Page 15 of Maddie

“Wh—”

Osanna’s hand landed on his knee and slid up his inner thigh. Noah attempted to shift away but she tugged him closer. “Don’t be coy, human,” she whispered in his ear. Her hand skimmed down the opposite thigh and back up. “You seem not to have any sensitive bite marks hiding here. Did she bring you here to feed a different sort of appetite?”

Noah opened his mouth to tell her he had no idea what she meant when Osanna cupped his balls over his trousers. He attempted to wiggle out of her touch, but she simply began stroking him, effectively holding him in place. “Excuse me,” he shouted.

“Unlike her, I like to mix business with pleasure.” This time the words took on an edge of anger—anger directed at Maddie. “If the Hatter wants to hide Ever from my queen, I will see no reason not to break her toy.”

“I’m not a toy.” His heart pounded in his chest, his muscles begging him torun!But he was trapped. Paralyzed by fear and cornered by a predator.

“Silly boy.” Osanna laughed. “Of course you are.”

Osana lunged forward, her teeth slicing through the flesh of his throat. Blinding pain radiated from Noah’s neck. He sucked in a breath to shout when she covered his mouth. Pressure built beneath her bite, the agony coming in waves as she sucked and released with each mouthful of his blood. He kicked out, sending the goblets of blood on the table shattering to the ground. Then the pain dissolved into a wave of pure ecstasy. Noah moaned, feeling the suction at his neck all the way down to his swelling cock. Osanna’s hand stroked him over his trousers as she continued to drink from him. His eyes fluttered and his back arched into her touch.

Noah’s limbs fell limp at his sides, useless and weak. But he didn’t care. Not when he was experiencing the most intense pleasure of his life.

Osanna ripped herself free from his throat. Noah slumped backward and slid down, his head bent at an unnatural angle into the crease of the cushions. He didn’t mind the discomfort as euphoria washed over him.

“Delicious,” she rasped. “You would’ve been wonderful to bottle. Too late now.”

Noah moaned as the room faded in and out of focus. “Maddie,” he called as pain began to leak through the bliss. Or … he tried to call for her. His voice didn’t seem to be working anymore.No,he cried out, the word never making it to his mouth.I can’t die here. Not like this! I still have to save Alice.

Osanna stood, wiped at the corners of her mouth, and lifted her new headpiece again. “I shall let the Hatter know I’m finished,” she purred as Noah continued to bleed out.

Chapter Seven

Maddie

Maddie wandered the bare halls to the library to meet Osanna’s housekeeper, Robin, for her payment. Osanna was a flashy female, golden and silver gowns, sapphire and emerald headpieces. But she wasn’t much for decoration around her home. Maddie could easily spiff up the place if Osanna asked her to. Walls lined with ruby cloches and bronze bowlers would be positively delightful.

And then she remembered Noah… She hadn’t wanted to leave the mortal with Osanna, yet it wasn’t as if she hadn’t left humans with her unattended before. If anything, she may take a small bite from him, have a quick drink, but no permanent damage would be done.

Maddie rounded the corner to find the library door wide open. Inside were two high-back green velvet chairs, an elegant ivory table, a fireplace accompanied by walls and walls of books, mostly erotic. She didn’t think Osanna even knew how to read—it would be too much work for her. The tomes were just there to look pretty or to supply her with pictures for browsing in her boredom.

Where was that blasted Robin? She was usually in here. While waiting for the housekeeper to show up, Maddie pored over each pristine book, not a single crack or bend in their spines. “Oh,” she said, coming to a stop on a bright white one with golden letters. She drew out theKama Sutrabook and flipped through its crisp pages.

She arched a brow as she took in each position—delicate, rough, unusual. “I’ve done that one. Definitely that one. Wouldn’t do that one. Ah, that one I certainly like. Bloody hell, how do you even get in that position?”

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, pulling Maddie out of her rehashing of past partners. She pushed the book back into its place and peered up as Robin’s blonde head entered the room. “There you are,” Maddie sang, gliding toward the housekeeper across the floor and holding out her hand. “Payment?”

Robin bowed with a strange smirk and took out a silver key from her pocket. The housekeeper had been here for years, unlike the Queen of Hearts who constantly replaced the majority of her servants after she grew bored. Osanna kept hers, or the one. As long as Robin didn’t speak too much, anyway. But Robin would help Osanna with her vicious deeds when necessary. A follower, like Igor was to Dr. Frankenstein.

Robin went to the wall beside one of the bookshelves, wiped away a few specks of dust, and placed a key into the small rectangular jeweled door. It squeaked open and she withdrew a velvet sack that clinked with coins.

Maddie wiggled her fingers as Robin dropped three scarlet coins in her hand, which the Hatter quickly tucked into the skirt of her dress.

“Good day, Robin.” Maddie waved a hand in the air and spun on her heel. Now that she was finished with Osanna for a few months and wouldn’t have to see Imogen for another two weeks, Maddie had the freedom she needed to focus on saving Mouse.

It was time for her to take the mortal and head back to Ferris to figure out what their next step would be. When Maddie delivered Imogen’s hat to the Ruby Heart Palace, she would have to try and make a move—Mouse had been there too long. And she also needed to figure out what the bloody hell to do with Alice, who couldn’t stay in hiding for the rest of her life. But wasn’t that what Ever was doing? When, if ever, would the White Queen finally make her appearance? Maddie had thought she would’ve already returned by now. Unless something was wrong…

As Maddie turned the corner of the hallway, Osanna’s green hair flowed around her when she stepped out from the sitting room, her golden robe dragging on the floor. The sapphire hat Maddie had made was atop Osanna’s head, and the immortal brought a hand to her own face. To wipe away a streak of blood from her chin… Maddie halted. She must’ve decided to have a small snack from Noah. Maddie would apologize to him, then they would be on their merry way.

“Your human tasted lovely, Hatter.” Osanna grinned, bringing a hand to her fascinator. “But I may havepurposelygotten carried away. Now, clean his body up and leave. Robin will walk you out and I’ll see you in two months.” She paused, her grin growing wider. “You know better than to cross my queen—she’ll find Ever soon enough.”

Maddie couldn’t show her concern. Not for the mortal and not for Ever. Even though her heart thrummed faster in her chest. “As I told our queen, if I stumbled upon Ever, I would escort her myself to the Ruby Heart Palace with a brand-new white hat atop her head. I have the perfect one ready with lace and—”

“Next time, bring each of us a dessert, along with the hat thatI’lluse on Ever.” With that, Osanna turned on her heel, swaying her hips as she headed down the hallway.

Gritting her teeth, Maddie rushed into the room. The metallic scent of Noah’s blood permeated the air, strong, so strong. She yearned for just one taste, for her tongue to gather his flavor. But she shook the allure away and found Noah slumped on the settee, deep crimson blooming at the spots where Osanna drank from him. “Oh dear.” What did the curious mortal do? Ask too many questions?

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