The Unraveling (Wonderland Book 2) Page 15

  Gareth shifted uncomfortably. Part of his issue with marriage in the past was being tied to one place. "I'm not sure. I mean...together, she and I could do some good for the kingdom, and since she doesn't know Wonderland very well, I would be doing more than a king was expected in order to help her adjust. But it would be a change. Cadence and I were going to travel the realm and live for the moment, the adventure."

  "And as queen and king you cannot? The two of you can leave the castle whenever you want. As king, you are not required to remain at court if she is there. You may actually enjoy it."

  He shrugged a shoulder. "We could start by integrating the Jabberwock into society, if he wants that. Do you think this terrible guilt will ever fade?"

  Hatter glanced at him. Wonderland animals were hunted for resources or if they posed a danger. Those who had the ability to speak were accepted as citizens, and the realm had the ability to make any spoken language understood. The animals that couldn't form words were considered wild, and thus the sounds they made were undecipherable. As for the Jabberwock, it had attacked Gareth and his ability to speak hadn't been known. Hatter had only met him by chance and offered to make him a waistcoat, relishing the challenge the creature's wings provided.

  "Do you want the guilt to fade?" he asked, aware that by never telling anyone what he knew, the effect it had on Gareth now was a heavier burden than it would have been if the mistake had been acknowledged immediately. They were both to blame, in a way. Equally at fault in hindsight.

  Gareth's shoulders slumped. "I will do everything in my power to prevent a mistake of this magnitude from occurring again."

  As they approached the kitchens, Hatter's gut knotted as he remembered the scent of the egg had been masked by their food.

  "You don't think—" Gareth tripped over a crate haphazardly shoved to the side near the pantry. Hatter steadied him and kneeled to open the crate. Inside, nestled within leaves and straw, was a bright blue egg the size of Gareth's head and weighed as much as small boulder when he picked it up.

  "I really hope this is it."

  "I've never seen an egg that looks like that before," Gareth mused. "Those imbeciles hid an egg in a kitchen? What if it had been cooked? For a second there, I worried it had."

  Hatter tapped the egg with his finger. He'd worried about the same thing moments before Gareth tripped. "This thing could splinter a castle wall if shot from a trebuchet. I don't think they would have been able to crack it."

  They returned to the courtyard with the egg and Gareth handed it to the Jabberwock, who cradled it like the most precious of gems.

  "Thank you." He hesitated. "If I may, where did the sword go?"

  At that precise moment, the White Rabbit hopped forward from under one of the tables. For a creature that didn't like visitors and claimed to be retired, he kept popping up everywhere lately. Hatter narrowed his eyes. That rabbit was up to something.

  "I have the sword," the rabbit said. "And I've hidden it away where it cannot be used against you or your kind in Wonderland again."

  The Jabberwock bowed his head. "Thank you, friend Rabbit. Your friendship these years have been most appreciated."

  The words sank in, and it all became clear. He'd asked for the sword to ensure Gareth couldn't kill his friend when he'd heard Cadence warn the Red Queen about a new Jabberwock. He'd stayed with the Queen of Hearts all those years not out of fear, but to protect the egg. And then it had disappeared in the chaos fallowing the war between the Kingdoms of Red and Hearts. He had a new respect for the White Rabbit.

  "Thank you," the Jabberwock told them before lifting into the air and flying away. The heavy flapping of leathery wings carried on the breeze until he was but a small speck against the blue sky.

  "Rabbit?" The White Queen arched an eyebrow. "Did you remove the Vorpal Sword from Wonderland without permission?"

  The rabbit held his head up high and straightened his spectacles. Like Devrel, he could remove someone or something from their world but they could never return again after they were delivered elsewhere. "I fear I have exhausted my powers on this trip. As you know, Majesty, crossing realms takes a lot of effort, especially when you tunnel backward through time. I entrusted the sword to a water guardian who vows to protect it at the bottom of her enchanted lake."

