The sickened luna’s last chance

The bitterness I’d been trying to swallow rose up again. Did anything Alexander did come from a genuir calculated for maximum political benefit? Was what happened in the alley just for show, too, in case s

“Well, then,” I said stiffly. “By all means, make yourself comfortable.”

lace? Or was it all

one saw?

Alexander nodded and sat in the chair Lilith had occupied earlier. Then, to my surprise, he reached into the bag he’d brought and pulled out a small wooden chess set.

“I thought we could play,” he said, setting up the board on the rolling table beside my bed. “It helps pass the time.”

I stared at the chessboard. In five years of marriage, Alexander and I had never once played a game together. Never spent an evening doing something as simple and normal as chess.

“I don’t really know how to play,” I admitted. “I mean, I know the basics, but I’m not very good.”

Alexander shrugged. “That’s fine. I can teach you.”

For a moment, I considered refusing just to spite him. But the thought of sitting in silence while he watched me seemed even more awkward than fumbling through a chess game.

“Alright,” I sighed. “But go a little easy on me.”

Alexander nodded and began setting up the pieces, explaining each one’s movement as he placed them on the board.

“White goes first,” he said, gesturing to my side of the board. “Your move.”

hesitated, then moved a pawn forward two spaces. Alexander nodded approvingly and moved one of his own pawns.

The game progressed slowly, with me making cautious moves and Alexander responding with quick, strategic ones. It was clear he’d played this game many times before, while I was just guessing at the best course of action.

“Knight to E5,” I said after a few minutes, moving my piece.

Alexander’s lips twitched. “You just moved your bishop, not your knight.”

I looked down at the piece I’d just moved, then back at Alexander. “Wait, which one is the knight again?”

“The horse,” he said, pointing to the piece shaped like a horse’s head.

“Right” felt my cheeks heat. “I knew that.”

Alexander’s expression remained neutral, but there was a gleam in his eyes that might have been something akin to amusement. 1 moved my actual knight this time, only to watch Alexander immediately capture it with his bishop.

“I should have seen

“Always look at what your opponent could do

ahead like Alexander clearly was. But after a few more moves, Alexander had captured half my pieces

added my rook to his growing collection of captured pieces. “I’m

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10:33 Fri, 22 Aug

Chapter 51

Alexander did come from a genuine place? Or was it all calculated for maximum political benefit?

said stiffly. “By all means,

60%

in the chair Lilith had occupied earlier. Then, to my surprise, he reached

on the

at the chessboard. In five years of marriage, Alexander and I had never once

admitted. “I mean, I know the

fine. I can teach

spite him. But the thought of sitting in silence while he watched

go

nodded and began setting up the pieces, explaining each one’s

to my

then moved a pawn forward two spaces. Alexander nodded approvingly and moved one of his

and Alexander responding with quick, strategic ones. It was clear he’d played this game many times before, while I was just

E5,” I said after a few

twitched. “You just moved your

I’d just moved, then back at Alexander. “Wait, which one is the knight

to the piece shaped like

cheeks heat, “I

akin to amusement. I moved my actual knight

“I should have seen that

left it undefended,” Alexander explained “Always look at what

the board, trying to think three steps ahead like Alexander clearly was. But after a few more

rook to its growing collection of

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16:33 Fri, 22 Aug

Chapter 51

“You’re not that bad.

were a real battle, my army would be considering mutiny right about now.” I gestured to the scattered pawns. “They’re plotting their escape as we speak. Probably making