Page 40 of Knot My Wonderland

"He'll be impressed before he's angry," Chi assured me, though the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested he was looking forward to Varik's reaction. "Creating a ward, thiscomplex, usually requires years of study, not minutes of instruction."

I gazed up at the shimmering dome, feeling strangely connected to it, as if it were an extension of myself. Every ripple in its surface registered in my awareness like a touch against my skin.

"I can feel it," I murmured, turning slowly to take in the full scope of what I'd created. "Everything it touches... it's like having extra senses."

"Wonderland Royalty can create wards as well, but they require rituals, sacrifice, and often multiple magic users working in concert," Chi continued, his voice hushed with something like awe. "You've done it instinctively, with minimal guidance."

I swayed slightly, a wave of exhaustion suddenly washing over me. The silver light beneath my skin dimmed, and I felt my knees buckle. Chi materialized beside me instantly, his form solidifying enough to catch me before I fell.

"Easy," he murmured, his arm surprisingly solid around my waist. "The first projection always drains energy. Your body isn't accustomed to channeling that much magic at once."

I leaned against him, too tired to worry about propriety or the strange tension that had been building between us. "You could have warned me."

"Would you have attempted it if I had?" Chi asked, his voice tinged with amusement as he helped steady me.

"Probably not," I admitted, feeling the warmth of his semi-solid form against my side. Despite his shifting nature, he felt surprisingly substantial when he chose to be.

"Precisely why I didn't mention it," Chi replied, guiding me toward a stone bench that seemed to materialize exactly where we needed it. "Wonderland magic responds to confidence, not hesitation."

As we sat, I could feel the ward pulsing gently around us, like a heartbeat encompassing the entire property. "It's beautiful," I murmured, watching silver ripples cascade across the dome's surface. "I didn't know I could create something like this."

"Few do, until they try," Chi said, his usually sardonic tone softened with something like respect. "That's the tragedy of most who come to Wonderland.”

"What do you mean?" I asked, turning to face him.

Chi's eyes shifted, their teal depths darkening to something almost sapphire. "Most visitors to Wonderland never discover what they're truly capable of. They're too afraid, too attached to the rules of their world." His tail curled thoughtfully behind him. "They see Wonderland as madness rather than possibility."

I considered this, watching the silver patterns still visible beneath my skin. "Maybe madness and possibility aren't so different here."

"Now you're understanding," Chi said, his smile genuine rather than mocking. "Wonderland doesn't distinguish between the two."

The ward pulsed overhead, responding to my thoughts like a living thing. I could feel every inch of it, from where it brushed against treetops to where it sank deep into the earth, creating a perfect sphere of protection.

"Will it keep the Queens out?" I asked, relaxing slightly as the initial exhaustion began to fade.

Chi tilted his head, considering. "It will certainly slow them down. Alert you to their presence." His tail flicked thoughtfully. "The Red Queen might be able to breach it eventually—she specializes in destructive magic. The Queen of Clubs would take longer, as her strengths lie in manipulation rather than force."

"And the Kings?" I asked, remembering the complex political situation I'd stumbled into.

"The King of Diamonds would analyze it first, looking for weaknesses," Chi replied, his form shifting slightly as he spoke. "He's the most patient of the monarchs, preferring to understand rather than simply overpower." He paused, his expression growing more serious. "The King of Spades, however... he's the one I'd be most concerned about."

"Why?" I asked, feeling a chill at Chi's suddenly somber tone.

"Because the King of Spades specializes in shadow magic," Chi explained, his voice dropping lower. "He doesn't attack barriers—he slips between them, finding the spaces where light doesn't quite reach."

I glanced up at my ward, noticing how the silver-gold light created subtle shadows where it overlapped. "So this wouldn't stop him?"

"It would alert you to his presence," Chi clarified, "which is more than most defenses manage. The King of Spades moves unseen when he wishes to." His tail curled thoughtfully. "But your ward has an advantage even his shadow magic might struggle with."

"What's that?" I asked, a frown on my face.

Chi reached out, his semi-solid fingers brushing against my cheek in a touch so light it felt like a breeze. "It's alive in a way most wards aren't. It carries your consciousness, your intent. Shadow magic excels at bypassing mindless barriers, but consciousness... that's different. That's something even the King of Spades must reckon with."

The gentleness in his touch surprised me. For all his teasing and provocative comments, there was something almost reverent in the way his fingers traced my cheek.

"You're an enigma, Alice," he murmured, his teal eyes studying me with an intensity that made my heart quicken. "Even to someone who's seen centuries of Wonderland's mysteries."

I swallowed, suddenly aware of how close we were sitting. "I'm just trying to survive this place."

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