The sickened luna’s last chance

Ella & Liam

Ella

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ས དཱི, 60%°

15

The constant beeping of the monitors, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, and the steady stream of nurses entering and leaving my room made the days of the following week blend together into one big blur.

I tried to keep busy as best I could; I read through two of the books Alexander had brought, did crossword puzzles, and watched countless movies. But if it weren’t for my visitors, I might have lost my mind completely.

Lilith was always there first, arriving each morning with fresh clothes and homemade food, refusing to let me eat the hospital food. She would brush my hair, help me wash up, and make sure I was comfortable. Sometimes she would just sit beside me, reading quietly or working on her knitting while I dozed or did my own thing. I was glad for her company.

And then there was Liam. He visited nearly as often as Lilith, usually in the afternoons when he wasn’t busy with the Alpha Council. He would bring news, tell me stories to make me laugh, and sometimes just sit with me watching terrible daytime TV.

It was nice, having people who cared whether I lived or died.

But the biggest surprise was Alexander. True to his word, he came back the next day after our first chess game. And the day after that. And the day after that.

Every evening around seven, he would arrive. No matter how busy his day had been, no matter what Alpha duties required his attention, he’d sit in the chair beside my bed and set up the board.

“Knight to F3,” I said on the fourth night, moving my piece without hesitation and taking his bishop.

Alexander nodded approvingly. “Good move.”

I’d been getting better under his guidance. Not good enough to beat him–I doubted that would ever happen–but good enough to make the games last longer and occasionally surprise him with a clever move.

“You’ve been practicing,” he said a few minutes later as l/captured one of his pawns.

I shrugged. “Lilith’s been playing with me during the day. She’s not as good as you, though.”

Alexander’s lips quirked up at the corners. “Few are.”

I rolled my eyes at his arrogance, but I couldn’t help but smile, too. As much as I hated to admit it, these evening chess games had become the highlight of my days in the hospital. For a few hours, it felt like everything else fell away.

hospital staff, playing the role of devoted husband to bolster his image if he was, he was a damn good actor When we played together, he seemed awfully engaged for someone who didn’t really want to be there, sometimes even laughing at my terrible jokes

what happened in the alley, we didn’t talk about it. Not even once Maybe that was for the best, it was easier to

also had to pretend that it didn’t hurt like hell to think that way. But, just like chess, I found

he said, moving his

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Chapter 52

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ས ཊཱི 60%•

figure a way out. “Hmm, what if I…” I moved my king to safety, only to realize too late that I’d just exposed my bishop.

15

check mate. “You’re getting better, but

Alexander’s sweatshirt more snugly around me. I’d worn it every day

the alley, the scent that had faded on his sweatshirt wouldn’t affect me

you one of

look forward to

blushed, but it was short–lived. Alexander left after that and our little bubble of normalcy popped, just as it did

that I could be discharged soon, maybe even the next day if my tests continued to improve. I hadn’t seen Alexander or Liam at all that day, but I assumed they

ready for bed when Liam arrived, which

his face told

asked, sitting

behind him. “There’s been an incident at the

stuttered in my

to kick them out. Alexander had to go personally to handle it, and one of the scouts

how small I sounded, but I couldn’t help it. A small presence in the back of my mind seemed to roil at the thought of something bad happening

“I don’t know. I haven’t

ago was

“This morning”

my chest Every instinct in my body began to hum, as if my very fibers were pulling me to get out of here and get

in danger. Fighting. Maybe hurt Maybe

the rovers and swung my legs over

are you doing?”

need to go,” I said. “I need to find out what’s

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