The Unraveling (Wonderland Book 2) Read online

  That's not true. There is still one Boojum left to carry out banishments. The rabbit has that power as well, if he were willing. The White Queen would never sign off on his leaving, and to be honest, Hatter didn't know how he'd fare in a world so different anymore. Wonderland was all he knew.

  "Melody."

  He shook himself, realizing he was staring. When she glanced away shyly, his fingers curled, and he clenched them tightly with the urge to run his hands through her blonde waves. "Pardon?"

  "My name is Melody. In case you wanted to know."

  Melody, like a song. He caught himself as his lips fought to smile. That was the first sign of attachment, and attachments were dangerous things. Being alone only became lonely if there was someone to miss. "I didn't." He couldn't allow her to like him. It was easier that way.

  She frowned. "Oh... Do you have a name?"

  "Hatter."

  "That's a title."

  "It's my trade as well as what I'm called here."

  She started to say something else but seemed to think better of it. Melody pulled the shoulder of her dress up and dropped the bloodstained rag into the basin with a wet plop. "I didn't do anything to you. You don't want me here, and that's fine. I can take my cat and leave. What I don't need is your unwarranted hostility."

  He snorted. "Where do you propose you will go? Do you know anyone who would put you up? Do you know what creatures to avoid and in which areas they inhabit?"

  Deflating, she shook her head. "No."

  "Then it is decided. You're staying with me until Wonderland sends you home. For your own safety."

  "But—"

  He crossed the room against his judgment. "This land is full of magic and chaos, and the combination of the two oft leads one into situations they would do better to avoid." He came to a halt in front of her, peering down into those big, blue eyes and clasped his hands behind his back to ensure he didn't do anything foolish like touching her cheek to see if her skin was as soft as it appeared.

  "Findlings are tolerated by the queens, but are not well liked by the citizens in this world. They are something outside the ordinary and therefore unknowledgeable of our laws and ways. The other findlings who have visited since then claim Alice painted a caricature of this place that makes everything sound silly and wild, but we have laws and rules not unlike where you are from, only different."

  Melody took a step back, putting distance between them again. "So you're saying there aren't talking animals and magical things that border on nonsense here? That you don't like me on principle because I'm a...findling? That's pretty prejudiced if you ask me."

  He left the first question unanswered. She'd seen Devrel, so she knew well enough about talking animals. Findlings from Alice's world, Melody's world now, expected a certain level of silliness only a young imagination could have described of her journeys. She'd been ten and nine when she came through the looking glass, but that didn't make her any less a child.

  "It's not because of what you are. Findlings rarely stay. The few that manage it, adapt and are accepted over time as it is forgotten how they came to live here. Befriending one beforehand only leads to sadness. If Gareth were to learn you were here, to find out Devrel tried and failed to bring your sister back, it would wreck him all over again. I personally don't wish to hear him complain because his life is so difficult without her." If he could survive Alice's leaving without making an utter fool of himself, Gareth could very well survive losing his findling.

  Melody furrowed her forehead. "How do you think Cadence feels? Everyone thinks she's crazy!"

  Well, it seemed he related more to Cadence than he thought. "To them, she is. Just as to this world, so am I. Madness affects those who disbelieve more so than the one who speaks what is considered nonsensical. A closed mind is the most troubled mind of all." He squashed the voice within that perked up at his words before the thought could take root and grow. He would not question the merits of needing another in his life. Not when it hurt too much when they left.

  Melody blinked, and he inwardly groaned. He would do better to keep his mouth shut so no more babbling occurred.

  "What have you closed your mind from?" she asked.

  "I don't know what you mean."

  "If madness affects those who disbelieve, and you suffer from any such madness to the point Alice would have described you the way she did, there has to be something."

  Hatter closed his eyes and changed the subject. "I apologize if I come off as rude, but I cannot, will not, be your friend, Melody. However, you have nowhere else to go and are in need of a new dress. You appear to be about the same size as your sister?" He opened his eyes again and studied her build.

  "Yes. We share clothing all the time."

