Page 41 of Knot My Wonderland, Part Two (Fairytale Omegaverse #2)

Chapter

Twenty-Five

ALICE

O nce Heart left and closed the door, I slipped out of the bath, my skin still tingling from the moonflower-infused water.

The pattern beneath my skin pulsed with renewed vigor, silver and gold light dancing in intricate spirals as I wrapped myself in the soft towel Heart left for me.

My thoughts whirled with everything that had passed between us—the vulnerability in his ruby eyes, the depth of emotion flowing through our golden bond, the unspoken something that seemed to hover just beyond articulation.

After dressing in the clean clothes that were left folded on a chair, I emerged from the bathroom to find the cabin transformed. Crystal lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting warm, golden light throughout the space. The scent of unfamiliar spices, rich and inviting filled the air.

"Perfect timing," Chi said, his tail gently swishing with satisfaction as he set a final dish on the table. "Dinner is ready.”

Heart looked up from where he sat at the table, his ruby eyes warming as they took in my appearance. The golden bond between us pulsed with contentment, carrying his relief that I looked better—more centered, and less exhausted than when we'd returned from training.

"How do you feel?" Vee asked, his silver eyes assessing me with clinical precision as I took my seat.

"Much better," I admitted, surprised by how true it was.

The combination of moonflower tea and the enchanted bath had worked wonders.

The pattern beneath my skin hummed with steady energy, no longer the erratic flickers of magical exhaustion.

"What did you make?" I asked Chi, studying the unfamiliar dishes arranged before us.

"Comfort food," Chi replied, his teal eyes gleaming with pride. "Spiced root vegetables, herb-crusted fish from the crystal streams, and suncake bread." His tail curled happily as he settled across from me. "All chosen to help replenish magical reserves."

I took a bite of the fish, surprised by the burst of flavor—not quite lemon, not quite honey, but something uniquely Wonderlandian that made the pattern beneath my skin pulse with pleasure. "This is amazing," I said, taking another eager bite.

"Chi's cooking is one of his lesser-known talents," Dee observed, a rare smile touching his lips as he served himself.

As we ate, I felt strength returning to my limbs, the pattern's light glowing more vibrantly beneath my skin with each bite.

The conversation flowed easily around me—the Tweedles discussing adjustments to tomorrow's training schedule, Heart and Chi debating the merits of different defensive magic applications, all of them carefully avoiding any mention of the Queen or the looming confrontation beyond the pocket.

I appreciated their effort to keep things light, even as I felt the undercurrent of tension running through all our bonds. Three days. Three days left in the pocket before we returned to face whatever the Queen had accomplished in our absence.

"Alice," Vee said, drawing my attention from my brooding thoughts. "You're overthinking again."

I laughed, caught in the act. "Is it that obvious?"

"Your patterns dim when you spiral into worry," Chi observed, his tail flicking toward where silver and gold light pulsed beneath my skin. "It's actually quite noticeable once you know what to look for."

"Great," I muttered, taking another bite of the herb-crusted fish. "My anxiety has a visual component now."

"All emotions do, when you're bonded to the pattern as deeply as you are," Heart explained gently, his golden patterns pulsing in harmony with mine. "It's not a weakness—it's a connection made visible."

I considered this as I reached for the suncake bread, its crystalline surface glowing faintly in the lantern light. "Does it work both ways? Can you tell what I'm feeling through the visual changes?"

"To some extent," Dee admitted, adjusting one of his temporal devices. "Though the bonds carry more nuanced emotional information than the pattern's surface displays."

"Which is why we knew you were pushing too hard today," Chi added, his teal eyes serious despite his gentle tone.

I set down my fork, studying their faces in the crystal lantern light. "I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I know my stubbornness affects all of you through the bonds. I didn't mean to cause worry."

"Don't apologize for caring," Heart said firmly, his ruby eyes holding mine across the table. "Your determination to be ready and as prepared as possible is admirable. We just need you to survive the training so you can face what's coming."

Chi's tail flicked with amusement despite the serious topic. "Besides, we're all stubborn in our own ways. It's practically a requirement for surviving in Wonderland."

"True," Vee agreed, his silver eyes reflecting calculations I couldn't follow. "Heart redefined stubbornness for centuries before you arrived," Vee continued, his voice carrying a rare hint of humor. "His methods for avoiding his mother's control were... creative, to say the least."

