"One day," she said, her voice lower than usual, "I'll crush you in this game. And when I do, I'll make sure you never forget it."
His lips curved into something resembling a polite smile. "I look forward to the attempt."
How could someone be so damned insufferable and still so compelling? Aurelia inhaled, pressing her lips together. The slight ache in her temples told her she'd been concentrating harder than usual, though she'd never admit it out loud. "Hmph," she mumbled, crossing her arms. The final arrangement of stones mocked her, their black and white patterns reflecting her latest defeat.
