Damen did not try to stop him, but he followed Laurent's departure with a solemnity that did not carry much hope with it. If Laurent refused to even speak with him, they would be stuck in this impasse forever.

Which is why he sent a note to be delivered with Laurent's lunch, whether he chose to take it outside or in his rooms: The west gardens make a gracious setting for a game of chess and a view of the sunset. It was an invitation, not a demand, although he didn't know if Laurent would see it that way or not.

Either way, Damen slowly paced the gardens late that afternoon, a bistro set arranged beneath a pergola and spread out with a large golden chess set. The west gardens were filled with plants designed to attract butterflies, and several varieties flitted around, their wings catching the slanted rays of the sun.