Heart's golden patterns flickered with what might have been embarrassment. "Necessity breeds innovation," he defended, though a smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Besides, Chi's tail-hiding phase lasted nearly a decade. That required commitment."

Chi's ears flattened slightly. "It was a security measure, not stubbornness."

"You wrapped it in enchanted cloth and pretended to be a part of the Red Queens guard," Dee pointed out, his silver eyes gleaming with amusement.

I nearly choked on my suncake bread. "Wait—you what? You pretended to be part of her guard?"

Chi's tail lashed with mild irritation. "It was the most effective way to gather intelligence. The Queen never suspected a guard with 'mobility issues' might be a spy.”

Heart laughed, the sound warming the cabin. "He wore this ridiculous helmet with extra padding to hide his ears. Walked with a pronounced limp to explain why he kept his tail wrapped around his leg beneath his uniform."

"For three years," Vee added, his usually serious expression lightened with reminiscence. "Until a blood hound from the Queen's kennel recognized his scent."

I looked at Chi with newfound appreciation. "That's... incredibly brave. And a little insane."

Chi shrugged, though his ears perked up at my assessment. "Necessary risks my dear…necessary risks. It also helped that I knew it would anger her greatly.”

"You infiltrated the Queen's guard out of spite?" I asked, genuinely impressed despite myself.

"Partially," Chi admitted, his tail swishing in quick flicks at my reaction. "Though the intelligence we gathered was invaluable. We learned about her blood magic experiments, her plans for territorial expansion, and the locations of several hidden strongholds."

"And nearly got yourself executed in the process," Heart added, though his tone carried fond exasperation rather than true criticism.

Through our bonds, I felt the echo of old fear—not Chi's, but the others' terror when his cover had been blown. The memory rippled through our connections like a stone cast into still water, carrying impressions of desperate rescue plans and barely successful escapes.

"We all take necessary risks," Dee said quietly, his silver eyes meeting mine with pointed meaning. "The key is ensuring they're truly necessary, not born from guilt or self-doubt."

I felt my cheeks warm under Dee's pointed gaze, knowing his words were meant for me. "Point taken," I murmured, reaching for my cup of moonflower tea. The pattern beneath my skin pulsed with acknowledgment, silver and gold light dancing in more harmonious configurations.

"We're not criticizing your dedication," Heart said gently, his ruby eyes softening. "Just reminding you that martyrdom isn't the answer. The First Queen tried facing threats alone—that's partly what led to Wonderland's current state."

"Besides," Chi added, his tail flicking with amusement, "five people would be rather put out if you went and got yourself killed unnecessarily."

I nearly choked on my tea, heat flooding my face at his casual reference to our evolving relationship status. "You're impossible," I muttered, though there was no heat in the accusation as I continued to concentrate on my food.

We finished dinner with lighter conversation, sharing stories that carefully avoided any mention of the Queen or the coming confrontation.

The Tweedles recounted adventures from centuries past, while Heart described Wonderland as it had been before the corruption spread—vibrant courts united by celebration rather than divided by fear.

Chi added colorful details to their tales, his storytelling animated by expressive gestures and the occasional theatrical flick of his tail.

By the time we finished the meal, I felt relaxed in a way I hadn't yet experienced since entering the pocket.

The pattern beneath my skin pulsed with steady, harmonious waves, fully recovered from the day's exhaustion.

Through our bonds, I felt their collective satisfaction at my improved condition—not just magical recovery, but emotional centering.

"Thank you for this," I said as Chi cleared the last of the dishes. "All of it. The bath, the meal... I needed it more than I realized."

"That's what bonds are for," Heart replied, his golden patterns brightening with pleasure. "Support when you need it most, even when you're too stubborn to ask." Winking at me he reached for the dinner debris. "I'll clean up," Heart offered, beginning to gather plates. "You should rest."

"I can help," I protested, reaching for my own dish.

Chi's tail wrapped gently around my wrist, stopping me.

"You've done enough today. Let us take care of things for once.

"I relented, settling back in my chair as the others moved around me, clearing the table with practiced efficiency.

The domesticity of the scene struck me suddenly—how natural it felt to be here with them, sharing space and responsibilities as if we'd been doing it for years rather than a couple weeks.

I smiled as I looked around one more time before retreating back to my room, my heart much lighter than it has been since we entered the pocket space.