The Dowager of Bees

"The Dowager of Bees" by China Miéville
Published in Three Moments of an Explosion [Del Rey, August 2015]
Description, from New in Books: "The rules of reality are bent in this story of professional card-game players, and the hidden suits that emerge under just the right circumstances. New rules, regulations, and punishments apply to the playing of these mysterious cards."
Category:Best Short Story