Page 37 of Chess

Slowly, Maddie slid from Noah’s lap, taking his hand and leading him into one of the bedrooms. Ferris’s chair scraped against the floor when he followed suit. Mouse, however, remained. “They’re prickly for a reason, but you have a reason too.” Her gaze softened for a moment before glaring, her voice coming out quiet. “Thank you for your kindness with Des at the palace. However, if you attack my sister, I will rip your throat out.” She scooped Des off the table and patted his shoulder as though she hadn’t threatened him. Maddie’s sister was a strange little thing, but his heart lurched when he thought about what his mother and Rav had done to her over andover.

Ever grinned at Mouse, seeming proud of her. Once the female shuffled away from the table, Ever grabbed Chess by the ear. “You can’t hurt my friends.”

He offered a small smile. “No, but you never said I had to benice.”

“Taunting them into attacking you so you can defend yourself isn’t allowed either.”

“So many rules.” Hetskedand brushed her hand away. “You can only ask so much of me, Queenie. I won’t attack them nor will I change who I am to appease them. Their anger management is their own problem.”

Ever narrowed her eyes, studying his face. He wasn’t sure what she found there, but he was determined not to budge a step further. Maddie murdered his motherandthe queen of Scarlet. He wouldn’t mind if the Hatter fell off a cliff and died, but he wasn’t going to hurt her. The problem was that Rav would still want to end her life. Or, at least he would if he learned the truth before Ever killed him. There was still a chance someone else loyal to Imogen would solve the problem on Chess’s behalf.

“We’re ready,” Maddie chirped.

Ever turned from Chess and nodded. “Come on, then.”

Maddie adjusted her hat and fell behind Mouse, Ferris, and Noah as they climbed the stairs. Chess stood and followed behind the White Queen, keeping her between him and the others. There was no sense in tempting anyone’s control by accidentally getting too close. Besides, he liked being behind her. Not only for the view of her arse in that black skirt, but he felt better knowing nothing would attack her from a blind spot. She’d protected him from her friends, had trusted him enough to let him be in the same room as his mother’s killer. That thought warmed something inside him.

The Hatter halted in front of Ever and spun to look at him. “We have a truce then?” she asked hesitantly.

“For as long as Ever lives.” Chess shot her a strained smile, forcing himself not to snarl instead. If anything happened to Ever, all promises were null and void.

“Best keep me alive then,” Ever said, her tone trying and failing to sound lighthearted. She nudged Maddie toward the stairs. “March will worry if I take too long.”

Maddie bit her lip, casting a final wary look at Chess. He raised one brow in silent challenge before she said something he wasn’t expecting. “I still loathe you, but thank you for giving my sister Des.” She turned on her booted heel and rushed up the stairs.

Did … she justthankhim? That was unexpected. Chess wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

Pinning her hair back into place and forgoing the tangled wig, Ever followed wordlessly behind the Hatter, and Chess trudged after the group. Just what he needed … more people who loathed him. Was hesounlikable? He chuckled silently.Certainly.But perhaps he could change that one day and be slightly less antagonistic. On occasion. At least a few times a year, anyway.

As soon as he stepped out of the safe house, Ferris slammed the door shut and locked it back up with a key attached to a large ring. His nostrils flared at Chess’s proximity which only made him want to step closer to the Knave. The male hadn’t exactly been treated well by Imogen or Rav, but Chess had never touched him.

“I’m guilty by association, eh?” he said quietly to Ferris while the others started back toward the palace.

“Don’t act innocent. Everyone knows who you are and that didn’t change just because you helped Mouse,” he snapped and brushed past Ever to walk at Mouse’s side. The pink-haired vampire cast the prince an unreadable look over her shoulder.

“Are you joining us?” Ever asked when Chess didn’t move. “You’re welcome to go your own way if you choose.”

He didn’t want to go his own way—he wanted to stay with Ever. But the others…? Things were about to change. He could feel it in the air. Ever would withdraw as his presence drove a wedge between her and her friends, leaving him alone. Again.

“What do you prefer I do?” he asked softly.

“I want you to come.” The corners of her mouth lifted. “And go back to being your cocky self.”

He released a relieved breath, turning it into a chuckle to hide that he’d been worried about her answer. “I would have come regardless. Do you think it’ll be that easy to get rid of me?” Leaning down to whisper in her ear, he added, “You taste too good for me to walk away now.”

Ever drew in a sharp breath and he quickly nipped at her ear before straightening. Her widening eyes made his grin grow into a knowing smile. She remembered the pleasure he gave her just as well as he did and, if he wasn’t mistaken, wanted another round.Soon.First, they had to get back to the castle and their conveniently adjoined rooms.

Chess nodded toward the group and started sauntering away. He knew the Knave and Maddie, had spent time with Mouse, but Noah was a stranger. While he seemed to listen to Maddie, Chess would need to watch him closely to make sure his newly-turned control was stable. The last time he’d seen Maddie and Noah together, they were walking through the forest in Ivory. He’d wondered where they were going when he’d found them, but their answer hadn’t mattered much. Whatever their cause had been, his mother would’ve expected Chess to deliver the pair for questioning. Since he was Alice’s brother, he probably knew where she was—possibly cured already from what he’d overheard while cuffed, not that he gave two shits anymore.

“Did you hear that?” Ever asked under her breath as she stilled, grabbing his arm.

Chess perked his ears up, listening hard. Everyone stopped moving. For a moment, all Chess could hear was his own breath. Then—

Snap.

They weren’t alone in the forest, but there was nothing to be afraid of in Wonderland for six vampires. Except the Jabberwocky, of course, but it never came this far into Ivory. Chess scowled. He hadn’t thought it would be in Ivory at all until they’d arrived on the outskirts, but the Jabberwocky wouldn’t lurk about, snapping twigs. Perhaps it was one of Rav’s spies. A low, rumbling growl filled the air.

Or a fucking werewolf.

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