The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 95

Chapter 95

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.”

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

akin to amusement. I moved my actual knight this time, only to watch Alexander immediately capture it with his

muttered. “I should have seen

left it undefended,” Alexander explained. “Always look at what your opponent could

trying to think three steps ahead like Alexander clearly was. But after a few

rook to his growing collection of captured pieces.

“You’re not that bad.

this 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.

and I looked up at him in surprise. His smile transformed his face, softening the hard lines around his mouth

9/2

Chapter 95

the fluorescent lights, red hair falling into his closed eyes.

that I’d never seen him smile like this before. Not in five years of marriage. Not even during our recent public appearances

smile was real. This laugh was real.

away, and cleared

game, it was well past ten o’clock. The hospital corridor outside

go,” Alexander said, glancing at his watch. “It’s late, and I’ve

wasn’t going to spend the night with me like a normal husband would. Because he wasn’t a normal husband. And

to myself-that I didn’t care. “Right. Thanks for bringing the