  Melody and Cadence gasped and exchanged knowing glances as if they had an understanding of where the sword was taken, but enchantments did not exist where they were from. The rabbit had chosen a different realm.

  The White Queen pinned the two findling women with a speculative stare. "You know where the Vorpal Sword is."

  They nodded, and Cadence ran a hand soothingly over Gareth's chest. "One day it will belong to a famous king who will only use it for good." This seemed to ease him somewhat and the queen turned to Melody.

  "So he's an honorable king?"

  "Legends about him and his knights exist in my world. You would have loved them. I'll tell you about them some time."

  The White Queen smiled at the exchange and bowed her head toward the rabbit, dismissing him and accepting what had been done. She turned to Melody and Hatter and beamed. "I guess it is time for a trial and a wedding."

  Hatter smiled as Melody wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tight.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Few things matched the nightmarish tableau of a trial by flowers. Vines that grew like tentacles from giant stems held the Red Queen by her arms and ankles to keep her from running—or from trying to attack Cadence, which she'd attempted.

  That black eye she sported? Melody gave her that, and she was super smug about it too. If she wasn't mistaken, Hatter had been slightly turned on by her outburst. He remained a perfect gentleman though.

  A red rose with a bloom the size of a hot air balloon loomed over the Red Queen to question her. "So not only did you imprison animals and citizens of your own kingdom, as well as the entire realm, but you endangered the White Queen and her people, imprisoned a findling for reporting a potential danger that you caused partially in the first place, and were going to feed her to another creature to achieve your goals?"

  The queen stared back defiantly. She didn't even look afraid.

  "You are unfit to hold a position of power here. Wonderland has many dangers, yes, but it is an overall peaceful realm. Mayhap you deserve the same fate as your sister." A new vine wrapped around the queen's throat, thorns unsheathed from it like a claws the size of meat cleavers and threatened to pierce the skin and sever the arteries. She made a strangled noise.

  "Wait!" Melody cried out. The rose and the other flowers turned their attentions on her. They didn't have facial features, so the way they moved and regarded her was eerie as hell.

  "For what purpose does a findling interrupt the ruling of the flower court?" The rose asked haughtily. Its voice lacked gender or compassion. It spoke of authority and biting finality.

  She took a deep breath. "In a trial, neither the prosecutors nor jury decide the fate of the accused. The judge does." She glanced back at the White Queen.

  The rose laughed. "We are both law and verdict on this island. As one wishing our blessing of marriage, it would behoove you to respect it."

  She understood their way may differ, but it seemed so extreme. "Why does she have to die though? Her execution of the Queen of Hearts removed a tyrant who was murdering people. She was the one who originally stole the Jabberwock's egg, which led to the incident of one's death." She gestured to the Red Queen. "While Matilda did horrible things, she was not on the level of her sister and should have a less harsh punishment. Since Matilda issued the sentence of the Queen of Hearts, I think we should allow the White Queen to decide how her sister is punished."

  The rose contemplated it and turned to the lilac beside her. The flower seemed to shrug, indifferent, but she couldn't be sure since it didn't have shoulders. "And what does the White Queen wish for the sentence to be? I will humor you this once, findling, because you are new and the floral pattern on your
gown pleases us as a worthy tribute."

  Melody beamed at Hatter and ran her hands over the lacy white gown. Every dress he made her was more beautiful than the last. Soon she would have a wardrobe of lovely gowns at her disposal.

  Adelaide's face remained unreadable as she stared up at her sister. Were they ever close as children, having spent their adult lives separated by kingdoms and their own duties? "Death does seem a harsh crime despite her intent in some cases veering in that direction. She did threaten to feed Cadence to a gryphon, though it is unknown if she would have done it. However, she is my sister, and I love her even though she sought to do me harm this day."

  "What is your decision?" the rose asked again.

  "Banishment. The Boojum she couldn't cage shall trap her within another realm."

  "Nooooo!" The Red Queen screamed. "I am not some commoner to be tossed aside like filth. I will not start from nothing, without shelter or means of survival."

