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Rook Neculai was standing on the opposite corner, watching me with undisguised interest.
His gaze traveled lazily from me to the avenue behind me where Nyro must still be walking, headed for the park.
After a moment, the Rook crossed the street, and all I could do was stand there frozen, my back pressed against the wall, waiting as he prowled in my direction.
When he stepped onto the sidewalk, he halted a couple of steps away from me and regarded me with a satisfied smile.
“Is this what you do on your free days, my dear Bianca?” Rook Neculai asked. His once-green eyes were speckled with the color of mud and yet they seemed to sparkle with delight. “Spy on handsome Blackies?”
I did my best to appear confused, but I wasn’t sure if I was doing a good job. My nerves were getting the best of me. I had needed proof that trying to meet Nyro was a mistake and here it was.
Stupid stupid stupid.
Rook Neculai’s big nose was greasy and shone unpleasantly. I stared at it, unable to look him in the eye as I lied. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He chuckled. “Young lady,” he said as if he were a teacher imparting a lecture, “I have been alive for almost eighty years. You can’t fool me.” He smiled condescendingly, almost sweetly.
Eighty years! He only appeared to be in his late forties, but he’d been a Rook for over thirty. One good taste of the Queen’s blood and he was able to appear half his age.
“He’s just... someone I know,” I said. “From before. I didn’t realize he had joined the Black Court. I was shocked to see him. That is all.”
The Rook examined my face for a moment as if he could read every nuance in my expression to determine whether or not I was telling the truth.
“Nyro Stonehelm was a mere commoner and a thief only four months ago,” Neculai said. His voice—which until now I had thought of as foolish—switched to something calculating and cold. “How is it possible that a well-to-do lady such as yourself was acquainted with a scoundrel?”
I sucked in a breath, giving away my surprise. How did he know all of that?
“Oh, Bianca, I make it my job to know everything that goes on in Acedrex.” He took a step closer, making me wish I could melt into the wall. “Getting involved with a Blackie is a terrible idea.” He pronounced the last two words in a sing-song tone that was meant to sound like a caring warning. Instead, it was a threat that made me want to vomit.
This was the man I needed to face next in my next challenge, and he had me standing against the wall, trembling like a coward. He was nothing like what I had imagined. He was dangerous, not foolish.
“You are mistaken,” I managed, trying to gather my courage. “I’m not involved or getting involved with anyone.”
“Oh, dear girl,” he said, shaking his head, “if you want to survive in our court, you’ll need to learn how to lie better than that.” He sighed, regarding me sadly. “Look, you’re terribly young. You have so much to learn, but I like you, and I’m willing to help you. Rook Daciana is a worthy contender, but I believe you can easily take her place. I would love to have you as my... partner.” He smiled crookedly as he leaned in closer to whisper that last word in an insinuating tone.
“I can tell you’re ambitious,” he continued. “You want to get far... you even aspire to be Queen, I reckon. It can’t be easy being a mere Pawn after the life you used to lead. You want to reclaim what you feel is rightfully yours. Am I right? A life of privilege and wealth. But no one makes it that far without allies. We can help each other. You can help me become a Bishop, and I would do my best to ensure you become Queen. What do you say?” he lifted a hand and ran the back of his fingers down my cheek.
I recoiled, my stomach twisting with disgust at his touch, and slapped his hand away. Pushing past him, I turned the corner and hurried away from the pastry shop and toward Alfil Park. I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to get away from the filthy creature, wanted to wash away the repulsive sensation of his touch.
A large carriage was headed in my direction, crossing right in front of the park. It was fronted by four large horses, their hooves clopping loudly against the cobblestone street as they sped forward. The carriage was stately, painted blue and decorated with golden accents. A man in a dark suit occupied the box seat. He held the reins in one hand while, with the other, he kept his top hat in place. Whatever noble rode inside seemed in a hurry to get somewhere.
Rook Neculai caught up to me, grabbed my hand, and slipped it under his arm as if I were a lady he was escorting somewhere.
“You should take some time to think about my proposal,” he said, smiling right and left at the passersby. “Don’t be hasty.”
I whirled, extricating my hand and facing him. “I want nothing to do with you,” I said, my temper getting the best of me. “Stay away from me or I’ll complain to Knight Kelsus about your inappropriate behavior.”
He laughed, throwing his head back. “Knight Kelsus will soon have to face me. I’ve been getting ready for that for a long time, and he doesn’t stand chance. And what will you do after I’ve become your Quadrant leader?”
“No.” I shook my head like a child who finds her favorite toy is broken.
Knight Kelsus was the only decent Board member of high rank in the White Court, and Neculai was planning to challenge him after thirty-two years as a Rook. I’d thought he was content with his post, but apparently, he wanted more.
“Oh, yes,” Neculai said. “Kelsus will soon fall. He suspects nothing, but the trap is neatly laid out already.”
“No,” I repeated again, a thousand emotions whirling inside of me.
An unsolvable puzzle unfurled inside my mind... Rook Neculai’s dishonorable proposition to become my ally. His trap for an unsuspecting Knight Kelsus. The fact that one of the Queen’s Trove-sniffing hounds had developed an interest in me. Nyro waiting for me a short distance away.
It was all too much.
The clomping of the horses boomed in my ears. The scent from the pastry shop impregnated my nostrils, filling my senses with all that cloying sweetness. The gawking passersby swirling around us, the ladies looking appalled at the way the Rook was leaning into me, trying to push me against the wall once more.
“NO!”
I pushed him, pressed my hands to his chest and shoved him as hard as I could. He wasn’t expecting it, not after I’d been cowering, letting him intimidate me like a wolf intimidates a rabbit.
Rook Neculai staggered backward, his eyes widening as he tripped on the edge of the sidewalk and stumbled onto the street right in front of the speeding carriage.
The animals reared and screamed as they crashed into the White Rook, trampling him under their heavy legs. The driver pulled on the reins, but the carriage continued forward, its momentum too great to be stopped.
The big wooden wheels rolled over Rook Neculai, crushing his legs, his chest, his skull with a sickening crunch of bones.
I stood paralyzed, watching it all happen as if time were running through a curtain of thick honey.
The horses making terrible sounds of horror. Their legs breaking as they lost control of themselves. The carriage barreling through, then tipping on its side and crashing, splintering, cracking. The driver rolling on the ground. The passengers screaming as their gold plated carriage tumbled.
And worse, bright red blood seeping into Neculai’s white uniform, a red stain growing and growing.
He was dead. Dead.
I had killed him.