Page 13 of Chess

“And why the hell would you do that?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s your fault I lost it.”

“It’s Rav’s and my mother’s fault technically, and as you said, she’s dead.” Pain scratched at his insides as he said the words, but he knew they were necessary to prove his point. “I don’t give a flying fuck who rules Ivory or Scarlet, and I never did.”

“It sounds like you care now,” Ever drawled, her lips curving into a smile.

Chess opened his mouth to deny it and paused. Did he care now? Not about Ivory, no, but was he going to let Rav rule Scarlet? It was rightfully his—Imogen never crowned Rav. If she had wanted him to rule when she was gone, surely she would have made him king? Did that mean his motherwantedChess to rule? He didn’t have any interest in wearing the crown but Rav had just set the entirety of Wonderland against him. Betrayal colored his vision red for a moment. Chesswouldrule Scarlet, as was his birthright. To keep Wonderland the playground he knew it to be, yes, but also to spite Rav.

“I care slightly more than before,” he finally admitted, shrugging one shoulder, the chains digging in. “If you need your brother’s head, I certainly wouldn’t mind giving it to you.”

Ever laughed. “How kind of you. And what would you be getting out of this arrangement?”

Maddie, dead.But he couldn’t admit that to Ever when the two females were such good friends. Chess needed to play the game with the White Queen. Make her trust him. Eventually, the murderous Hatter would appear. As an immortal, all Chess had was time. He could be patient if he had to.

“I suppose you’ve got me there,” he said with a smirk. “Rav was never made king, which means the title belongs, rightfully, to me. I’ve never been good at sharing. Unless of course it’s in bed. If you’d ever like to introduce me to your lover from the club, I’m sure we could work something out.”

Ever’s fingers rapped a rhythm on her arms as she studied him. He wished he could read every thought flickering through her head. While her face remained passive, the conflict flashed through her eyes. Belief. Disbelief. Back and forth between the two.

“Prove your usefulness to me first,” she said, completely ignoring his invitation to a threesome.

That might be tricky if it included waltzing back into Scarlet. “How?”

“Tell me everything Rav’s been doing.” She lifted her chin in challenge. “Starting with the day of my masquerade ball.”

Chess grinned. “Done. But first,” he purred, “unchain me.”

Ever scowled. “I’ll unchain your legs but not your arms.”

“I’m losing feeling in my fingers. They’ll be no good to you if they shrivel and fall off,” he said, winking.

“Everything you say only makes me want to leave you bound. Take the offer or leave it, Princeling.” She shrugged.

“You drive a hard bargain, but I suppose you leave me little choice. I am at your mercy, oh majestic queen.” He would get his arms free soon enough because he couldn’t run like this if a situation arose where he needed to flee.

Ever dropped to her knees in front of him and pulled a key to the padlock from her back pocket. When she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, those pouty lips parted, a bolt of desire stormed through him.

Fuck me, that was a sight. Now if only his hard cock were between those full lips—sucking, licking, tasting—as it had been in his dream. His fingers threading through her ivory hair while he groaned. Ever’s delicate hands working him instead of the metal lock near his feet. Her gaze shifted to the growing bulge in his trousers and she inhaled sharply before turning her attention back to the chains.

When the lock was finally removed, she unwound the chains from his legs, the links clanking together, echoing, as she gathered more of it into her hands. It only took her a minute to complete, but by the time she was done, the air practically crackled between them.

“There.” She sighed, sounding slightly breathless, and stood. Their bodies pressed close, only an armful of chains between them.

Chess could’ve sworn her body shook slightly when their eyes met, and his cock throbbed painfully, wanting nothing more than to make her scream his name. “Thanks,” he said in a husky voice. What would she do if he drew her close, claimed that pretty mouth with his? He’d asked last time in her garden and received a resoundingnowith her knee to his groin, but she didn’t seem to loathe the idea so much now with her hooded eyes.

Stepping back, Ever tossed the chains into a corner. “Don’t make me regret it.”

“Of course not,” he promised. Not yet, at least. He stretched his legs, shaking the feeling back into them, before lazily sinking down on the edge of Ever’s mattress. He peered up at her with a wide grin. “So, your brother…”

Two nights passed as the White Queen questioned every aspect of Rav’s life. Chess shifted uncomfortably where he sat on the floor, his arms still chained, as Ever lifted a bottle of mixed powdered blood to his lips. The weak solution scratched at his throat, and he released a small cough. Ever lowered the bottle without glancing at him, instead plucking absently at the strings of her viola.

“How did you know I liked my meals half-dissolved?” he asked.

“A wild guess,” she mumbled.

When she flicked a glance at him to raise the bottle again, she gave a small sigh. She set the instrument aside and Chess drank in her bare legs as her dress slid up. Every curve was visible beneath her tight black dress, the skirt barely covering her firm arse. Not that he’d felt it himself but he’d gripped enough in his lifetime to know just by glancing. She looked so good in the damn scrap of fabric that he almost didn’t mind being her prisoner.Almost.

The backs of Ever’s cool fingers grazed the corner of his lips where a trickle of blood escaped. He felt her touch all the way to his cock when she wiped it away, but she gave no indication that she wanted him. No increased heart rate, no catch of her breath…

Infuriating, honestly.

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