  He nodded. "I have her measurements already." Mostly. He didn't trust himself to touch her, even to size her properly. Making a dress would prevent him from running the measuring tape across her body, close enough where she could tempt every ounce of him that was a male in the presence of a beautiful female. "I can have a gown ready and still have time for tea." They'd made impeccable timing on the hike back. He started to turn away and paused. "You do like tea, don't you?"

  She nodded and he heaved a sigh of relief. For some reason, if she didn't, it would've been the most tragic thing about her. Except he knew that wasn't quite right at all. The most tragic thing about her would be her inevitable departure, even if he couldn't allow himself to think too hard about why that was.

  ***

  The gown was gorgeous. Too elegant for her to accept. Silky lilac fabric as smooth as butter caressed her body with a cool, delicate touch. It had capped sleeves, and the full-length skirt teased the tops of her toes. She'd managed to work the buttons down the front on her own, but the darker purple bodice with the corseted ties on the back wasn't going to happen. She'd have to ask for help lacing it in the back, and she didn't want to give Hatter, or whatever his actual name was, a reason to scowl at her any more than he already did.

  "Do you require assistance?" Hatter's impatient voice carried from somewhere down the corridor. His footsteps grew closer.

  Speak of the devil. Feeling childish, Melody stuck her tongue out at the curtain blocking the small changing area in the back corner of one of his work rooms. He had one for hats, one for clothing, and another separate room for shoemaking. Seemed he was a man of many talents, and none included politeness.

  Shaking the tension knotting her shoulders out through her arms, Melody pushed the curtain aside and stepped out. Hatter's eyes widened before narrowing dangerously as he scrutinized her from her neck to her feet and then back again.

  "You've not tried on the bodice, and those shoes throw everything off."

  Melody looked him up and down, taking in his myriad colors, fabrics, and styles. "You're wearing mismatched patterns and are judging my shoes? Please. Also, I don't need a bodice. I have my bra on. Besides, I can't tie it properly when the strings are behind me."

  "What's a...never mind. I dress according to mood, and you could ask if you needed me to tie it. Without the bodice, the center is too loose and it looks more like a fancy nightdress."

  "It's no bother, really. Besides, this is way too fine for me to wear. I'll get it dirty or spill something. I'm rather clumsy."

  "Take off those disgraceful shoes."

  "I'd rather not."

  Hatter crossed his arms. Did he dislike her because she was female? He was awfully particular about female fashion. Yet his gaze dropped to her chest and lingered entirely too long, so she wasn't sure that was the issue. Hatter was a closed book on a shelf out of reach. She wanted to know more about him, but he shut down every time she attempted. He glared at her feet and then made eye contact. His brows remained two sharpened points of disdain. Still, she had no idea why she made him so irritable by just standing in the room with him. Melody wouldn't put it past him to pick her up and rip the shoes off her feet himself if she didn't obey.

  "Fine." She toed off the f
lats, and her feet all but sighed in relief. She had quite a few blisters from the hike, and if he really wanted to see them, so be it. One more thing to become disgusted with her about. Some shoes weren't made for fantasy realms.

  Several tense moments passed as Hatter scowled at the state of her feet, and when she thought he would snap at her again, he spoke softly instead. "Why didn't you inform me your shoes weren't properly sized?"

  Melody curled her toes reflexively. "I've worn that size shoe since middle school."

  Ignoring her comment, he kneeled before her and lifted her foot to examine it. His touch was gentle. She noticed a nasty blister, cringed, and then tried to yank her foot away. A mistake, she realized, as her body careened backward. Hatter released her foot and caught her, resting her atop his thigh.

  "I'll make up an ointment for your feet tonight. The blisters will be gone by morning." His face was scant inches from hers, and his vibrant green irises caused her breath to quicken. Why did he have to be so attractive?

  "That's very kind of you."

