Page 51 of Alec in Wonderland (Rainbow Tales #1)

Alec leaned into Bax as they sat together on a delicate white couch across from the Royals of the White Chess Kingdom. They'd been talking about land and people and shit like that. Alec only half listened. He was too drained. Too fucking relieved. Too astounded.

Shit had gotten real. And really weird. But, sitting there with Bax, with it all behind them, he could only feel grateful.

“Do you accept?” the White Queen asked.

Alec blinked and refocused. “What? Sorry, what is he accepting?”

The White Prince chuckled until his mother shot him a chiding look.

“Alec is still in shock.” The White Queen shook her head at her son. “He's performed his first magnificent feat of magic today. And it was amazing, Alec. Well done. You are an apt pupil.”

“Yes, well done, Alec!” the White King declared.

“Uh, thank you, Your Majesties,” Alec said. “But what's going on?”

“The Card Army has chosen representatives. They came to us and announced that they've decided upon a new ruler.” The White Queen looked at Bax.

“Bax?” Alec looked at Bax too. “They want you to be king?”

“It appears so,” Bax murmured, his forehead folding down into a frown.

“What do you want?” Alec asked.

Bax's expression went blank. His lips parted as he met Alec's stare. “Me?”

“Yes, you, babe. This is your decision. Do you want to rule the Card Kingdoms?”

“No,” Bax said immediately. “I think the kingdoms should be given back to their rightful rulers. At least, those who are still alive. Those without living monarchs should select their own.”

“I'm all for democracy.”

“I believe that's what they've done,” the White Queen said.

“He doesn't want it,” Alec said. “And he's done doing shit for everyone else. It's time Bax lived for himself.”

The White Queen chuckled. “You have a staunch protector there, Baxenvir.”

Bax grinned at Alec. “It goes both ways.”

Alec nodded. “That's right, baby.”

“But I wasn't trying to pressure your Bax,” the White Queen said. “You two would make wonderful kings. With Baxenvir's charisma and your magic, you could make the Hearts Kingdom into a place where people want to live. And it could be only Hearts that you rule.” She lifted her pale brows. “It doesn't have to be all the Card Kingdoms. I agree they need to be divided back into what they were and ruled individually.”

Alec looked at Bax. “What do you want to do, baby?”

“I want to marry you.”

Alec held up his hand, showing off his ring. “Done deal. That's happening. You just tell me when and where. But what about after that? Do you want to live in Hearts?”

Bax frowned and looked down at his lap. “If we . . . we would have to change . . . everything.”

“Total gut job.” Alec nodded. Then he saw Bax's confusion and explained, “Take it all out and start fresh. Scoop the guts out of that castle.”

“Yes.” Bax's expression went pensive. “I could eliminate the youth program and turn the barracks into a real orphanage. I could hire people to properly care for the children—people who actually like children. The orphans would have love.” He grinned at Alec. “And toys. Happiness.”

“And no children would ever get taken from their families.”

“No. Never again.” Bax leaned closer to Alec. “And I could reorganize the army. I could find all the people she hurt and—”

“Whoa.” Alec grabbed Bax's hand. “You do not have to right her wrongs. Just be you. If you want to do this, I will help you. I will support you. But it has to be for you, Bax. Not for her. Not even to avenge those she wronged. That's done already. The army took their pound of flesh and then you finished it. Now is the time for a new beginning. And you don't have to be the one who changes things. Someone else can do that. We could build a little cottage in the Tulgeren Woods and live a simple life. We could be happy there.”

Bax smiled, the future shining in his eyes. Alec could see their life together. Bax chopping wood while Alec was in the garden harvesting vegetables. Alec would give up his old life for this one. His business that he had worked so hard for, his friends, and even his family. All for Bax. Let his memory fade from their minds. An eternity with the man he loved was worth it. There, in Wonderland, they'd live forever. Hell, if they got tired of living simply, they could change it up.

“It doesn't have to be forever,” Alec gave voice to his thoughts. “We can live in the woods awhile, then move to the coast. We can do whatever we want to do.”

“That sounds amazing,” Bax whispered.

Alec stared at him. Then he laughed.

“You know what I'm going to say, don't you?” Bax asked.

“Yeah, babe. I know you.” Alec leaned in and kissed Bax. “Why live a simple life in the woods when you could be a king?”

“I like the thought of destroying everything she built and starting again.” He lifted his chin at Alec. “What did you call it?”

“A gut job. We need to gut the fortress.”

“The fortress, the army, all of it. It will be a lot of work.”

“Yup. But we can do it together.” Alec wove his fingers with Bax's. “So, it's to be the fortress instead of the woods, Your Majesty?”

Bax laughed. “I think the Kingdom of Hearts could use two kings.”