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.”

expression remained neutral, but there was a gleam in his eyes that might have been something akin to amusement. I moved my actual knight this time, only to watch

should have seen

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

ahead like Alexander clearly was. But after a few more moves, Alexander

added my rook to his growing

“You’re not that bad.

mutiny right about now.” I gestured to the scattered pawns. “They’re plotting

the hard lines around his mouth and making him look years younger. Handsome. Kind. He tossed his head back and laughed loudly and

9/2

Chapter 95

eyes. I didn’t know how to

him smile like this before. Not in five years of

real. And it did strange things to

cleared my throat. “Um… Castle

we finished the game, it was well past ten o’clock. The hospital corridor outside had grown

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

night with me like a normal husband would. Because he wasn’t a normal husband.

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