Page 52 of The Queen
“Queen Eliza, the chessboard is about to shift. You know where to meet if you want to keep your king in play. Lucas”
If I’m correct in my assumption, Lucas is the tall, thin guy who smokes a lot and hangs out with the rough crowd.
I slide out of bed, dress quickly, and tie my hair into a loose braid as I slip out of the room.
The campus is quiet in the early hours before lectures start, and I find Lucas waiting in the courtyard, already puffing away, as he leans against the wall, one foot up and resting on the stone behind him. He’s got that look he always has like he knows something no one else does.
“Eliza,” he greets, his voice low.
“Cut the suspense, Lucas. What’s so urgent?” I ask, leaning against the wall with folded arms.
“Word is there’s someone looking to dethrone you,” he says, eyes darting around as if expecting shadows to leap atus. “They’re not just some wannabe; they’ve got resources, connections.”
“Is that so?” I say, keeping my tone even. Trust comes hard in our world, and Lucas’s sudden emergence as a potential ally is as suspect as it is intriguing. “This isn’t news.”
“Look, I know we’re not exactly confidants,” he continues, “but I think we can help each other out.”
“Help how? By stabbing me in the back when it suits you?” I shoot back, letting a hint of threat colour my words.
“Or by watching each other’s backs. This player’s out for blood, Eliza. Yours and mine.”
“Why yours?” I study him, searching for lies or hesitation, but he stands firm. I have to admit, I’m impressed. But still, caution is my closest friend.
“I’m the guy who knows shit. There’s always a target on my back, and to be quite blunt, it’s fucking me off.”
“And you think I can protect you?”
“Yeah.”
“So why not just ask?”
He ponders that for a minute as if it didn’t even occur to him, but then he grins and drags slowly on the smoke before blowing a stream of it directly above my head.
“Information is my currency, and it’s how I work. You need it; I’ve got it. But I need assurances, too.”
“Assurances,” I repeat.
“Protection. Say the word, and I’m yours to command. Dismiss me, and you might just regret it.”
It’s a bold move, laying his cards on the table like that. It could be a trap, but it also might be my best bet to stay ahead of the game.
“Fine,” I decide, holding his gaze. “But if you cross me, Lucas...”
“You won’t even have to lift a finger,” he interrupts. “Your Kings will have my head before you ask.”
“Good answer,” I reply with a smirk. “We have a deal—for now.”
Lucas nods, and for a fleeting moment, I see something like respect in his eyes. It could be genuine or another layer of deception. Only time will tell.
“Get me what I need, then,” I instruct before turning to leave. “And Lucas? Don’t make me regret this.”
“Direct as always,” he replies with a smile. He pulls out an envelope from his jacket and hands it over. “Everything you need to know about your new adversary.”
I take the envelope, resisting the urge to rip it open right here. Instead, I tuck it inside my own jacket, keeping my eyes locked on his. “And why should I trust this isn’t some elaborate setup?”
“Because we both want the same thing,” Lucas says, his voice low. “To see you keep your throne.”
“Right.” I laugh, but there’s no humour in it. “And what do you get out of this again?”
