Page 122 of Blood and Thorns

“No,” she said quickly, then hesitated. “I just didn’t expect you to say yes so easily.”

The truth was, I didn’twantto give her freedom. I wanted to keep her close. Locked down. Protected. But I knew that would only push her away, and as any strategist knew, control wasn’t always taken by force.

“Hey, have you seen my notebook?” she asked. “It’s driving me crazy that I can’t find it.”

“You mean the one you’ve been plotting your great escape with?” I replied, teasing her.

Her cheeks blossomed red, but she didn’t deny it. “It’s rude to go through other people’s things.”

“Hmm,” I hummed, releasing her so I could reach for the box from the overpriced patisserie. “I haven’t seen it, butI’ll make sure it’s replaced.” I handed it to her, feeling strangely unsure for once.

“You bought me a cake?” she asked, opening it up to reveal the strawberry and cream slice. “Because I said I liked them when I was sad?” She held the box tighter, as if it might disappear. “Thank you.”

She smiled, and my chest tightened before I cleared my throat.

“You’re welcome.”

Chapter 54

Arabella

I needed a new hobby. Something other than reading because playing chess was not for me.

“Checkmate.” Chip grinned, dramatically flicking over my king.

Groaning, I mourned my chess playing skills. It was like I was getting worse, because Chip had won every single match for the last few days with an ease that was borderline embarrassing. Maybe knitting was my thing? Although I don’t think I’d have the patience to create anything more than a square.

“So, are you finally going to admit you’re my new shadow?” I glanced up to find he’d already reset the pieces and moved his first pawn. I’d agreed to a guard outside, not inside.

He was dressed casually, in a buttoned-up shirt and jeans rather than his typical uniform of a black suit. His gun was on the table beside us, but I pointedly ignored its existence.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed that when Sebastian isn’t here, you are.” I mirrored his move, blocking in his pawn. If it wasn’t Chip, it was Lang, or sometimes the twins.

“Are you saying you don’t enjoy my company?” he asked with a raised brow. “You know Mr Devereaux’s feeling a little overprotective right now.”

“So that means you’re stuck babysitting me?”

He simply shrugged, playing his next move. “There are worse jobs.”

“Wow, I’m feeling a little offended,” I chuckled.

It had been almost a week since what happened atThorn, and while I hadn’t returned to the club, I haven’t been left alone, either. Sebastian was home early every day, choosing to work from the office here when possible. I’d sometimes just watch him concentrate on the paperwork, using the reading pen to read aloud before he used a voice-to-text feature on his phone or computer.

Every time he’d sit with that bloody spider on his shoulder and had more than once tried to convince me to touch it. Which was a big nope.

“How’s your mum?” I asked Chip, still missing her baked goods. “You never speak about her.”

“That’s because she isn’t interesting.” Chip’s attention remained on the board. When I didn’t make a move, he looked up. “She’s fine. Taking some time off to travel, which is something she’s always wanted to do. Now are you going to concentrate on the game?”

“Fine,” I grumbled, not caring about the knight I moved.

“Checkmate.”

I blinked at the pieces, surprised that he won so fast. Yes, I wasn’t paying attention, but seriously, it had been under five minutes. “You’re cheating.”

“No,” Chip said. “But I can read every single expression on your face, so I can predict the move before you make them.” He watched me with flat, dark eyes. Much colder than when he’d first came in this morning. “Chess isn’t justabout strategy; it’s about playing the player just as much as the game.”

“So, you’re playing me?” I surmised.