Page 22 of Knave

“Mouse should stay,” Ferris added firmly, though he couldn’t stop the wince. He knew Mouse would hate him making choices for her.

“I’m going,” Mouse snarled.

Ever played one long, drawn out note and stared at Ferris. “Will you leave her here alone?”

He couldn’t distract himself, couldn’t run from his problems, if they followed him. He wanted to kiss her again. Sink his fangs into her, drink her blood, see what she tasted like, the way she used to taste him when he was human. Touch her. Listen to her moan his name as he—Shit. No.Friends. They werefriends.“She won’t be alone. You and Maddie are here.”

“Yes, but it’s not me or Maddie who she creeps in bed with almost every night, is it?” Ever raised a brow in challenge, then focused on Mouse, color filling her cheeks, before the queen looked back at him. “I think she should go. Getting out of Ivory might be good for her bloodlust. Besides, I know what a strong fighter she is, how vicious she can be, how smart, and how well she can help you hide if you encounter the Jabberwocky.”

Ferris clenched his jaw. Ever had a point though—Mouse was strong and clever. “All right,” he agreed.

Mouse raised her chin and stared at him with an unreadable expression.No.Perhaps not unreadable. Part pride, part hurt. Part something else.

Ever smiled and ran her bow across the strings, playing another song, deep and hopeful. They left the queen there to play and he forced his thoughts away from being completely alone with Mouse on a probably-perilous journey as he jogged up the stairs. Mouse moved slower, taking the steps one at a time.

If there wasn’t a fresh mortal to feed from, it wouldn’t really be good for her problem, but Ever had known Mouse longer than him, had been a vampire even longer than that. He would trust that she knew what she was talking about.

“We should get a good sleep in before we leave.” Ferris rubbed the back of his neck, unsure if Mouse would want to join him in his room now that he’d pissed her off. He wanted her to—healwayswanted her to. He was even willing to keep his clothes on tonight. After their kiss, he didn’t want to sleep next to Mouse naked. Though maybe she wouldn’t mind it. Maybe she wouldn’t even mind crawling under the covers with him now… Damn it,no.

“I’ll pack in the morning,” she said in a cool tone. “We can talk about our strategy as we travel.”

Ferris nodded and Mouse appeared pacified as she strode around him, into his room. He hesitated in the hallway, the memory of her grinding against him flashing through his mind.

“Coming?” she called from inside the room.

“Yes, sorry,” he replied as he walked toward his doorway.Though, not in the way I’d liketo be coming.

Chapter Ten

Mouse

Red was a deserted wasteland that Mouse had only ventured to a handful of times. Neither Ever nor Imogen had been interested in claiming that part of Wonderland as their own, but now that Ever was working with Chess to unite their territories, that might change one day. However, they didn’t want to revive the desolate territory if the Jabberwocky was constantly a threat. The Jabberwocky needed to be eliminated for the safety of all of Wonderland, but how could one destroy a beast with a body like iron?

A mystery indeed.

A mystery that was in dire need of being solved.

What Mouse needed were the witches fromMacbeth. If witches were real, she would have one cast a spell on the Jabberwocky or at least offer a prophecy on how to kill the wretched monster.

Mouse hummed lightly while she finished packing her bag with a few changes of clothes, dried packets of blood, a few canteens of water, and daggers. She’d gotten plenty of sleep with Ferris and she was supposed to meet him at the palace’s entrance once she finished. But she tried not to focus on what had happened the night before—his hot mouth on hers, the way she’d ground her hips into his, how delicious his flesh tasted against her tongue, how his hard length had nestled into her softness, even with clothing on. If he hadn’t stopped, she knew she wouldn’t have. And she wished he wouldn’t have either.

Pushing away the heat that was spreading to her center, she slipped her gun in her boot, then straightened. The main reason Ever had agreed for Mouse to journey with Ferris was because the queen didn’t want to keep her trapped like Imogen had. It was one thing for Ever to say she wasn’t ready to be a guard, but a whole different matter to forbid her to go somewhere entirely. Ferris hadn’t wanted her to go at first, but she’d forgiven him since he hadn’t fought her on it again.

A nagging sensation tugged at Mouse—there had to be something valuable in Red, some sort of clue that would hint at a way to destroy the Jabberwocky. The Red Queen had been a vicious twat from what Mouse had heard over the centuries, even Imogen and Rav had agreed on that. What was suspicious, though, was why such a tyrant allowed a terrifying beast to live in her territory if she’d possibly had a way to destroy it herself?

Mouse peered at Des, who lay curled on top of the mostly-eaten leaf, her mouth parted as she lightly snored. Selfishly, Mouse wanted to bring her good luck charm on the journey for her own comfort, but she needed to learn she couldn’t drag the caterpillar everywhere, especially since she wasn’t certain when she would return. The only one of their group who had been to Red in recent years was Chess, back when Maddie led him on a wild goose chase in search of Ever. But he’d returned just fine, not even spotting the Jabberwocky while there, so Maddie shouldn’t get her panties in a twist when Mouse informed her what she was about to do.

Adjusting her backpack, Mouse then scooped up Des’s sleeping form, tucking the caterpillar into the front pocket of her dress to bring to her sister.

Mouse stepped into the hallway and walked to Maddie’s room and knocked on the door. Her sister didn’t answer, so she headed downstairs to the drawing room where she found her sister asleep on the chaise, thread and felt in her lap. Maddie’s purple curls were mussed and her black and white striped hat rested on the velvet cushion beside her head.

Mouse’s heart ached at the sight. Before she met up with Ferris, she needed to discuss a few matters with Maddie. She couldn’t leave Ivory after the last few outbursts she’d had with her sister—she needed a clear conscience so she could focus on the task at hand.

Kneeling beside the chaise, she cupped Maddie’s cheek. “Big sister, wake up.”

Maddie’s eyes flew open, her honey-colored irises shining from sleep. “Mouse.” She sat up, patting the cushion for her hat.

“I have to tell you something,” Mouse whispered. “Remember the stories Mama used to tell us when we were younger? You always wanted to be the hero and I wanted to be saved?”

---