  "We will plan where to send her and what to provide upon the morrow." The White Queen clapped her hands and a guard collected the Red Queen from the vines as they lowered her to the ground. Blood trickled down her pale throat from where the thorns had begun puncturing her skin. Devrel, the guards, and Matilda vanished away to secure her.

  A daisy spoke next. "The Red King has named successors to the throne, effective immediately. All hail the new Red Queen and King, Cadence and Gareth!"

  The flowers and citizens all yelled their approval. Melody couldn't be more proud of her little sister. Gareth knew the realm and could help her where needed, and Cadence had always been kind and fair, but not afraid to speak her mind. The only sadness she harbored stemmed from their parents not being able to see them both happy.

  "And now," the rose said with more merriment than before, "a most frabjous wedding!"

  The flowers cheered and swayed above them. When a daisy's petal fell loose, those below scrambled out of the way when it thudded to the ground. Melody regarded it warily and hoped no vines were required during the ceremony.

  They weren't. Each of them were scooped up in the leaves of different flowers and passed around from stalk to stalk until they ended up on the same leaf. The flowers pronounced them as husband and wife and they were returned to the ground, covered in yellow pollen. Hatter had to hold her steady as her legs shook from being moved around so high off the ground, but the deed was done.

  He brushed the pollen from her lips and kissed her deeply, and his top hat slid forward to bump her smaller one. She couldn't wait until they returned home for the night.

  Home. Her eyes widened. It was the first time she'd thought of it as such, and it made it sink in. Contentment coursed through her and she grinned up at Hatter.

  The White Queen approached and embraced them both while offering her congratulations. When Marchy pulled Hatter away, the queen's expression became serious. "I'm sure the new Red Queen would not object to gifting you and Hatter with the former Kingdom of Hearts. The castle would not be fit for living for some time, but it is yours if you want it."

  Me? The Queen of Hearts? Melody contemplated the offer for a moment before shaking her head. "The Queen of Hearts is viewed as a tyrant even in my world, and with all the beheadings that took place at that castle, I am not sure I could live there or under that title." She bit her lip, considering it. "Besides, Hatter enjoys his work. Even if the queen is the figurehead in this political system, I don't think being king would agree with him."

  She'd ask, but she didn't want his marrying her to take him from what he loved.

  Adelaide smiled warmly. "I suspected as much, but I didn't want you to have any hard feelings to Cadence's queenship as she is your younger sister."

  "I harbor no hard feelings for her at all. She deserves it. God knows, the way none of us believed her after she returned home... She deserves it and more."

  "Well," the queen said, "if you really don't want a crown, I have a position available. You're diplomatic and have a good head on your shoulders." She cringed, and Melody recalled she'd offered her the Queen of Hearts' kingdom moments before.

  "That's very kind of you, but if I take a position at court, Hatter—"

  "You can still live in the cottage," the queen stated before Melody could reject the offer. "You live in walking distance of the castle, and at most you may be asked to stay the night if it grows late of hour, but not permanently."

  Now Melody was intrigued. "What is the position?"

  Adelaide clasped her hands together and exhaled slowly. "Seeing what has become of my two sisters, I fear I need an advisor who will tell me what I need to hear and not what I wish to. Many ladies at court think it keeps them in my good favor if they agree to everything I say or suggest. I need honesty. I need to remain fair but firm, and I think you could help me achieve that."

  "But," Melody said, "You're already fair and firm. You're nothing like—"

  The White Queen held up a hand, interrupting her a second time. "I've made mistakes. Remember, I share a bloodline with the two queens who failed this realm. I sent my knights to assist Matilda so she could execute our sister. And, so there are no secrets between us, I have known Hatter intimately, when we were much younger. He moved away to prevent it, but after Alice's second visit, he was so lonely..."

  "I suspected as much," Melody said cautiously, wondering why the topic was brought up. The woman was nothing but generous, and she didn't get the jealous vibe off of her. Their past would always exist, but she'd not seen him look at the White Queen with anything other than friendship. Melody wasn't worried.

