Watching was the word that stuck out in Laurent's mind. The Beast might be getting reports from his magic, might be stalking Laurent on his adventures. Watching. He'd said it in regards to the roses, but it was still the wrong word to use for Laurent's suspicions.

Laurent played with a veneer of idle impatience, taking very little time to think about his moves. He had a game in mind that he'd played before. He knew the outcome, he knew the route. It was just a matter of leading the Beast into it and giving him little time to think about what was happening.

Laurent yielded the center of the board, letting the Beast wash through more and more of his pieces, until the advantage seemed overwhelming and Laurent seemed a foolish, reckless player who didn't take the time to think.

Until the trap sprung, because he'd drawn all of Damen's pieces to the wrong side of the board, and Laurent's pawn had a clear path to reach the end, become Queen, and claim the King. It was three moves to checkmate, but it was already inevitable.

"So you were watching me," he says, leaning back in his chair and waiting for the Beast to see it, to analyze the board enough to know that there is no way out.