“You’re my king?” I check.
He jerks his head. “That’s right. Now it’s your job to protect me.”
The Red Queen moves another pawn, and Nash leans forward to study the board.
Eugene and Hamish decide to scurry their feathery asses onto the checkered squares. I rub my forehead as they are swept onto two squares, one in from the edge.
“And now they are your knights,” Malachi grumbles.
Hamish plonks her ass down and lays an egg. Charming runs forward like he can’t help himself, and the Red Queen chuckles low as he gets sucked inside a tower on the outer edge.
“You idiot,” Gwyneth mutters before she gets dragged into the matching castle on the other side of the board.
Theo and Hart glance at each other before stepping onto the board and are dragged into the squares next to the capons. A giant hat appears on their heads, and a long staff materializes in their hands. A long robe settles over their tall frames, and I have to stifle the chuckle at them wearing dresses.
“Bishops,” Nash informs me.
Hamish pecks Hart’s hat. I agree; it’s a ridiculous look for them.
Malachi takes a step back to ensure he doesn’t get dragged onto the board. The rabbit gets closer and points out something in the book. Malachi nods.
The genie poofs into the air above the board and emits a low whistle. “Okay, no cheating, play fair, no dirty tricks,” he says as he glowers in the Red Queen’s direction.
I’m a little concerned that he is taking this in his stride. Maybe in his world, people play violent chess all the time.
The Red Queen tilts her head at him. “You are most interesting.”
The cat’s violet eyes hover back and forth along the Red Queen’s edge of the board. Friend or foe? Give us a clue.
The genie puffs out his chest at being called interesting. Then his gaze lands on Eugene and Hamish in horror. “Who thought it smart to add the capons to a strategy game?”
“They did,” Theo grumbles as he tries to pull the huge poofy hat off of his head. He coughs, and a plume of smoke puffs from his lips. The Red Queen narrows her gaze on my dragon.Hands off, lady. He’s mine.
We each move more pawns—mine under Nash’s direction—and I can see the wheels turning in his head as he studies every move the Red Queen makes.
My heart thrums in my chest as the pieces weave around one another. Nash’s hand lands on mine. “Trust me,” he whispers before directing me to move a pawn.
The Red Queen’s eyes light up, and she moves her bishop into its path. The bishop’s robes billow behind him as he lifts his staff and rumbles some strange-sounding words before slicing his weapon down and cutting the pawn into two perfect halves, which go skittering off the edges of the board.
I grimace as I glance at Nash. He said to trust him.
The genie gasps. “And the Red Queen strikes the first blow. What will our heroine do in retaliation? Who will she save, and who will she sacrifice?”
“Wait,” Malachi says, gesturing toward the rabbit and his book. “If you win, all your pieces get restored. It doesn’t matter who is sacrificed, as they will be brought back.”
Too risky.
Nash narrows his eyes as he strategizes, his hand tightening around mine. I’m not going to like his next move. His throat bobs as he decides, which I repeat to the Red Queen.
Gwyneth’s rook moves, and she lifts into the air before smashing down onto a red pawn. The rubble scatters on the board, and Sir Sweeps-A-Lot darts forward to clean up. I pinch the bridge of my nose. Nope, not helping this time.
“What’s happening?” Eron asks from his mirror tucked safely in my pocket. I pull him free and show him the board.
“I hate this game, but you hardly have time for playing,” he grumbles.
I turn him back to me and watch in horror as the Red Queen moves her knight. Twin swords emerge from him, and he slices them in an arc, removing the head of a pawn. My broom jerks back like he can’t believe what happened.
“We aren’t playing voluntarily,” I mutter to Eron.
