Page 117 of Knot My Wonderland

Through the golden bond, I felt Heart's consciousness flicker with desperate rage at my distress. Even dying, he was trying to send me strength through our connection. The silver patterns responded to his effort, weaving together with the gold in defiant spirals across my skin.

"Kneel," the Red Queen commanded, her Alpha presence slamming down like a hammer.

My legs shook violently, muscles screaming to comply, but I locked my knees and stayed upright even as I felt tears well up in my eyes at the pain.

The Queen let out a furious snarl as she moved to me, her hand coming to my face and grabbing my chin so I would look at her.

“I said kneel omega.” She snarled, eyes made as she looked at me. The command struck like a physical blow, her Alpha voice vibrating through my bones. My legs trembled violently as the full weight of her dominance pressed down. The silver and gold patterns beneath my skin flickered frantically, trying to shield me from her influence.

"I..." I gritted through clenched teeth, "won't."

Fury twisted her beautiful features into something monstrous. The Red Queen's grip tightened painfully on my chin, her nails digging crescents into my skin. Through our bond, I felt Heart's consciousness surge with protective rage, the golden connection momentarily strengthening despite his wounded state.

"Kneel,"she hissed, her ruby eyes widening with a mixture of rage and fascination. This time the amount of power behind the order made me almost black out.

My knees buckled at last, sending me crashing to the obsidian floor. The impact jarred through my body as the Red Queen's laughter echoed around the chamber.

"There," she purred, circling me with predatory satisfaction. "See how much easier it is when you accept your place?"

Despite my position, I managed to raise my head, meeting her gaze with defiance that made her perfect features twitch with irritation.

"It took... three commands," I gasped, feeling the silver and gold patterns beneath my skin rallying after their temporary defeat. "From the most powerful Alpha in Wonderland. I'd call that... a disappointment for you."

The Red Queen's hand struck like a viper, cracking across my cheek with enough force to snap my head sideways. The blow sent sparks dancing across my vision a hiss leaving my lips as I turned and glared at her.

“You won’t be so disobedient for long.” Her eyes gleamed, “You are to follow my directions here on out.Understand Omega.”

I whimpered as power pulsed around me making my head go fuzzy, my body going almost slack as I tilted my head back to show my throat in unwanted submission.

"Good girl," the Red Queen cooed, her ruby eyes gleaming with triumph as she traced a finger along my exposed throat. "See how pleasant cooperation can be?"

The silver and gold patterns beneath my skin dimmed in protest, retreating deeper as if hiding from her corrupting touch. Through our weakening bond, I felt Heart's consciousness flare with desperate fury at my submission, the golden thread pulsing with determination despite his fading strength.

"Such a pretty little thing when you submit properly." The Red Queen cooed, her hand still at my throat, enjoying my submission.

"Stand," she ordered, her voice resonant with power.

My body obeyed before my mind could resist, rising on unsteady legs as the silver and gold patterns beneath my skinflickered with muted defiance. The Red Queen circled me slowly, assessing me like a prized possession.

"The ritual preparations will take time," she mused, her ruby eyes gleaming with calculated malice. "But that gives us ample opportunity to teach you a few things.”

A thoughtful look came to her face, before it almost softened as she moved to put her hand on my cheek, “Taking the bond won’t kill you…so…I may just keep you after.”

She paused before the made look came back to her eyes, “Afterall I have always wanted a daughter.”

"Take her to her chamber," the Red Queen commanded, addressing guards I hadn't noticed before as she stepped back from me. "Begin the cleansing ritual in the morning. I want her ready when my son arrives to play the hero."

Two figures materialized from the shadows—card soldiers with faces that seemed to shift between human and playing card features. Their white-gloved hands closed around my arms, lifting me to my feet with mechanical precision.

I struggled against their grip, but my body felt sluggish, still fighting against the lingering effects of the Red Queen's Alpha commands. The silver and gold patterns beneath my skin pulsed weakly, trying to rally my strength even as the guards dragged me toward an ornate doorway carved with disturbing symbols.

"Don't worry, little dreamer," the Red Queen called after me, her voice echoing off the obsidian walls. "Things will be perfect…you will be perfect once everything is done.”

Through our weakening bond, I felt Heart's desperate struggle to stay conscious despite his wound. The golden thread connecting us stretched thin but unbroken across whatever distance separated us. Even now, he was fighting to reach me, his determination burning like a beacon despite his fading strength.

"I will never be your daughter," I said, my voice steadier than I expected as the guards pulled me toward the doorway. "And I will never stop fighting you."

The Red Queen's laughter followed me as I was dragged from the throne room. "We'll see, little dreamer. A week is such a long time when every moment brings pain.Once the pattern is transferred to me, you will have a harder time fighting me.” The Queen told me, eyes glistening with amusement, “You can be molded into anything I want then.”

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