Page 89 of Madness Becomes Her

“No. It’s not. It’s fate. You were always meant to come back. You were always meant to fix what’s broken in Wonderland. I stood in the way. I didn’t want this for you.”

“I was always meant to be yours.” I grin, wiping away my tears.

His battered lips spread across his face in a beautiful smile. “You were. But the timing wasn’t right.”

“Well, it is now. And for the harm she’s brought to my friends, I’m ready to do what needs to be done.”

“Your training? Did you finish?” Finlo asks, worry painting his features.

I grin. “I did. I beat Cirius ten times over before he released me from training.”

My eyes flick over to Lewis sitting down and dabbing the blood off his lip.

“Not you, too,” I whisper, moving out of Finlo’s arms to crouch before my friend.

“I’m alright.”

“You don’t look it. You look dreadful.”

“Loyalty sometimes comes at a price, Ms. Eleanor.”

“I see that.”

“Ariadne?” I ask Lewis, unable to look at the hurt on Finlo’s face at the mention of his sister.

“She’s—”

“Eleanor! Good, you’re back!” Ariadne’s voice carries down the hill as she comes into view.

I give Finlo and Lewis each a look as smiles grace their faces, pride welling in their eyes.

Ariadne pulls me into a tight hug. “It’s good to see you outside that awful place,” she says.

“You, too. Are you alright?”

She nods. “I’m ready to take her down. It’s time to end the Red Queen’s reign of terror.”

“Yeah, it is. The question is, how?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

SLAYING DRAGONS

Tea time is fraught with tension. Everyone surrounds the table. Some even stand behind chairs, as we didn’t have enough for everyone.

“We’re here to plan a take down of the Red Queen. All those opposed to this idea or all those who don’t want to fight can leave,” Hatter announces from the head of the table. “Eleanor has and is trained with the Vorpal Blade. She’ll kill the queen’s favorite pet dragon; all we need to do is give her the distraction she requires.”

Dragon.

The term flutters through my brain, seeming to weigh a ton.

I have to slay a dragon.

Nope, never going to get used to that idea.

“We’re all with you, Hatter. You tell us what we need to do.” A tiny kitchen mouse stands atop a tray of cakes, holding the smallest sword I’ve ever witnessed in the air in solidarity.

The creatures of Wonderland, big and small, are united in their mission to free themselves from tyranny.