The Bishop: A Tanglewood Novella Read online

  The Bishop

  A Tanglewood Novella

  By Skye Warren

  The Bishop

  A Tanglewood Novella

  By Skye Warren

  1001 Dark Nights

  Copyright 2020 Skye Warren

  ISBN: 978-1-970077-62-9

  Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose

  Published by 1001 Dark Nights Press, an imprint of Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Book Description

  The Bishop

  A Tanglewood Novella

  By Skye Warren

  From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Skye Warren comes the next installment in her Tanglewood series.

  A million dollar chess piece goes missing hours before the auction.

  Anders Sorenson will do anything to get it back. His family name and fortune rests on finding two inches of medieval ivory. Instead he finds an injured woman with terrible secrets.

  He isn’t letting her go until she helps him find the piece. But there’s more at stake in this strategic game of lust and danger. When she confesses everything, he might lose more than his future. He might lose his heart.

  **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

  About Skye Warren

  Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance. Her books have sold over one million copies. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.

  For more information, visit https://www.skyewarren.com.

  Also From Skye Warren

  Click to purchase

  Endgame trilogy

  The Pawn

  The Knight

  The Castle

  Masterpiece duet

  The King

  The Queen

  Trust Fund duet

  Survival of the Richest

  The Evolution of Man

  North Security trilogy

  Overture

  Concerto

  Sonata

  A Modern Fairy Tale duet

  Beauty and the Professor

  Falling for the Beast

  STANDALONES

  Audition

  Escort

  Anti Hero

  For a complete listing of Skye Warren books, visit

  www.skyewarren.com/books

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  Thank you so much to Liz, Jillian, and M.J. for inviting me to join the 1,001 family of authors. It feels warm and cozy here.

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights

  Click here to explore

  COLLECTION ONE

  FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black

  CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham

  CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom

  DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake

  AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione

  NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones

  SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair

  ROPED IN by Lorelei James

  TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner

  COLLECTION TWO

  WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan

  WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham

  EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby

  MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair

  CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner

  ADORED by Lexi Blake

  HADES by Larissa Ione

  RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton

  DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James

  RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  DRAGON KING by Donna Grant

  PURE WICKED by Shayla Black

  HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye

  STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham

  KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster

  TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti

  THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION THREE

  HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham

  SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst

  DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice

  ROUGH RHYTHM by Tessa Bailey

  DEVOTED by Lexi Blake

  Z by Larissa Ione

  FALLING UNDER YOU by Laurelin Paige

  EASY FOR KEEPS by Kristen Proby

  UNCHAINED by Elisabeth Naughton

  HARD TO SERVE by Laura Kaye

  DRAGON FEVER by Donna Grant

  KAYDEN/SIMON by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  STRUNG UP by Lorelei James

  MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian

  TRICKED by Rebecca Zanetti

  DIRTY WICKED by Shayla Black

  THE ONLY ONE by Lauren Blakely

  SWEET SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION FOUR

  ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley

  ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg

  SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde

  RAZR by Larissa Ione

  ARRANGED by Lexi Blake

  TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti

  HOLD ME by J. Kenner

  SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst

  TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey

  HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton

  EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye

  BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant

  TRIPPED OUT by Lorelei James

  STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely

  MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian

  HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham

  DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige

  THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan

  NIGHT GAMES by CD Reiss

  NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby

  DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION FIVE

  BLAZE ERUPTING by Rebecca Zanetti

  ROUGH RIDE by Kristen Ashley

  HAWKYN by Larissa Ione

  RIDE DIRTY by Laura Kaye

  ROME’S CHANCE by Joanna Wylde

  THE MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT by Jennifer Probst

  SURRENDER by Elisabeth Naughton

  INKED NIGHTS by Carrie Ann Ryan

  ENVY by Rachel Van Dyken

  PROTECTED by Lexi Blake

  THE PRINCE by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  PLEASE ME by J. Kenner

  WOUND TIGHT by Lorelei James

  STRONG by Kylie Scott

  DRAGON NIGHT by Donna Grant

  TEMPTING BROOKE by Kristen Proby

  HAUNTED BE THE HOLIDAYS by Heather Graham

  CONTROL by K. Bromberg

  HUNKY HEARTBREAKER by Kendall Ryan

  THE DARKEST CAPTIVE by Gena Showalter

  COLLECTION SIX

  DRAGON CLAIMED by Donna Grant

  ASHES TO INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  ENSNARED by Elisabeth Naughton
/>   EVERMORE by Corinne Michaels

  VENGEANCE by Rebecca Zanetti

  ELI’S TRIUMPH by Joanna Wylde

  CIPHER by Larissa Ione

  RESCUING MACIE by Susan Stoker

  ENCHANTED by Lexi Blake

  TAKE THE BRIDE by Carly Phillips

  INDULGE ME by J. Kenner

  THE KING by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  QUIET MAN by Kristen Ashley

  ABANDON by Rachel Van Dyken

  THE OPEN DOOR by Laurelin Paige

  CLOSER by Kylie Scott

  SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS by Jennifer Probst

  BLOOD NIGHT by Heather Graham

  TWIST OF FATE by Jill Shalvis

  MORE THAN PLEASURE YOU by Shayla Black

  WONDER WITH ME by Kristen Proby

  THE DARKEST ASSASSIN by Gena Showalter

  Discover Blue Box Press

  TAME ME by J. Kenner

  TEMPT ME by J. Kenner

  DAMIEN by J. Kenner

  TEASE ME by J. Kenner

  REAPER by Larissa Ione

  THE SURRENDER GATE by Christopher Rice

  SERVICING THE TARGET by Cherise Sinclair

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  As a bonus, all subscribers can download FIVE FREE exclusive books!

