Page 43 of Knot My Wonderland

The King’s lips turned into a small smile, “I see something to protect…something to cherish.”

His words sent an unexpected warmth through me, at odds with the chill that emanated from him. I wasn't sure if it was a trap or genuine sentiment, but either way, I needed to be careful.

"That's quite a claim from someone I just met," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "Especially when you're testing my defenses like they're a fortress to breach."

The King of Spades inclined his head slightly, acknowledging my point. "Caution is wise. I would think less of you if you trusted easily." He traced another pattern against my ward, this time leaving no frost in his wake. "I was merely... assessing your capabilities. One doesn't approach an unknown power blindly."

"And have you finished your assessment?" I asked, unconsciously strengthening the ward where his fingers touched it.

"For now." His eyes followed the ripple of silver light that responded to my will. "You have the Hatter's protection, I see. And the Cheshire's interest. Unusual allies for a newcomer."

I lifted my chin. "They've been kind to me."

"Kind," he repeated, as if tasting the word. "An uncommon quality in Wonderland. But then, the Hatter has always been... exceptional." The King's gaze drifted past me toward the house. "And where are your protectors now, I wonder? Leaving you to face a monarch alone seems rather careless."

"They're attending to matters that concern me," I replied, trying to match his formal tone. "And as you can see, I'm quite capable of protecting myself."

The King laughed then, a sound like ice cracking over deep water. "Indeed you are. Which makes you all the more valuable."

A tendril of shadow extended from his sleeve, hovering just before my ward. "May I demonstrate something for you, Alice? I promise it won't harm your impressive creation."

I hesitated, then nodded cautiously. "Go ahead."

The shadow tendril touched the barrier delicately, and where it made contact, the silver-gold light parted slightly—not breaking, but creating a small window through which I could see the King more clearly.

"A technique I developed centuries ago," he explained, his voice carrying more easily through the opening. "Not to destroy barriers, but to communicate through them. Useful for diplomatic situations."

I studied the phenomenon with fascination. The ward remained intact, its integrity uncompromised, yet a clear channel had formed.

"You could have done this from the beginning," I observed. "Instead of testing the boundaries."

The King's smile was almost approving. "I wanted to see how your magic would respond.”

The shadow tendril retracted, the window closing seamlessly behind it. "Your ward is... conscious in a way I've rarely encountered. It adapts, learns. Most impressive."

"Thank you," I said, still wary but increasingly curious about this enigmatic monarch. "But you still haven't told me why you're really here."

The King of Spades studied me for a long moment, his ice-blue eyes calculating. "I've come to offer you an alternative."

"An alternative to what?" I asked warily.

"To the inevitable war the Queens will start over you." He gestured elegantly with one hand, shadows flowing like liquid from his fingertips. "The Red Queen will demandyour submission, forcing your magic to serve her bloodthirsty ambitions. The Queen of Clubs will attempt to seduce you with promises of freedom while binding you with invisible chains."

I crossed my arms. "And what do you offer?”

"Partnership," the King said simply. "Not servitude, not manipulation—a genuine alliance."

The word hung in the air between us, unexpected enough to give me pause. I'd been prepared for threats, perhaps even seduction, but not this straightforward proposal.

"What kind of partnership?" I asked cautiously.

"One that acknowledges your unique connection to Wonderland," he replied, shadows shifting around him like a living cloak. "The Queens see you as a tool to be used. I recognize you as something more... fundamental."

He moved parallel to my ward, shadows trailing in his wake like ink through water. "Wonderland responds to you in ways I've only seen once before, centuries ago. The magic doesn't just allow your use—it embraces you."

"The first Queen," I guessed, remembering Chi's stories.

The King's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes. The First Queen. Before Wonderland fractured into competing courts." His voice softened with what might have been reverence. "She didn't command the magic—she communed with it. Wonderland itself recognized her as its voice, its heart."

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