“What?” Her pulse stuttered.
The bodies moved so fast they were little more than a blur. Finally, she remembered to move. She twirled on her feet, and started running back to the safety of her woods. “Ewan,” she cried. “Help.”
A black hood slid over her face. She screamed, clawing to get it off.
“Now sleep,” the voice commanded and something tickled her nose.
She remembered no more.
Chapter 41
Ewan shot to his feet. He’d fallen asleep, he hadn’t meant to. But purging the crone’s soul from his body had seemed to drain his own life essence. He ran, pushing his limbs as hard as they’d go. Which wasn’t hard, or fast enough. Running on jellied legs, he tried to ignore the fiery burn pounding away at his skull. Body be damned, all that was important was finding her.
His heart clenched when he picked up her fear laden scent.
And that of the cat.
Howling, he followed. She was deep in the Hatter’s territory, but there were others with her. Birds.
Black feathers were scatted all around. And for a moment he feared the worst. Malvena’s spies had somehow found her.
But there were so many feathers. Too many. Birds didn’t molt for no reason. Had there been a struggle and she’d pulled some out? But one glance at the dirt spoke volumes. Red had barely turned to run before whatever had found her caught her.
Not only that, he did not smell Malvena anywhere. There was no stench of death, or waste of birds.
But that didn’t mean she was safe. Something had taken her.
Dizzy with fear, he prayed he’d make it to her in time. Why hadn’t he followed her? He should have followed her. She didn’t know this land. He did, he knew how treacherous--this place most of all--could be.
Feathers were scattered everywhere, dropping off like someone had overturned a bucketful of them. Not only that, the kidnappers weren’t taking her north toward Malvena’s keep, they were heading in the direction of the Mad Hatter’s garden.
It took a moment for the realization to dawn on him that even the trees did not attack. They sat, like great big giant bulwarks; almost appearing to be as benign as he knew they were not. No roots came up out of the ground to trip him, no branches made a grab for him. Even sappy maws remained closed.
This was not right. The land was only silent like this when…
His ears twitched when the crunching sound of a snapping twig reverberated through the desolate woods.
“Hello, Ewan,” the sweet voice almost seemed to smile. “The girl is with us. Come quickly.”
Turning, he saw Alice.
She wore a black silk dress that draped to her feet, the bodice tight on her waist; clusters of roses wove a trail from her chest down the left side of her body. Black paint, in a filigree pattern, framed her right eye. Flushed and rosy, she looked healthy and happy.
Alice gestured quickly. “Hurry, we spotted crows this morning.”
Heart regaining its more normal rhythm, he nodded, and trotted toward her. She patted his nose when he neared, kneeling by his side, she grabbed his shaggy head and brought his ear to her mouth.
“Spies have been about these past two nights…”
As she spoke, she continued to stroke the length of his side. To the outside, it would appear like a woman petting her dog. Questions buzzed through his head. Why the subterfuge? How had the crows known? Where exactly was Red?
“Please accept our apologies for taking Violet the way we did. We meant no harm.” Planting a quick kiss on the tip of his nose, she nodded. “Follow me, and try not to look so… wolf like.”
Her pink lips twitched and he huffed.
Alice led him on a dizzying trail. She walked around trees, below trees, and even through them. Waving her hand in semi-circular motions as she mumbled nonsensical words, it was amazing to witness the land respond to her as it did.
He growled when he noticed the same purple polka dotted tree for the third time. Were they actually going anywhere?
She winked, waved her hand again, and then dropped to her knees. In a clearing lay a teapot, hidden by thick grass. Lifting the lid, she whispered inside the ceramic pot, “the cake please.”
Suddenly a large slice of cake slid through the narrow opening. With a triumphant smile, she twirled and held out the slice to him. The cake itself was a deep yellow, while the frosting was the whitest, frothiest foam he’d ever seen.
After the crone’s forest, the sight of it turned his stomach a little. He couldn’t help but remember what her cakes had been made out of.
Brown eyes twinkling, she said, “Take a bite. A small one. Too much will make you cease to appear.”
