Page 36 of Alec in Wonderland (Rainbow Tales #1)
A month passed. A month of utter bliss. Baxenvir had never been so happy. He was in love! Him. The Queen's Champion. And the Queen was still in her blissful state, enthralled by her consort and utterly unaware of the executioner's ax currently gathering dust in the dungeon. War seemed less and less likely.
Fate. It had to be fate. Destiny had brought Malecvar to him. Bax could even admit that it had brought Mal's cousin to the Queen first. The two men had changed everything. Most importantly, they had changed the Queen of Hearts and her Knave. If Bax could have met his old self, he was certain that man wouldn't recognize him. He felt free. Happy. Hopeful. And it was all because of Mal.
Malecvar was the man Bax had been waiting his entire life for. The man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
The Knave of Hearts slipped a hand into his pocket and tapped the ring he had hidden there. He had commissioned the ring's creation from the royal jeweler with the Queen's permission. It was a simple band of gold, but a little cabochon jewel nestled within the gold, its green shade a mix of his eyes and Mal's. When he'd seen the swirling jewel, he'd known it was meant for Mal. It was a representation of them both. Of them merged. It couldn't be more perfect.
And everything was perfect these days.
Grinning, as he usually was these days, Bax escorted Mal into the Queen's pavilion. The crimson tent billowed like a breathing beast as a breeze blew through. The wind carried the scent of roses and the Queen's laughter. Clustered around heart tables, the courtiers eyed his lover. Bax lifted his chin, his grin turning into a smirk. Mal wore yet another fine outfit given to him by their generous queen. The maroon velvet looked smashing on him, enhancing his dark hair and bright eyes. Bax had also dressed well for the Queen's tea. He had his finest green tapestry tunic on and a pair of black linen pants. He'd even worn his dress sword. But it wasn't to impress the Hearts Court, not even its queen.
Bax navigated his lover around the smaller tables, taking him to the largest heart in the tent. For once, the Queen had given up comfort for beauty, choosing a heart-shaped table to reign at during her garden tea party instead of a square. She sat in the middle of the heart's top, right in the valley of the rounded bits. This gave her places to either side to set all her little plates of sweets. Sitting beside her, at one curve, was Cheshire. The White Prince should have sat at the other. But the Queen had forgotten about her royal prisoner. All that mattered was Cheshire. And Bax could hardly fault her obsession.
“There are my beautiful boys!” the Queen declared. She waved at the other rounded table edge on her left. “Join us.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Bax bowed along with Mal. “But if I could beg your patience for a moment, there's something I need to ask Malecvar. I'd like for you to witness this.”
The Queen, whose permission had already been sought by her knave and given, grinned with smug satisfaction. “You may proceed, my champion.”
Throat suddenly dry, Bax swallowed and reached for the ring. Mal frowned as he went down on one knee. Then his green eyes widened. They locked on the ring Bax lifted. Mal's lips parted. Shuddered. He trembled. Bax almost put the ring back in his pocket. Something told him this was not an appropriate reaction. But the Knave of Hearts was made of braver stuff than that and lifted his chin. The act was already upon him. He couldn't turn back now.
“Malecvar of the Crimson Coast.” Bax met Mal's stare and held it, almost defiantly. “Your love has brought me to this.” He waved at his position. “Kneeling on the ground at your feet. I cannot face the future without knowing you will be standing beside me.” He lifted the ring higher. “Will you marry me?” Then he whispered, “Go mad with me forever, my love.”
Mal's eyes overflowed, tears turning his cheeks into waterfalls. His hand shook as he reached out. Not for the ring, but for Bax. For his cheek. He cupped Bax's cheek and continued to weep.
“For fuck's sake, cousin!” Cheshire called out. “Stop tormenting the man and answer him. You two are so in love it makes my teeth ache.”
Malecvar flinched, glancing at his cousin before reclaiming Bax's gaze. He lowered his hand, then held it out, straightening his fingers. It was still trembling, but Mal's voice came strong and steady, “Yes. I will marry you. I'll let the madness take me.”
Bax let out a relieved puff of air and quickly slid the ring onto Mal's finger, ignoring the oddness of the tail end of Mal's reply. With a whoop, he shot to his feet and scooped up his betrothed. Spinning Mal in a circle, Bax felt as if he could fly without armor. Just go soaring away with Mal in his arms.
The Knave of Hearts settled to a stop, took Mal's face in his hands, and kissed him before the cheering queen and her court. Yes, life was perfect.
“More tarts!” the Queen exclaimed. “And strawberry cake for my boys. My betrothed boys!”
Something shivered inside Bax at the sound of the Queen's voice, dulling a little of his joy. For a moment, his fantasy of flying away with Mal included flying away from the Queen and the Hearts Kingdom entirely. He wanted to run away, something he'd never do, but he'd never had a future so magnificent before. Bax wanted to protect it from anything that might harm it. Even the Queen herself.
Shaking his head free of such traitorous thoughts, Bax determinedly smiled at his queen. She loved him. She was happy for him. He didn't have to protect himself from her in any way. And yet, when he looked back at his intended, a sliver of fear pricked him like a rose thorn, lodging under his skin to annoy him.