  "I will size your new shoes appropriately." He reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a measuring tape with odd symbols in place of numbers. Melody scoffed, but allowed him to do his measurements. At least she'd painted her toenails the night before, a color that changed in the lighting from teal to purple. She'd not had the chance to work on her fingernails yet, much to her annoyance. Despite his attitude toward her, she still found herself wanting to impress him and didn't know why. He was attractive, but definitely not that into her. So it shouldn't matter.

  Finally, she was released to stand, and Hatter jotted something down on a little scrap of paper on his work bench. She turned to leave, intent on locating Sunny and checking on her.

  "Not so fast. The bodice."

  "Really? Is it so wrong to go without it? No one is here but us."

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. "The dress is a gift. I insist you wear it, and wear it correctly."

  Melody sighed and returned to the dressing room for the bodice. Then she shoved it into his hands. "If it will make you happy." And stop being so pissy.

  His fingers brushed hers as he accepted the garment. Warmth coursed through her and she could only stare at him dumbly as he moved in closer. "Turn around."

  Reluctantly, she obeyed. The heat from his tall body—he had to be pushing six feet without the hat—engulfed her as he brought the material around, covered her torso with it, and then stepped back to lace it. With every tug of the strings, her heart beat a little faster. It took him little time to accomplish his task, yet entirely too long. She felt exposed while covered in clothing. Why did a male helping her dress seem more personal than doing it herself?

  "Melody..." he said gently. She glanced over her shoulder. "This gown was made to be worn by you." Admiration and pride warmed his gaze. Like she'd become a masterpiece he'd painted by hand.

  Swallowing and peering down at herself, she ruined whatever moment they shared by shrugging and replying, "Or it was made for my sister since you used her measurements."

  Thankfully, Sunny chose that moment to scamper in. She stayed near the walls, not quite contented to brave the open middle of the room.

  "There you are!" Melody scooped her up, welcoming the distraction and using the cat to ignore the tiny shard of jealousy that had stabbed her at the thought of Cadence being measured for a gown while he'd only deigned to measure her when she'd needed shoes for her disgusting, blistered feet. "What have you been up to?" She cuddled Sunny, a soft purr answering her as the cat rubbed the top of its head against her chin. When she turned around, Hatter wasn't there.

  She ventured through the winding corridors until she entered the room with the shoes. He sat at a battered old bench attaching a sole to what she assumed was a slipper of a creamy ivory shade. He worked impossibly fast, inhumanly so, but she supposed that was a normal aspect of this world. It didn't always adhere to expectations she carried from her own. "I wanted to apologize for my comment. It's a beautiful dress." Sunny jumped from her arms and wandered over to a shelf to sniff at it.

  Sighing, Hatter sat the slipper down. "I've been equally rude, so I cannot hold you at fault. Think of the gown as a gift for pulling you out of your world." His eyes glazed over, and he stared up at the ceiling. "The thirteenth hour upon the second day, there is no chance you shall stay. The sun and moon will split the sky, and once you sleep you'll say goodbye." He shook himself and his cheeks darkened as he dipped his head so the brim of his hat concealed his face.

  Okay, that was weird. Melody bit her lip. To think of how many times everyone demanded her poor sister admit Wonderland didn't exist. But she was here. She'd bled; she felt the pain from it. She wasn't dreaming, she could admit it. Now only shame met the awareness of her sister's plight. Which meant everything Cadence had described was true all along.

  "What plagues your mind?" Hatter rose from his bench. "You've gone pale. Have I laced you too tightly?"

  She shook her head. "It's not that. I was recalling Cadence's story. None of us believed her. But she...she had evidence on her...of being with a man. We thought she'd been drugged and then, um, violated by one of the friends who 'found' her."

  Hatter opened his mouth, shut it again. He shifted uncomfortably and glanced away. "I see. Gareth was more attracted to the findling than I sexpected." His eyes widened and he cleared his throat. "Expected."

  Unsure she heard correctly, Melody squinted. "Did you just say 'sexpected?'"

  He fidgeted. "I did not."

  "No, you did. I heard you say it."

  "Obviously, you heard wrong. It's not even a word."

  "Are you blushing?"

  "No."

