Chapter 50 Game Begins

• Eve straightened her shoulders and headed to the adjoining bathroom to splash cold water on her face. Her reflection stared back at her, weary yet defiant. The sharp angles of her cheekbones seemed more pronounced in the dim light, a reminder of how much she had been pushing herself.
• Game night. She scoffed softly at the thought. It was probably another excuse for these people to pry into her business or set her up for something she didn’t see coming. Yulia’s insistence earlier had felt more like an order than an invitation. But Eve was nothing if not adaptable. She’d play along, for now.
• She emerged from her room minutes later, her steps measured and deliberate. The soft hum of voices and occasional laughter grew louder as she descended the grand staircase. The dining hall had been transformed, the long table now cleared and replaced with an assortment of cards, dice, and other glasses of wine.