Page 40 of Chess

March’s stare flicked to Chess, who’d been lingering behind them, and he scowled. “You’re supposed to be in your room.”

Chess smirked, slinking past the two males and stepping next to Ever. “I had a few things to take care of.”

March shook his head. “You’re a nuisance.”

“I’m still royalty,” Chess purred, picking at invisible lint on his tattered shirt.

“He did protect Ever from a werewolf,” Mouse whispered, her caterpillar crawling up her arm.

March quirked a brow at her. “Did everyone forget he tried tomurderher? He’s one of the reasons you ended up in your cell, Mouse.”

Ferris drew in a sharp breath and shifted protectively beside her. “That was Rav and Imogen’s doing. Chess never touched her or he’d be dead,” he said, his jaw clenched.

“If we’re playing a game of forgiveness,” Chess cooed. “I forgive Noah and Maddie for choking me until I passed out, then leaving me tied to a tree. Where I could’vestarved.” He glanced at the duo with a wide grin.

“You tied us together first,” Noah grumbled, balling his fists at his sides as though he wanted to punch the prince in the face.

“Unimportant detail.” Chess shrugged. “As delightful as this day has been, I’ll retire to my quarters. The one attached to thequeen’sbedroom.” He winked at Ever. “See you soon, Queenie.”

Ever pursed her lips, knowing he was trying to rile everyone up as he turned around and sauntered up the stairs without glancing back.Cocky bastard. Yet she couldn’t help but watch how his arse flexed in his tight trousers.

“You can’t be serious.” Maddie’s voice rose an octave. “Sleeping inyourroom?”

“It’s notmyroom. It’s the adjacent room.” Ever paused. “To keep an eye on him.”

“Mm-hmm. We heard everything at the safe house during your conversation with him,” she pointed out.

Before more questions ensued, Ever straightened, becoming the queen she needed to be. “March, will you discuss with Ferris and Noah everything that’s been going on while I take Maddie and Mouse to their old rooms? Then you can assign shifts to guard the palace until we can locate trustworthy vampires who hate my brother.”

March nodded, gesturing for Noah and Ferris to follow him while Ever led Maddie and Mouse up the stairs. Mouse remained quiet, her face expressionless, her eyes haunted, as though her mind were somewhere else, fighting something dark. Ever’s heart sank at seeing her friend this hollow.

Mouse had always been quiet though, seeming as if she would never hurt a single thing, but that had never stopped her from taking lives when needed. If a problem arose, Ever knew, underneath it all, Mouse could easily become vicious. Helping guard the palace wouldn’t be an issue for her, yet Mouse also didn’t seem like she was in the right headspace, which was why Ever brought her and Maddie up together, as not to single the younger sister out.

At the top of the stairs, they turned down a hall opposite from Ever’s. White and silver tile still covered the floor, only now, booted footprints marred the marble. The palace needed a thorough cleaning at some point.

No longer did Maddie’s white and silver hats decorate the wall—instead, only nails poked out where they had once been.

They came to a halt in front of the sisters’ old rooms that were across from one another, the obsidian handles covered in dust.

Ever broke the silence. “Are you two up for guarding tomorrow? I wouldn’t ask this of either of you after all you’ve been through lately, but we’re short on staff, as you can tell.”

“What’s tearing off a few more heads if I need to?” Maddie shrugged, studying the area from floor to ceiling.

“I’m fine,” Mouse said softly, sounding anything but fine. “I’ll do whatever you need me to.”

“For now, rest.” Ever placed a hand on her small shoulder. “I need to talk to Maddie about a few things.”

Mouse nodded with a yawn and opened the door to her room, leaving it cracked.

Maddie smiled while sighing. Mouse had been sleeping with the door wide open, but maybe this was a step in the right direction, that she was feeling more at home, could start to heal.

Ever followed Maddie into her friend’s mostly-empty room. The Hatter’s bed was there, still covered in black and purple blankets, and the ornate obsidian wardrobe hugged a corner. Beside it rested her desk and chair where she’d created hats, but all her belongings were gone. Not even a needle lingered.

“Of course nothing I need is here,” Maddie huffed. “Those fuckers probably sold my creations across Wonderland to make a few coins. When Mouse and I were taken to the cottage, Rav and Imogen barely let us gather anything before I had to slave away at making the queen a hat every damn month.”

Ever took a deep swallow at those words, guilt washing over her. She couldn’t change the past, but she could alter the future. “Eventually, you can return to the cottage and collect what you would like. All your hats.” Not until her brother was dead though.

“Although I do love a good discussion about hats, this is not the conversation we need to have.” Maddie cocked her head and dropped on her mattress, patting the spot beside her. “Now, what is going on with you and Chess exactly? Please deny there has been heavy petting of any kind.”

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