  She covered her mouth with her hand and laughed silently. It would seem Hatter wasn't only quick to become insulted, but he was also a bit bashful. She wished she'd met the man before her, and not the harsh man who had greeted her on the cliffs.

  Then again, if she was bound to leave, it wouldn't matter regardless. Remaining unaffected by his charms, what few he'd shown her, should be her goal. She worried doing so was easier said than done.

  "Are you laughing at me?" He sounded incredulous.

  Melody dropped her hand and pressed her lips together in an effort to stop. "Not at all." It didn't work. One look at the expression on his face had her giggling all over again.

  The corner of his lip rose in what appeared to be a sneer, but worked as well as a puppy attempting to look ferocious but unable to master the effect. "This will not do." Hatter placed the backs of his fists against his hips. "Your shoes will have to wait until after tea. I cannot work in these conditions."

  "What conditions? Being teased for your Freudian slip?"

  He strode toward her, intent etched in his features. She started to back away when he grabbed her around the waist, leaned down to cup the back of her knees in his other arm and lifted her into the air. Her heart hammered against her chest. "I don't know what a Freudian slip is, but it doesn't matter. Since your shoes aren't finished, and the tables are outdoors, I shall carry you so your feet are not further abused under my care."

  She merely nodded, worried that opening her mouth to speak would lead to her saying something silly about fairytale princesses in gowns and the princes who swoop in to save the day. Perhaps she was more of an imaginative nut than she gave herself credit for. Regret for all that had transpired since Cadence's incident—no, not an incident. It had been reality after all.

  Nevertheless, Melody didn't want to ruin the moment of a startlingly attractive man carrying her around like she weighed nothing while she wore a gown fit for Cinderella. Nope. She would fully enjoy every second of it.

  And that was when it really sank in. She'd tumbled down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, and she was irrefutably attracted to the Mad Hatter.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Devrel slinked into Gareth's cottage and disappeared beneath the table. It was uncharacteristic of him to slink—or hide for that matter. Rather
than questioning him outright, Gareth pretended he hadn't noticed. Devrel was a bit of a trickster, but he also had a heavy conscience and would come clean at some point.

  Instead, Gareth strapped on his sword belt like it was any other day. Like he hadn't stayed abed through the mid-day meal and well into the afternoon sulking over a female. His findling. An un-birthday gift from Devrel to help delay the Red Queen's plans for him regarding his marriage. He'd told Cadence then that all he wanted in life was his freedom to travel Wonderland and do as he wished. Now all he wanted was another day with her. Naturally, he longed for the one woman he couldn't keep.

  Cadence had been perplexing at first, an oddity who grated his nerves with her ignorance of his world. Then she'd been refreshing. A perfect juxtaposition to everything he knew. She'd been interesting, exotic, and passionate. While he'd been intimate with women before, she just...fit him. She liked him for him, and not his status. She didn't care that he'd killed a monster when he was a boy, though her eyes had widened at the prospect. He couldn't bear the thought of marrying someone who saw him as a status symbol and not someone they could one day love. He wasn't sure if he loved her, he'd never been in love before, but he wanted to explore it, whatever it was.

  Heaving a grand sigh, Gareth tried to not picture her face. Her blue eyes had darkened with desire in their final hours together. Her brown hair had fallen past her shoulders, silky soft to his touch.

  His attention was thankfully pulled away from the memories as he realized Devrel hadn't emerged from under the table yet. Crouching, he glanced at the feline grinning obscenely at him. "I wasn't going to comment on your sneaking around, but you're beginning to worry me."

  "Can a Boojum not lie in wait for some poor fool to fall into his clutches?"

  "The only poor fool in the cottage would be me, and since I doubt you have plans to transport me somewhere, I would have to say no."

  The last of the Boojums bowed his head, accepting he'd been found out, and padded forward. Devrel was Gareth's truest friend, and the two of them traveled the Red and White kingdoms as sort of envoys between the monarchs. It worked well until a threat arose and both queens desired his presence since he'd been trained by the White Knight. Luckily that didn't happen often.