  Table of Contents

  Book Description

  About Skye Warren

  Also from Skye Warren

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights

  Foreword

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Seven

  An excerpt from The Pawn by Skye Warren

  Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights

  Special Thanks

  One Thousand and One Dark Nights

  Once upon a time, in the future…

  I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.

  I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and

  the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast

  library at my father’s home and collected thousands

  of volumes of fantastic tales.

  I learned all about ancient races and bygone

  times. About myths and legends and dreams of all

  people through the millennium. And the more I read

  the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered

  that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually

  become part of them.

  I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher

  and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I

  would not be telling you this tale now.

  But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off

  with bravery.

  One afternoon, curious about the myth of the

  Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to

  see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar

  (Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then

  sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written

  and I had read that by the time he met Scheherazade,

  the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand

  women.

  Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived

  in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged

  places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had

  never occurred before and that still to this day, I

  cannot explain.

  Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have

  taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can

  protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to

  protect herself and stay alive.

  Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.

  And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a

  point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.

  And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that

  he might hear the rest of my dark tale.

  As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new

  one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before

  you now.

  Prologue

  Death has a sound. There’s a rattle in her breathing that wasn’t there this morning. I move the knight over my pawns, which has been my opening move since forever. We can pretend like this is a regular day. Momma studies the board with a look of concentration, even though she makes the same move—her king-side pawn two spaces forward. It’s something I can count on, that move, and it doesn’t let me down. Her hand trembles as it falls back to the couch.

  Death has a smell. There’s the cough medicine that’s dribbled some on her dress. The deep infection that wheezes out on every breath. We’ve been living in this world for days, weeks. Years, really. Momma gets sick a few times every winter, but it hit her harder this year. The same thing that made her think slow made her immune system weak.

  I move my queen side pawn forward, mostly because I want her to react.

  She captures my pawn.

  It would almost be enough to convince me everything’s normal, if it weren’t for Poppa watching us from the kitchen. His eyes are rimmed red. There are a hundred orange bottles spread out across the table. None of the pills and ointments are working. Not anymore.

  We move a few pieces, taking up strategic locations across the board. There was a time she could read and write. She knew what every medicine in those bottles does, but I was too young to remember. Mostly I know her this way—quiet and focused and simple. She needs help getting dressed and showering every day. Maybe the other kids in school would think that’s weird, but I don’t really care. Poppa’s out on calls most nights, so who else will do it?

  Death has a face, and it’s not even my mother’s expression of concentration.

  It’s Poppa, with his shoulders hunched over, his eyes leaking. It looks like failure.

  I push my bishop forward, angle him so he’s facing her queen. I’ve never had to go easy on her. She needs help doing the buttons in order, but she never stopped being able to play chess.

  As soon as my finger leaves the little knob on the wooden bishop I see my mistake. Her castle’s already in the middle of the board. I was so focused on the crack in her defenses that I missed it. I hold my breath, because the boys at school would be watching me. We don’t play chess. It’s strictly poker with lunch money as the bet while we’re on the bus.

  Before I can react she’s reaching out to move the castle, to knock my bishop out of the way, to move my piece to the side—in that fast, efficient movement of someone ready to make their next move.

  “Good one!” The words bubble out of me, and I’m laughing. It’s too loud.

  Except her hand falls to the side. Her arm isn’t trembling anymore. It’s limp. The wooden piece rolls out of her hand and softly, softly onto the carpet.

  My laugh stops. All of a sudden. Her eyes are closed, as if she’s sleeping. “Momma?”

  “No, goddamn you. No.” Poppa’s never really angry, but he looks like a stranger. He lunges across the room and knocks over the chess board. The pieces spill into my lap, and I jump back. He grabs her in a tight hug, and he’s making this sound—it’s crying. He’s crying. Momma’s head wobbles on her neck like she’s one of those figures you put in a car.

  My stomach cram
ps hard, and I bend over, unable to breathe.

  Death has a feeling, and it’s cold. Cold enough that I start shivering.

  Poppa shakes her, more rough than I’ve ever seen him. “You don’t get to take her.”

  He’s wrong, though. It doesn’t matter how much medicine you have or how much you want something. Doesn’t matter how much you fight. Death always wins. It took her on a sunny afternoon, as quick and quiet as swiping a piece off the board.

  Chapter One

  Anders

  Chaos. The painting looks like chaos. Is it still called a painting if there are nails sticking out? There’s also a button, a burnt match, an old house key. It reminds me of a picture where you’re supposed to spy certain items. A puzzle, though it probably means something deeper. The inconstancy of man or some shit. One particular inconstant man comes to stand beside me.

  “What’s it supposed to mean?” I murmur without looking to the side.

  “I don’t know and don’t care,” comes the cavalier response. “It should go for a pretty penny, which is the only thing that makes it interesting.”

  “Not as pretty as the bishop.” Paintings. Jewels. There are even a few genuine Victorian gowns worn by some long-dead wealthy British people. We’re standing among millions of dollars—currently in the form of art. After the auction next week that art will be transformed into cash.

  Damon Scott gives a quiet laugh. “Not nearly.”

  “Nice turnout.”

  Tanglewood high society came out in full force to be seen as a serious contender at the auction benefiting migrant children. Tinkling laughter shimmers in the air. Men and women mingle. It emphasizes how still the two of us stand, how serious.

  “Are you sure you want to sell it?” Damon asks, thought the chess piece has already been appraised and announced. It’s already pictured in high-gloss photography in the auction program.