Page 55 of Midnight Star

“Wow.” I sit back, bringing my hair over my shoulder.I’ve been wearing it down since the braid incident with the king, and it’s starting to get on my nerves. “That was impressive.”

Katerina doesn’t react to the compliment. Instead, she looks around the courtyard, her gaze sharp as it sweeps over the nearby tables.

Once she’s certain no one’s watching, she reaches into the pocket of her dress, pulls out a folded piece of paper, and slips it across the chessboard as she moves to clean up the pieces.

My heart pounds as I take it, careful to also make it look like I’m moving the pieces back into place.

Her eyes meet mine for a fleeting moment. Then, without warning, she stands and walks away.

I glance around, making sure no one’s paying attention, and unfold the note under the table.

The handwriting inside is neat but hurried.

Going back to my suite. Come see me in twenty minutes. Bring no one.

Zoey

I watchKaterina disappear into the palace, my mind racing as I shove the paper into my pocket.

Twenty minutes.

Twenty minutes until I have a chance to find out why someone who hasn’t spoken in over a year reached out to me.

In the meantime, I put each piece back into its place, examining them as I do. They’re all so different—some crude, some smooth—and yet, they still fit together to play the same game.

I’m putting the final pawn into place when Henry materializes beside the table.

“Making new friends?” His eyes flick to where Katerina disappeared, then back to me.

“Hardly. We were just playing chess,” I say as he sits uninvited into Katerina’s chair.

“Were you?” His gaze burns into me. “Because Katerina doesn’t ‘just’ do anything. Not anymore.”

Despite every bone in my body telling me to get up and keep my distance from Henry, I can’t help being curious.

And, from his arrogant smirk, I have a feeling he knows it.

“What are you talking about?” I finally give in.

His smirk widens, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

“Katerina doesn’t do anything for no reason,” he says, serious now. “She’s dangerous. You’d be wise to stay away from her.”

“Dangerous?” I scoff. “She doesn’t even speak.”

“And have you ever wondered why?” He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Why someone would choose total silence? What kind of awful things they might be trying to hide?”

“Like what?” The words are out before I can stop them.

“Let’s just say she’s earned her silence,” he says. “Stay. Away.”

I narrow my eyes at him, not buying it. “So, you’re telling me to avoid her because you’re concerned for my safety?”

“Exactly.” He tilts his head, and for a fleeting moment, he almost looks amused. “Katerina’s mine tomanage. And if you interfere, well—” His hand darts under the table faster than a viper, grabbing my wrist in a vice-like grip that makes me gasp in pain.

“Let go,” I warn, but when I try to pull back, his grip tightens.

Hopefully learning how to swim will simultaneously improve my upper body strength.

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