I couldn't sleep even after making it back to the castle.
My thoughts were plagued by Thalia — and how thoroughly she'd cornered me.
She played a move I did not see coming.
She blindsided me.
And the worst part was that it was my own fault.
I should've thought of it.
I should've planned for it.
I should've anticipated she wasn't going to play by the rules.
But I didn't.
And now… I was stuck.
For the first time in six months — the first time since awakening the memories of my past life — I couldn't see a path to victory. Not even a narrow, reckless one.
There were no shortcuts I could think of.
No clever deals to propose to anyone.
No sneaky tricks left up my sleeve.
Every scenario I ran in my head ended the same way — with me, checkmated by my twin sister.
This mock war setup was a blatant trap I couldn't talk or fight my way out of.
…But giving up had never been in my nature.