He’d only met Alice once before, she’d been beautiful, of course. But shy and withdrawn, he wondered if she realized how like the Hatter she seemed now. Speaking in his nonsensical way, dressing like him.
Would Violet be like that with him someday?
Careful not to take too large a bite, he barely tore a piece off the cake and instantly wanted to spit the bitter thing out. She held his jaw closed, and nodded.
“It’s worse than awful, but it’s the only way. Have you swallowed it?”
The offensive piece of carrion tasting waste rested on his tongue, and it was all he could do to choke it down, gagging and panting once it settled in his gut.
“Good.” She tore a piece off for herself. “Upsy daisy now.” She popped it in and grimaced. “Ugh, that’s awful.”
A wave of vertigo slammed into him and he winced, squeezing his eyes shut as the world around them became a giant’s paradise. Ewan growled.
“I know, it’s dreadful being so small. But it will only last for a while.”
He looked back at the garden. It was lit, tables out and festooned with every sort of tea food imaginable.
Alice shook her head, her black hair fanning out like a blade behind thin shoulders. “No tea this time, Ewan. You’re coming to our home. It’s safer.” She eyed him. “You will need to unbecome. I’ll not be taking you through the world’s my Hatter took me through when I first arrived, but the trip can be rather jarring. You’ll need to hang on to my hand.”
Calling the light, it took only moments for him to stand before her, and then to frown when her lips quirked and she quickly glanced away.
Alice cleared her throat. “I always forget it’s not like the movies.”
He glanced down at himself.
Smiling, she said, “As lovely as you look, you really should get dressed. I don’t think Hatter would like it too much if you weren’t clothed. He tends to go a little batty about those sorts of things when I’m around.”
Ewan rolled his eyes. “Lass, I canna make clothes from air.”
She looked at him, and lifted her brows. “Well lucky for you, I can.” Snapping her fingers, he was suddenly clothed in tight jeans and a plain white shirt.
Alice laughed. “Hmm… Maybe not much better.”
“I’m clothed, am I no? What’s wrong now?” he tried, but couldn’t get the irritation from his voice.
“Absolutely nothing. Now take my hand.” She reached for him.
The moment their hands interlocked, she stepped through the tilted tea pot and a wave of vertigo slammed into him, making him lose his bearings. Everything was pitch black, and save for the tiny hand in his, he felt anchorless. An overwhelming desire to flail and find some sort of footing overcame him, but he clamped down on it, knowing this blackness to be merely illusion; though the knowledge didn’t keep the sweat from beading on his forehead.
“I know this is kind of freaky. Just a little bit longer.”
Her soft voice helped to calm the animal’s natural instinct in him. He was not alone in this nothingness.
“Where’s Red?” He finally asked.
“With Hatter.”
He snarled and a small fist punched his arm.
“Not that Violet’s not beautiful, but he’s got me, Ewan. She’s perfectly safe.”
“So long as it’s understood she belongs to me and me alone.”
“Yes, yes,” her voice was mollifying, “she’s all yours. But just so you know, the caveman act really doesn’t work for girls anymore. Just sayin’.”
“Caveman?”
He was unprepared for the jarring transition from darkness to light and blinked back tears as a bright shaft of sunlight suddenly pierced his eyes, momentarily blinding him. A meadow spread out for miles in every direction. A placid pond sat next to a small thatched roof cottage. Dropping his hand, Alice gathered her skirts and started jogging toward the home. He kept pace beside her.
“It all looks so normal,” he muttered. “I expected madness.”
She looked at him, a fond smile on her lips. “Oh, it is, usually. But I told Hatter that we needed to make her as comfortable as possible. I wasn’t too sure what she’d think of my fifty foot toad, so he made it all conform.”
Ewan wasn’t certain she was entirely kidding.
The bright red door was thrown open and Hatter--dressed in his customary suit brimming with pocket watches--stepped out.
Alice cried, and he smiled. Then she was in his arms and he was bending her over, giving her a passionate kiss, and suddenly Ewan knew Violet had been very safe. It was obvious, even to the deaf and blind, the passion that brewed between the two.