  "I would have married him instead if he wanted to be king. He didn't, and that is why I didn't ask about the Kingdom of Hearts while he was standing here with you. He didn't want that life then, and he won't now. I wanted to see what you would say, and you passed the test." She cupped Melody's face in her hands. "You, dear girl, are everything he's always wanted and more. Think about my offer and let me know. I wish nothing but happiness upon you both."

  Hatter returned as the queen wandered toward Cadence and Gareth. "What was that about?" he asked.

  "She offered me a position as her advisor, but we don't have to live at court. Or we can rule the Kingdom of Hearts..." When indignation crossed his features, Melody laughed. "I turned it down. I told her I'd talk to you first about the advisor job."

  He grinned. "You don't need me to decide for you. If it will make you happy, I am happy for you to take it. Though, I must say I'm relieved you didn't jump at the chance to rule a kingdom."

  "I'm not Alice. I wanted to stay with you, not to try my hand at being queen." She didn't want him to ever think he hadn't had a part in what caused Wonderland to keep her. She had no ambition to change his way of life because she was now part of it. She'd fallen for him just the way he was.

  "Besides, King Hatter sounds horrible, don't you agree?" he teased, winking.

  She grinned and ran her finger across the brim of his hat. "King Bryon has a nice ring to it."

  "No. No, it doesn't." He leaned in closer. "Let's hop in one of the boats and head home. I have a strong desire to consummate my marriage to the most beautiful woman in Wonderland."

  "I love you," she told him as he kissed her.

  A moment later, he pulled back and whispered, "I denied it then, but I fell for you when you let your cat gouge your shoulder, but refused to release her until she felt safe. All while wearing the wrong shoes. You never even complained." Hatter checked behind him, then scooped her up and raced for the boats.

  There, they floated away from the Isle of Flowers and toward the unknown future wrapped in each other's arms.

  EPILOGUE

  Felicity Adams opened the front door after a rampant knocking pulled her from the kitchen where she'd been making a pie crust. She kept making desserts in an effort not to think about how much she missed her daughters since their disappearances a month ago. Her husband, James, refused to believe what Cadence recorded on her video was true, but her girls were gone, even
Melody's cat, and experts said the video had not been doctored even if they still thought it was an elaborate hoax.

  Expecting another journalist intent on to exploiting her pain for monetary advancement, Felicity was stunned to find an attractive woman with raven black hair scowling at her. A greenish-yellow bruise was all that remained of a blackened eye, and she wore an old-fashioned, high-collared dress that looked more like a period costume than everyday wear. She clutched two envelopes in her hands with wax seals.

  "Oh, my dear, who did that to your eye?" Felicity immediately gestured her inside and prayed her good nature wasn't a mistake. She'd seen too many reports on the news of women abused by their loved ones, and if this had been her child, she would pray someone tried to help her too.

  "Melody did this to me."

  She blinked, lifting a hand to her chest over her heart. "Excuse me?"

  "I bring news from your daughters in exchange for a night of hospitality." The strange woman held up the envelopes and seemed to swallow down a strong surge of emotion before adding, "I have nowhere to go."

  "I need to sit," Felicity said, moving toward the couch and sinking down. Had she really brought news from Melody and Cadence? "You know my daughters? Who are you?"

  "My name is Matilda. I was the Red Queen of Wonderland until your daughters arrived and usurped me." She added bitterly, "Cadence holds my throne. Melody is the advisor for the White Queen. Both were happily married a few days ago."

  Felicity rose to her feet once again, furious. Someone would dare make such jokes to a grieving, worried mother? "You need to leave."

  Fear shone within the woman's eyes and she thrust the envelopes out to her. "Please. I do not know this world, and Cadence and Melody assured me you and your husband would help me find a place to live and a method of employment. I was nearly executed for my crimes, some of them against your daughter, Cadence, but Melody bartered for my life. The least I could do is ease your mind regarding their whereabouts and safety."