Page 44 of Chess

“You’re welcome,” Maddie sang. Then she tossed down the sword and approached Ever. “Are you okay?”

Ever’s hands shook where she held the sword. “Is Noah still following the one who escaped?” she asked, ignoring the question.

“Yes, he’ll catch him,” Maddie assured her and motioned to March. “Do you want me to…”

“No.” Ever drew in a shaky breath. “It’s my duty to deal with traitors.”

She was going to kill March. He deserved it, in Chess’s opinion, but that would leave a mark on Ever. Killing friends always did. Not that Chess personally knew as he lived his life without getting close to anyone, but he’d seen it happen to those around him for centuries. Though she was killing him for betraying her, she could regret it later.

“Ever,” he rasped. “Don’t.”

March’s head snapped up to glare at him and Ever released a shocked laugh. “What?” she asked.

“Lock him up and think about this before you kill him,” Chess urged. “He won’t be any less dead if you wait a day or two. Besides, what if Noah doesn’t catch up to the escapee? You should learn about everyone willing to betray you.”

“I know my decision,” Ever said. “Maddie, Ferris, can you please put March in the dungeon and I’ll meet him there soon.”

“Of course.” Maddie took the sword from Ever and kept it pointed at March. Ferris walked around Chess and hoisted the male from his knees, leading him from the room.

Ever turned to loom over Chess, her hand gripping her hair. “Let me get you some blood before I have to deal with this. Wait here.”

“This time, Queenie, I don’t think I have any choice but to listen.”

Ever shook her head and left him on the ground with only Mouse, who hovered near the entrance with the blue and yellow caterpillar in her hand.

“You all right over there?” Chess asked her. She had always been overly quiet when he visited, but it was no less worrisome outside of the dungeons.

Mouse met his gaze and something feral swirled in her eyes. “Hungry,” was all she whispered.

Chapter Twenty

Ever

The metal scent of the prince’s blood permeated the air, but his wounds were slowly healing. He needed to drink to speed up the process, though. Ever handed Chess a basket holding a bundle of dried blood pouches and a couple of canteens. She then set the large jug of water beside him. He picked out a pouch and passed it to Mouse, who appeared hungrier than the prince did as she gnawed at her lip with her fangs. Ever studied the female for a long moment, but as her friend drank, a ravenous expression remained on her face. She wasn’t certain how often Mouse fed when trapped in the Ruby Heart Palace, but it was clear that her friend would need a mortal to feed from soon.

In the distance, a blond head caught her attention. Noah. He picked up his pace and was beside Ever in only a few seconds.

“It’s done,” he said, chest heaving, his clothing covered in bright crimson. “I killed the last attacker and hid the body.”

Ever didn’t know Noah well, but she already liked him, as long as he treated Maddie like a queen. “Stay with them. I’m going to settle things with March.”

Wiping her hands against her skirt, she headed inside the palace. She looped around the back, walking through hallway after hallway until she reached the ornate oval door leading to the dungeons. Her steps echoed down the stairs, the narrow walls seeming to close in on her before she came to the circular room filled with ivory cells. Above each one rested king and queen chess pieces that had represented the past royals before her. Ever had never removed them because she’d wanted parts of her caregivers to remain throughout the castle in their memory.

Maddie and Ferris stood near the back of the room, anger written across both their faces, her lips pursed and his set in a snarl. Ferris hadn’t known March well, but Maddie had.

The cells here had never been filled like the ones in Scarlet—Ever’s enemies were killed immediately and she didn’t place humans in them either.

“Noah’s back,” Ever said, then glanced at Ferris. “I think you need to find Mouse a human to feed on. Sooner rather than later.”

He bit his lip while nodding and slipped past her. Ever could see in Maddie’s face that she agreed by the way her expression fell.

The Hatter handed Ever the bone key that usually hung on the wall. “I’ll wait outside the door.” She placed her palms on the queen’s shoulders. “Be careful. I’m on your side, no matter your decision.” Maddie was a good friend, ever since the day the Hatter had stumbled into Ivory, lost and broken, not knowing who Ever truly was.

“Thank you.” Ever watched as Maddie shut the door, then turned to face March, who stood in the corner of the cell, his mouth set in a tight line. The only item in each cell was a dusty silver mattress on the floor.

Ever didn’t say a word as she unlocked the door to his cell. She shut it behind her, this time prepared if he attempted anything deceitful.

March was the first to break the tense silence as his warm gaze latched onto her. “After everything that bastard did, we can’t trust him.”

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