Page 47 of Knot My Wonderland

As they drew closer, I could see the differences between the twins. One wore clothing of midnight blue with silver embroidery, their movements precise and angular. The other dressed in pale blue that shifted colors like opals, their gestures fluid and dreamlike. Both had eyes that seemed to reflect starlight, but where one's gaze was sharp and assessing, the other's was distant and contemplative.

"Alice," Varik called, spotting us in the moonlight. "I didn't expect you to be awake—" He stopped abruptly, his wild green eyes widening as he took in the shimmering dome of my ward. "What is this?"

Before I could answer, the Tweedles pushed forward, moving in perfect synchronicity despite their apparent disagreements.

"The dreamer has created a consciousness ward," said the one in midnight blue, voice clipped and efficient.

"A ward with thoughts and feelings and dreams of its own," added the one in shifting opal, their words flowing like music. They circled me with identical expressions of wonder on their ethereal faces.

“Impossible," said the first twin, examining the ward with clinical precision.

"Inevitable," countered the second, their hands making flowing gestures that left trails of pale light in the air.

"Both correct, as usual," Chi remarked dryly. "Vee, Dee, may I present Alice—though I believe you've met before, under different circumstances." The twins turned to me in perfect unison, their starlight eyes studying me with unnerving intensity.

"She was smaller then," said the one in midnight blue—Vee, I presumed.

"But her dreams were just as large," added Dee, their opalescent clothes rippling like water.

"Alice," Varik interrupted, his voice tight with barely contained emotion, "how exactly did you create this ward? It's far beyond what we've practiced."

I hesitated, glancing at Chi who suddenly seemed very interested in examining his nails. "Chi was teaching me projection techniques. It was just supposed to be a small shield, but..." I gestured at the massive dome encompassing the entire property.

Varik's expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he shot Chi a look that could have frozen fire. "Projection? You taught her offensive magic when she's barely mastered basic shielding?"

"Technically," Chi drawled, materializing a few feet away from Varik's reach, "a ward is defensive, not offensive. And clearly, she was ready for it."

"Remarkable efficiency," Vee observed, producing a silver monocle from nowhere and examining the ward's structure. "Minimal energy waste."

"Beautiful intuition," Dee agreed, their hands weaving through the air as if feeling the ward's texture. "The magic sings with her signature."

"That's not the point," Varik snapped, his hat tilting further as he ran a hand through his wild hair. "Projection techniques require careful preparation. The energy drain alone could have—"

"I'm fine," I interjected, stepping between them. "Yes, I was tired afterward, but I rested and recovered quickly."

Varik turned to me, concern replacing anger in his expression. "Alice, you don't understand. Magic of this magnitude doesn't just drain energy—it leaves traces, signals that can be detected across Wonderland." His eyes searched mine intently. "Creating this ward is like lighting a beacon for anyone looking for you."

"Too late for that particular concern," Chi remarked, his tail flicking with unusual agitation. "We've already had a royal visitor testing our boundaries."

Varik went completely still, before a low snark left him, "Who?"

"The King of Spades," Chi replied, his form rippling with tension. "Paid our Alice a midnight visit while you were away. Quite the personal appearance for a monarch who rarely leaves his shadowed halls."

Varik's expression darkened further, a muscle working in his jaw. "What did he want?"

"An alliance," I answered before Chi could respond. "He offered protection, knowledge, and safe passage through his territories. In exchange for my... partnership."

"Partnership," Varik repeated, the word sharp with skepticism. "The King of Spades doesn't partner with anyone. He collects assets."

"Shadows seek to possess light," Dee murmured, their opalescent robes shifting like mother-of-pearl in moonlight.

"Light cannot be possessed without being diminished," Vee countered, adjusting their silver monocle with precise movements.

"He was more... direct than I anticipated," Chi added, materializing closer to me. "Spoke of the First Queen. Made comparisons that were rather pointed."

The Tweedles, who had been examining my ward with scientific curiosity, suddenly focused their starlight eyes on me.

"The First Queen?" Vee's voice sharpened, their casual examination turning into intense scrutiny.

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