“I worried,” Hatter whispered against Alice’s lips after a while. “Did you have any trouble?”
She nuzzled his neck as he helped her stand, readjusting her skirts.
“No, but I think we gave Ewan a fright.”
Dark eyes zeroed in on him. “Wolf,” Hatter extended his free hand, the other was still firmly clamped around Alice’s waist. “Forgive us for the necessity of it, but Malvena’s spies are everywhere.”
He nodded. “She explained. Was Red harmed at all?”
Hatter flashed bright white teeth. “No, though I think Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum gave her a terrible fright. She was reluctant to enjoy one of my wife’s cupcakes, or even talk for that matter.”
Alice touched the tip of his nose. “I think the poor thing needs a hot meal before a cupcake, Hatter. Ewan?” She glanced at him and gestured toward the door. “She’s inside.”
“Thank ye.” He stepped in, taking a brief moment to adjust his eyes to the dim lighting within.
“Ewan?”
Her melodic voice made him weak in the knees and he wondered if she could hear the stutter of his heart.
“Red?”
Then she was in his arms, flinging herself into his body the way Alice had into her Hatter’s. A wave of sunshine and wild magic engulfed him, and heat spiraled through his veins. She felt so good, so small, and perfect, and safe. Rubbing her back, he was reluctant to ever let her go.
She pressed her cheek against his chest, small fingers curling into the back of his shirt.
“I’m so sorry. I got tricked by that awful cat--”
“Cheshire?” His deep voice rumbled.
She shuddered. “Yes, he looked so fluffy and let me pet him--”
“He let ye pet him?” Ewan pulled back, chuckling. “The cat? That vile rodent? He never lets anyone pet him.”
“He tricked me.”
He kissed the pulse at her temple, wishing he could do so much more. Wishing he could taste her as passionately as Hatter had Alice. “It was a ruse Hatter and Alice orchestrated.”
Blue eyes filled with confusion. “Why?”
“Because,” Hatter’s deep voice answered behind them, “Malvena’s crows were spotted within these woods not two nights ago. We’ve much to discuss.”
Alice kissed his cheek. “But not before dinner.” She glanced at Violet. “And a bath. Jeez, Ewan… what in the world did you do to the poor thing?”
“Don’t ask,” he grumbled.
Red winced. “Can I take my bath alone?”
Alice laughed. “Of course. Did you think I was going to bathe you? Come on.”
Violet turned to follow, and then stopping, took a deep breath and quickly pecked his whisker roughened cheek.
“I’m glad to see you,” she whispered, and he swore the ground shifted beneath his feet.
Chapter 42
“So you’re Alice, huh?” Violet asked, resting her hip against the mushroom cap shaped counter.
“That’s what they say.” Alice grinned, pulling a steaming foil wrapped pan from out the oven.
The aroma of roasted beef and vegetables made Violet drool.
Alice wiped her hands on her teapot apron and then lifted a corner of the foil, a thick jet of white steam escaped, tempting Violet to peek inside and sniff at it like a dog. Or a wolf. Like a big black one.
She shook her head.
“Thanks for my clothes.” She plucked at her red knit sweater. “Though you know, you didn’t need to get me red. It’s not my favorite color or anything.”
Alice pulled a silver thermometer out of the hunk of meat and covered the pan again. Crossing her arms, she leaned beside Violet. Alice had changed out of the dress Violet had first seen her in. She was now wearing a short blue dress with thigh high striped socks.
She was short and petite, not to mention Asian. So unlike the Alice of legend.
“I guess I shouldn’t rely on fairy tales for the truth then,” Alice chuckled. “You do know your story, right?”
Violet rolled her eyes, plucking at a bit of fuzz on her shirt. “You mean the one where Ewan ate my grandmother. Yes, I’m familiar.”
Alice patted her arm. “He didn’t really. Did he?”
Lifting a spatula off the counter, Violet flicked it through air. “Depends on how you look at it.” She sighed, wanting to change the subject. “I thought you were supposed to be, you know, white. Blond hair and stuff. You look different than your story too.”
