Page 111 of House of Crimson Cloak and Silver Teeth

Bait. Definitely bait.

“Not particularly,” I hear myself say.

“Fair enough.” He doesn’t look offended. “But if you change your mind, I’m happy to listen.”

I study the board, trying to find the trap. There’s always a trap with Garrett. Nothing is ever as simple as it appears.

Then I see it. The king wasn’t vulnerable at all. It was perfectly protected by pieces I didn’t notice. My own king is now in checkmate.

“I won,” he says, but he’s not looking at the board. He’s looking at me. “And you let me.”

“I wasn’t letting you. You just outplayed me,” I insist.

“Mmm.” He doesn’t sound convinced and starts resetting the pieces. “You were thinking about your friends or whatever happened tonight.”

Garrett’s right, but I’m not going to admit it. He finishes setting up my side of the board, then starts on his own.

“Another game?” he asks.

“It’s almost dawn.”

“So?”

“Don’t you have Valorian business to attend to?” I remind him.

“Not until noon.” He finishes the arrangement then looks up at me. “Stay. Play with me.”

My time with him is nearly ending. Only three more days. Less than seventy-two hours until this contract expires and I return to being just another Grimsbane taking orders from the guild.

“One more game,” I concede.

“Good.” He makes his opening move then looks at me, his expression serious. “I want to ask you something and I need you to be honest with me.”

I’m always honest with him. As honest as I can be without revealing things that aren’t mine to share.

I nod.

He watches my face closely. “What will you do when the contract ends?”

The question presses down on me. I move a piece, buying time to think.

“I don’t know,” I say finally. “Take another assignment, probably.”

The guild will have work for me. They always do.

He tilts his head, studying me. His voice is patient but firm. “What if you had a different option?”

“Like what?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Staying.” He moves his prophet forward, the piece sliding across the board with a soft scrape. “Permanently. As my official guard.”

My heart leaps at the offer.

Yes, yes, stay. The answer screams in my head. I strangle it before it reaches my mouth. This hope is too dangerous to entertain.

“It’s not possible.”

“Why not?”