Page 85 of Knot My Wonderland

"Theoretically, yes," the King replied, shadows shifting thoughtfully. "But it would require channeling significant energy through your connection—energy you might need if the Red Queen attempts a direct assault while we're distracted."

I didn't hesitate. "I don't care. Tell me how to do it."

The Spade King laughed, “Demanding little thing aren’t you.”

"This isn't the time for amusement," I snapped, feeling Chi's form destabilize further through our bond. The silver patterns beneath my skin blazed brighter as his distress intensified. "Tell me how to help him."

The King's expression sobered instantly, shadows coiling with purpose. "Focus on the bond itself—not Chi's location, but the connection between you. Channel your energy along that thread, use it to reinforce his molecular cohesion."

I closed my eyes, reaching for the silver thread that connected us across space and realities. Through it, I could feel Chi'sdesperate struggle to maintain physical form long enough to place the final device. The corrupted energy surrounding the seventh anchor point clawed at his essence like acid.

"That's it," the King murmured, his shadows flowing closer. "Now push your stability through the connection. Give him something solid to anchor himself to."

I poured my energy through the bond, feeling the silver patterns beneath my skin dim as power flowed from me to Chi. Through our connection, I felt his form solidify, the effects of the corrupted anchor point pushed back by my stabilizing presence.

"It's working," I breathed, swaying slightly as the energy transfer left me momentarily drained. Through the bond, I felt Chi's relief as he successfully placed the final device and began to phase away from the dangerous location.

"All devices are in position," the King announced, shadows flickering with satisfaction. "Varik should trigger them within moments."

As if summoned by his words, the Observatory's miniature landscape suddenly blazed with seven points of brilliant light. The synchronized explosions tore reality itself at each anchor point, creating swirling vortexes that consumed the Blood Mages' carefully constructed ritual circles.

I took a deep breath in relief, thankful it worked. Now to wait to see what happened next.

Chapter Thirty-One

Alice

Through the Observatory, I watched as the Blood Mages' formation collapsed in spectacular fashion. Seven spiraling tears in reality consumed their anchor points, leaving the crimson-robed figures stumbling across the miniature landscape like drunken dancers. The stolen life force they'd accumulated dissipated into the air like crimson smoke, returning to the villages and territories from which it had been taken.

"Magnificent," the King of Spades murmured, his shadows rippling with what might have been satisfaction. "Varik's devices exceeded even my expectations."

Through Chi's bond, I felt his exhaustion as he phased back toward the Sanctuary, his form more stable now that the corrupted energies no longer interfered with his molecular cohesion. The Heart Stone pulsed against my chest as Heart's relief flooded through our connection—the diversionaryattacks had succeeded, and his fighters were withdrawing to predetermined rally points.

"The Red Queen won't take this defeat lightly," I said, watching as the tiny crimson figures on the Observatory map began regrouping around their leader. Even at this distance, I could see her fury in the way she gestured, blood magic crackling around her like living lightning. "She'll escalate again."

"Undoubtedly," the King agreed, his shadows coiling with anticipation. "But without the Blood Mages' ritual, her options become more limited. She'll be forced into direct confrontation rather than the systematic draining she preferred."

Through Chi's bond, I felt him drawing closer to the Sanctuary, though his exhaustion made the journey slower than usual. The energy I'd channeled to stabilize him had created a deeper connection between us—I could sense his thoughts more clearly now, feel the fierce protectiveness that drove him back to my side despite his depleted state.

"You've strengthened your bond with Chi," the King observed, his shadows shifting thoughtfully. "The energy you channeled to stabilize him has created a more permanent connection than either of you anticipated."

I pressed my hand to my chest where the silver patterns continued to pulse in rhythm with Chi's distant heartbeat. "It feels... deeper. Like I can sense his thoughts now, not just his emotions."

"The foundational bond evolves with use," the King explained, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "Each time you support each other, the connection grows stronger, more nuanced…and once you form a mate bond...that will make it unbreakable."

I glanced at him at the word mate bond, I knew that was where these bonds will go, but it is still something I haven’t fully registered. I shook my head as I made myself focus while I watched the Red Queen's forces retreat across the miniaturelandscape, abandoning their planned advance in favor of regrouping around their monarch. The villages they'd targeted stood momentarily reprieved, tiny figures emerging cautiously from hiding places to assess the damage.

"They'll be safe for now," I murmured, tracing the outline of a small village with my fingertip. "But for how long?"

The King of Spades moved closer, his shadows flowing like liquid night around the Observatory. "Long enough for Heart's resistance to evacuate the most vulnerable. The Red Queen will need time to develop a new strategy now that her Blood Mages have been neutralized."

I felt Chi's presence growing stronger through our bond as he approached the Sanctuary's boundaries. His exhaustion weighed on me like a physical burden, but beneath it burned a fierce determination to return to my side. The Heart Stone pulsed with matching urgency as Heart gathered his fighters for extraction.

"They're coming back," I said, feeling both connections pulling toward me with increasing strength.

"Yes," the King acknowledged, his shadows retreating slightly as if preparing for confrontation, "They will be exhausted and probably want to make strategies for when The Red Queen will attack next.”

The Tweedles, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during my exchange with the King, suddenly shifted closer to the entrance.

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