Alice shrugged. “Well you’re supposed to like red.”
Grinning, Violet said, “Touché.”
Picking up a piping bag full of fluffy white cream, Alice quickly piped it onto cooled chocolate cupcakes, topping each one with a chocolate covered cherry.
“It’s Hatter’s favorite,” Alice murmured, tip of her pink tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth as she worked.
Fascinated, Violet watched as Alice swirled a perfect amount with artistic precision on each cake.
“He’s really nice you know.”
Violet’s brows drew together. “Who? The Hatter?”
He’d sat looking at her on the couch, his dark gaze seeming to bore into her soul. She shuddered, that look had burned with a strange amber glow. Madness and sanity trapped within that hard gaze. Violet had no idea how he’d ever managed to hook such a sane person like Alice.
“No. Ewan.” Alice sat her empty bag down on the counter and picked up a cupcake. “I always have to taste the first one. Thank goodness I don’t seem to get fat in Wonderland.” She laughed.
Violet took the portion Alice offered her. “I’m not too sure he’d mind. He seems infatuated with you.”
Alice’s dark brown eyes sparkled. “I know. Feeling is so mutual. And what about you?”
Violet squirmed, shoving the cake in her mouth to prevent having to talk or do girl time. She wasn’t sure she was good at that. She’d only ever had Aunt Mir for the past few hundred years, and they weren’t exactly chat buddies.
Notes of passion fruit and salty sweet rock crystals burst on her tongue. “Oh wow,” Violet moaned, “so good.”
Alice smiled. “Same reaction Hatter has. But you haven’t answered my question. I can tell you’re not totally comfortable with Ewan. Why?”
“I kissed his cheek,” Violet said, attempting to defend her position.
Snorting, Alice popped a piece of cake in her mouth. “Yeah, and I kiss the March Rabbit’s cheek, doesn’t mean I wanna date him.”
“You wouldn’t understand,” Violet grumbled, yet eagerly accepted another portion of cake.
“Try me.”
Licking at the frosting on her f
ingertip, Violet shrugged. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to believe something whole heartedly, only to find out you were dead wrong? But not only that, I developed a hatred for him that’s so deep, I’m just not sure it’s ever possible to truly let it go, even though I know it’s no longer justified.”
“Hmm. That sucks.” Alice’s lips twisted. “Danika didn’t tell us much of the story. But I do know that what Ewan did that night was in defense of you.”
Violet nibbled on the cake. Hard to stay angry when it tasted so good. “Yeah, but that’s just the thing. I didn’t know that. I was led to believe that my version of history was true. For over five hundred years I’ve lived with one goal in mind. Return to Kingdom so I could find him and kill him, except…”
“Except?” Alice lifted a perfectly sculpted brow.
Pursing her lips, a million answers flitted through her head. Except he was so nice. Except he kept doing things to protect her. Kept giving her looks that made her toes curl and her blood boil. That all she could think about was wanting to kiss him, even though at times an irrational hatred bubbled up and made her brain scream that it was wrong. That she should gut him like the stinky, filthy beast he was.
Instead she said, “He treats me like his property. Always growling at me and telling others I belong to him,” she mimicked his thick burr. “It’s annoying.”
Laughing, Alice nodded. “I can see how that could be. But it’s part and parcel of the wolf nature. And I hate to break it to you, Violet, but when one of the bad five sets their eyes on you; it’s pretty much a done deal.”
“Bad five?”
Alice flicked her wrist. “Another story for another time. Here’s the deal in a nutshell. You’re it for him. He’ll never leave you, and I think a part of you already knows that. Maybe even thrills at the thought.”
Even now her stomach felt like it was bottoming out; her thighs shook at the thought of feeling that naked flesh. Hearing him croon her name when in the middle of their passion. Of peppering the scar on his face with hundreds of kisses, discovering why her body ached with incredibe pleasure at the thought of his touch.
[Kingdom 01.0 - 03.0] Kingdom Series Collection Page 38