Page 20 of Cheshire’s Smile (The Crimes of Alice #3)

I skittered back like a crab, shuffling to get away from him. He kept coming. Floppy brown hair on his head. Those long dark lashes surrounding his brown eyes which on its original owner would have made his handsome face even more appealing. Except now it belonged to a creature that was pure evil.

“Alice, really? Running away from me?” He clicked his tongue and shook his head. His hands tucked into his dress pants. “I thought we were past all that by now.”

“What are you doing here?” I stuttered, pulling myself to my feet. “You’re not supposed to be here.” My eyes darted around looking for Dorian or Eugene. The ones who were supposed to be out there catching the shadows.

I was alone. No one was coming to save me.

Then I remembered. I didn’t need saving. I helped Kat take this fae down last year. I could send him running This time on my own.

“Oh, now, don’t be like that,” the Shadow Man pouted, not a good look on a creature with a black soul. “And here I thought we could help each other out. Just like old times.”

Hands curled into fists, I stepped forward. “Whatever you want the answer is no. Now get out of here before I make you leave.”

He adjusted the tie around his neck before pulling on the cufflinks of his white button up shirt. “Now, I know you don’t mean that. You need me.”

“I don’t need anything from you,” I gritted out between clenched teeth. “You ruined my life.”

A chuffing laugh was what I received back. “Hardly. You got what you wanted.” He gestured at me with a big smile. “To be fae. And I have to say, it looks good on you.”

I resisted the urge to cover my body with my arms. I wouldn’t let him get to me this time. I had enough to worry about and whatever he wanted wasn’t worth the risk. I wouldn’t be tricked again.

“And ended up with me in prison,” I countered with a snap. “I’ve had one year. One year to actually enjoy the fruits of my labors. Labors you tricked me into.”

He waved a hand in front of his face. “You and I both know I hardly tricked you into anything. Give the fae prince and princess a little push to admit their feelings and you got to be the one thing you wanted most in the world. You got to be fae and stay with your little boyfriends.” His lips curled up into a sly grin.

“Which I have to say is impressive for a woman such as yourself. Went from one loser fiancé to four delectable fae males. Some would say they’re some of the Underground’s most eligible bachelors. And you snagged all four of them.”

“No thanks to you,” I shot back. “I didn’t even remember them until recently. So stop trying to flatter me into helping you. It’s not going to happen.”

The Shadow Man scratched at his face in thought before giving me a knowing look.

“Not even to save your precious Hatter? I mean, you could save the whole Underground. Imagine it.” He paused and walked back and forth on the other side of the bridge from me.

“The once villain turned savor of the fae race. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? ”

Before I could respond, a voice called out, “Aly? Where are you?”

My head turned toward Coby headed in this direction. No, he couldn’t be here. The Shadow Man wasn’t the kind of fae you played around with. He might take one look at Coby and use him against me to do his bidding.

I jerked back to tell the Shadow Man to piss off but he was already fading back into the mist, his voice ringing out, “Think about it, Alice darling. We could be explosive together. You’ll see.”

Coby appeared at my side, my eyes still watching where the Shadow Man had disappeared. “There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.” He paused and glanced toward the mist. “What are you looking at?”

Blinking rapidly, I pushed the thoughts of what the Shadow Man had said out of my mind. “What did you need?”

A sheepish grin appeared on his gorgeous face, a grin I never expected to be directed at me ever again. Suddenly, I wanted to kiss him. But now wasn’t the time or the place. Certainly not with the Shadow Man lingering around.

“Uh, well, first I wanted to apologize.”

“Fae don’t apologize,” I interrupted him, brushing passed to head back inside. “So skip it.”

Coby sighed. “But Aly, we didn’t know about your memory problem. We were really unfair to you.”

“I know that and you know that, so there is no need for an apology. Besides, we have bigger problems right now don’t we?” I gave him a sidelong glance. “You came to find me for some reason right?”

“Yeah, I did.” Coby licked his lips and seemed to be arguing with himself before he finally added, “Eugene says there might be a way to save Hatter. At least, buy him a bit more time.”

My heart stuttered in my chest. I barely let a small flame of hope sprout in it. If there was some way to save Hatter then I was all for it.

“What is it?”

Coby shoved his hands into his pockets and shook his head, his hair falling around his face.

“It’s better if Eugene explains. I’m not sure I understand all the mechanics.

I’m a tailor after all. Give me a knotted ladder stitch any day over the workings of magical spells. ” He let out a self-depreciating laugh.

I didn’t laugh in return.

Before we could reach Hatter’s room, Coby grabbed my wrists, stopping me. “Please, Aly. I’m really... we’re really sorry. Please don’t shut us out.” His hand cupped the side of my face and the look in his eyes was so earnest, it was almost too much to bear.

I placed my hand on top of his and the expression on his face deepened. Then I pulled it away, dropping it between us. “I can’t do this right now.”

