Page 34 of Knot My Wonderland

He placed a steaming cup before me, the liquid inside shifting colors like an oil slick in sunlight. "Two drops of the honey should suffice. More than that might make you see music for a few hours."

I carefully added the glowing honey, watching it dissolve in spirals of gold and silver. "Is there anything in Wonderland that doesn't have bizarre side effects?"

"Water," Varik replied, then paused thoughtfully. "Though only from certain springs. The ones near the Queen of Hearts' castle will make you speak in rhymes for days."

I sipped the tea cautiously. Warmth spread instantly from my tongue to my temples, the headache receding like a tide from shore. "That's... amazing."

"Simple healing magic," Varik said with a modest shrug, settling into the chair across from me. "Nothing compared to what you've already demonstrated."

"You make it sound like I've done something impressive," I said, wrapping my hands around the warm cup. "All I did was not fall to my knees when Chi ordered me to."

"Most would have," Varik replied, his green eyes studying me with that unsettling intensity. "Even trained courtiers struggle to resist a direct Alpha command with that much power behind it."

I traced the rim of my cup, watching the liquid inside shimmer with impossible colors. "It didn't feel like a victory. It felt like... drowning in slow motion."

"That's an apt description," Varik nodded. "Alpha commands work by overwhelming your senses, your instincts. They're designed to flood your mind until resistance seems impossible." He took a sip of his own tea, steam curling around his face like ghostly fingers. "The fact that you maintained even partial control speaks volumes."

I frowned, staring into the swirling depths of my tea. "Is that why Chi pushed so hard? To see if I could resist at all?"

"Partly," Varik admitted. "Though his methods were more... intense than I would have preferred."

"You mean the sexual undertones," I said bluntly, watching Varik's expression carefully. "That wasn't just about testing my resistance to commands, was it?"

Varik set down his cup with deliberate care. "No. It wasn't." He sighed, running a hand through his wild hair. "When an Alpha tries to claim an Omega in Wonderland, they don't just issue commands—they attempt to forge a connection. To create a bond that makes resistance nearly impossible."

"Like a mating bond?" I asked, the words feeling strange on my tongue.

"Similar, but more... immediate. More overwhelming.” Varik's fingers tapped a restless rhythm against the table. "In Wonderland, Alpha commands can create a temporary bridgebetween minds—a precursor to a full mating bond. It's how they establish dominance before claiming an Omega completely."

I shuddered, remembering the invasive feeling of Chi's command reaching for something deep inside me. "So he was showing me what it would feel like if someone tried to...claim me?"

"Yes," Varik nodded, his expression grave. "And you needed to experience it in a controlled environment, with someone who wouldn't actually complete the claim." His eyes met mine, unusually serious. "Chi may be many things, but he wouldn't take advantage of you that way."

"Are you sure about that?" I asked, unable to keep the skepticism from my voice. "He seems to enjoy pushing boundaries."

A flicker of something—amusement, perhaps—crossed Varik's face. "Chi enjoys chaos, certainly. But he has principles, buried though they may be beneath centuries of mischief."

"Centuries?" I echoed, nearly choking on my tea. "Just how old are you two?"

Varik's smile was enigmatic. "Time moves differently in Wonderland. Let's just say we've seen many Queens rise and fall."

I sipped more tea, allowing its warmth to soothe the lingering tension in my body. "He's... different than I expected. Not just the cat from my childhood memories."

"None of us are quite what you remember," Varik said, his voice softening. "Wonderland changes us all, over time. Shapes us to its needs."

"And what does Wonderland need from me?" I asked, the question that had been building since I'd first arrived finally finding voice.

Varik's expression grew distant, those wild eyes seeing something beyond the kitchen walls. "Balance, perhaps. Renewal. Or simply change." He focused on me again.

As he was about to speak again, Chi materialized in the chair across from me, and next to Varik.

"We have a visitor," Chi announced without preamble, his tail flicking with agitation behind him. "The White Rabbit is at our western boundary, bearing news and warnings."

Varik straightened immediately, all traces of weariness vanishing from his posture. "What kind of warnings?"

"The kind that suggest our timeline has accelerated considerably," Chi replied, his usual playfulness subdued. "All four monarchs are mobilizing. The Queens have recalled their scouts. The King of Diamonds has sealed his borders, and the King of Spades is personally investigating... disturbances." His teal eyes flicked meaningfully to me.

"They know I'm here," I said, the realization settling like a stone in my stomach.

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