    â€œIt’s dirty.”
    She raised a brow. “You’re a picky one, aren’t you?”
    He snapped his gaze to her. “I have certain expectations. Cleanliness is one.”
    There was no rebuke. She closed the locker with a clank and glanced at the dirty tiles. “I’m afraid some of your peers like to roll around in the mud.”
    Some of the gentle dislike in Ms. Primrose’s expression dimmed. He could see her struggling to keep her distance, to squash any budding affection. His intent was to be gone as soon as possible, but gaining her favor might prove smart. The time had come for a well-placed observation.
    â€œAt least,” Caden said, “the halls smell of roses.”
    â€œThat’s my perfume, dear.” She leaned down as if to tell him a secret. “It’s my signature scent.”
    â€œLike your name,” he said, and he could tell she was pleased.
    Then she fixed him with a funny look. “Indeed.”
    She led him around the corner and knocked lightly on a nearby door. She glanced again at the paper in her hand. “Math’s your last class of the day. No time like the present to jump right in.” With a pat to the shoulder, she added, “I do hope you do well here.”
    Inside, he counted twenty-four desks. Students sat at all but three. Tito scribbled furiously at a first-row desk between two of the empty ones. The third empty desk was in the corner, hidden in shadow. The students looked riveted—somewhere between excited and terrified.
    At the front of the room stood a man with a gray beard and bald head. One of his eyes was dark, crinkled at the side like he laughed often, the other pale blue and split by the deep scar that reached from his eye to his mouth. His pants were dark and he wore a red wool sweater.
    â€œDon’t stare, dear,” Ms.