Page 54 of Chess

The prince looked pitiful, so helpless, nothing like his cocky self. “What now?” Ever asked, breaking the tense silence.

“Rouse him with your viola.” Rav clapped his hands and Anna grabbed a brand-new viola from inside the gazebo, its wood-stained cherry red. Too beautiful. Too perfect. Too new. All it did was remind her of how Rav had broken her old one. Not meaning to, her expression slipped. Anna caught it before Ever masked it, but the vampire didn’t say a word, only handed her the viola and bow.

“The prince has been enjoying ‘Waltz Of The Flowers,’ so let’s give him what he wants.” Rav grinned, his teeth bared wickedly in delight.

Focus, Ever. A little longer. But for how long? She didn’t know what the hell would come after this. Her fingers trembled, yet she did what she knew how to do—she played, letting the notes flow from the strings, low and gentle, growing bolder, stronger, filling her heart, her blood, her soul. With everything in her, she tried to play it differently, so it wouldn’t remind Chess of what he’d experienced while hearing it.

She didn’t know how many times she’d played the song before Chess’s eyes peeled open, his gaze meeting hers, no one else’s. A smile tugged at his lips, then it fell away as he must’ve remembered where he was and everything that had happened to him. She didn’t know all Rav had done…

The prince lifted his arms and they fell back into place. Even through his weakness, his usual smirk made an appearance. “What’s wrong? Not ready to say goodbye to me yet?”

“You deserved everything you’ve gotten, you piece of shit,” Rav spat, taking a leather holster of daggers from one of the guards and stepping beside Ever. “I was going to have my sister start with cutting off your legs, but I’m growing bored of your voice so we’ll have her carve out your vocal cords instead.” He paused. “Perhaps this first though.”

A dagger tore toward Chess, whistling with the wind, before striking straight through his left thigh. The prince sucked in a sharp breath, then released a grunt as another pierced his right leg. Blood bloomed to the surface as two more cut through the air, each landing in one of his arms.

“Fuck you!” Chess snarled, his eyes igniting a fire of their own.

“Is that any way to talk to your king?” Rav taunted. “Your father loved you, you know. But he was naïve as fuck and believed your mother loved him. She was only ever with him because she conceived his child before marriage.”

Chess didn’t take the bait, only drew up his lips in a small smile.

Rav halted before throwing another blade. “I suppose I won’t throw a dagger at your cock, but if you give me another one of your pathetic smirks, I’ll rip it right off, Prince.”

Ever had to think fast and think now. If she tried to kill her brother at that precise moment, the vampires would end her life before she could set Chess free.

“Now, forget the vocal cords, cut out the bastard’s heart, Ever.” Rav handed her the same dagger from his boot that she’d used on the prince earlier. “Once that’s done, we’ll drain his blood so I can use it in my lab.”

Ever wanted to dig her nails into her brother, rip off his flesh piece by piece and usethatfor an experiment. Her lungs were thirsty for more air—she felt as if she couldn’t breathe, but she kept it as steady as she could and nodded. She set down the viola, then padded toward Chess, avoiding his brilliant eyes so she could think, calculate.

Taking a breath, she stopped in front of him, finally peering up at his eyes. He watched her, several emotions burning there. Disbelief. Hate. Melancholy. But something else, something bright, strong, something like … love.

Trust me, she mouthed and stabbed him in the chest, the soft squish echoing. She slowly carved in a circular motion, tears filling her eyes while he groaned. A horrid thought washed over her because the next step was ripping out the heart. This was going farther than she could’ve ever imagined and time had run out—she couldn’t think of a way to save him. Even though Wonderland depended on her, even though the vampires of Ivory and Scarlet did too, she wouldn’t push herself to do the next step of this. Maddie, Mouse, Noah, and Ferris could continue what she’d started. If something happened to her, they could finish Rav.

Perhaps she was a coward.

Perhaps there were better vampires who could’ve been queen.

But she was who she was and that was what she’d come to accept.

Whirling around, Ever hurled the dagger, and just as it was about to penetrate her brother’s heart, the vampire with dreadlocks jumped in front of him, blocking the blow.

That was her one chance, and she knew it had been a long shot. Ever lunged forward, fangs bared, but her brother was stronger, faster, knocking her to the ground on her back. A groan escaped her as pain radiated up her spine from the impact.

“You weren’t supposed to do that, sister,” Rav growled. “Perhaps you’re just as obsessed with the traitorous prince as he is with you.”

“No!” Chess croaked. “Don’t hurt her!”

Rav slammed his hands on the sides of Ever’s head, a pain shooting through her from his crushing. Then when her neck started to crack, a sharp cry ripping from her throat as she writhed, his body slumped on top of hers. Her brother’s hands fell from her, and the world spun, but she didn’t hesitate to shove the bastard’s body off her. Ever pushed to her feet, ignoring the spasms in her neck as she stumbled, her wild gaze connecting with Anna’s. The vampire’s hand cradled Rav’s bloody heart, a neutral expression on her face.

A slender female guard lunged forward, tearing Anna’s throat out with her fangs, blood spraying across the already red roses. She tossed Anna’s body to the ground, then spun to face the White Queen. But it was too late, Ever had the vampire’s head between her hands, kicking her foot against the female’s chest, and ripped it from the shoulders.

“Don’t you dare touch the White Queen!” Chess spat to the rest of the vampires who stood there, watching, his eyes wide while Ever waited to see who she would need to murder next. “I’m your true king and I swear on all of Wonderland that youwillobey me.”

“Why would we obey someone who killed our queen?” a dark-haired male shouted.

“Bloody hell! For the last time, I didn’t kill my fucking mother. The vampire who did it is dead and I didn’t give her a pretty death either. Rav was a delusional piece of shit who lied to you. Things need to change around here and the White Queen and I will be part of that change,” he panted. “Well, once she gets me down anyway.” With how badly he needed to feed, Ever was surprised he’d been able to get all those words out and not faint.

The guards stood there, silent, questions swirling in their gazes, but they didn’t make a move toward them.

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