The crest fallen expression on his face made a fist clench around my heart. I’d caused that look. Once more I was hurting those around me and I didn’t know how to stop it.

Leaving him where he was, I made the final trek to Hatter’s room where everyone but Morgana was waiting. I wasn’t sure where the ex-queen had gone but it didn’t matter now. All that mattered was saving Hatter.

“Coby said you had a way to save him?” I got straight to the point once I was by Hatter’s side. “What is it? I’ll do it. Anything.”

Cheshire shifted from his seat on the bed, so that I could be closer to Hatter. Carban straightened, giving me a piercing look which I abruptly ignored while focusing on Eugene.

“That is a dangerous statement to make without knowing what you are offering up,” Eugene warned me with a small sad smile.

Dorian leaned against the wall of the room, his hands clasped in front of him. The whole situation seemed to be making him uncomfortable or maybe it was something else that had happened while I was gone.

I shook my head. “I don’t care about the cost. I’ll pay it. Just tell me how to save him.”

Eugene gave me a long look and then nodded.

“Very well.” He moved around the room until he leaned against the edge of the side table.

He took a deep breath then began. “There is a spell or rather a ritual. A ritual that can be used to connect the heart, the magic really, of two fae together. It’s usually used in marriage ceremonies.

A way to bind the two fae closer together. To help them become... one.”

I arched a brow. This spell was beginning to sound familiar.

“Some people also have used it to save a fae that was terminally ill or under some kind of curse. It can elevate some of the symptoms, share them between the two rather than having all of the effects burdened onto one.”

I blew out a breath and said, “A magical exchange.”

“You’ve heard of it?” Eugene’s brows rose.

I sent a sneaky look over toward Dorian before nodding.

“Yes, Kat and Chess used it to save him from the Bandersnatch. It connects their magic, their hearts together. They can feel each other’s emotions.

Their feelings for each other are more heightened than before and the very aspect of being away from each other is physically painful.

” I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “I believe Kat explained it as if someone had ripped her heart from her body and shoved it in a blender.”

Eugene inclined his head. “Yes, the side effects are quite powerful. That’s why I didn’t offer it up at first. It’s not something one can undo once it is done.

If one of you were to do this.” He sent a pointed look around the room.

“Then you would be bound to Hatter forever. But... it would give him more time. Maybe even enough time for someone to become High King.” His eyes landed on me pointedly, which I chose to ignore.

“Alright,” I bobbed my head, lacing my fingers together. “Let’s do this then.”

“Wait, Aly,” Coby started, trying to reach for me.

I flinched.

He dropped his hand. “Aly, you don’t have to do this. We can find another way.”

“Yes, pet.” Cheshire stroked a hand down my back. “It doesn’t have to be you. I would gladly bind my life to Mercury. He already has my heart.” He smiled lovingly at Hatter. “It wouldn’t be a burden to give it to him magically.”

“You can’t.” I shook my head. “You have the sickness too. Who knows what would happen if you bound yourself to someone else who was already sick?” I grasped Cheshire’s face with my hands.

“Let me do this. Let me do something right for a change. This happened because of me. I want to save you. Let me do it.”

“Alice darling,” Hatter’s hand pulled at my arm, “I love with you with all that I am, you know this. But do not feel obligated to do this for me. I am an old man,” he let out a small chuckle, “I have lived a long life. Perhaps it is just my time.”

“No, it’s not.” I grabbed his hand in mine, placing a kiss against his palm. “We didn’t get enough time. There will never be enough time. And I won’t let the sickness take what time we have away from us. I won’t.”

“But...” Hatter began his eyes sliding to the others in the room, “... this may make things uneven between them.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“He means, you might love him more than us,” Carban explained from his place on the other side of the bed. “You will literally be sharing your magic, your heart, your love. It may... influence you to only want him over anyone else.”

My mouth twisted to the side. “That’s not how love works. No matter how bound I am to Hatter it won’t make me love anyone else less. We will feel each other’s feelings but that doesn’t make it our own. Believe me,” I paused, letting my mind catch up with me.

“I’ve been around Kat and Chess and they might feel what the other is feeling and want to be near each other all the time but that doesn’t keep them from fighting or doing what needs to be done.

In fact, Kat has complained to me on several occasions that knowing her mate’s every feeling was a bit more of an annoyance than endearing. ”

Hatter made a pained sound that I think was supposed to be a laugh. “I will try my best not to annoy you with my emotions, Alice darling.”

I snorted. “Like you could.” Then I turned to Cheshire. “Are you alright with this? I know how you feel about him. So it’s not just up to me.”

Cheshire cupped my chin with his hand. “Pet, I’m just upset I can’t do it for you. You already have so much on your shoulders, I can’t...”

I placed my hand on his lips. “None of you would ever be a burden to me.”

Carban and Coby sucked in a sharp breath.

Not acknowledging how I’d just laid my feelings out on the table, I turned to Eugene. “Very well, let’s begin.”