Page 23 of Knave

“Ah, yes, Mama’s glorious tales.” Maddie grinned, placing the hat on her head. “It made our roleplaying decisions easy.”

Mouse folded her hands in her lap. “I don’t want to be the hero of this story, but I do want to make it easier for you and the others.”

Maddie furrowed her brow. “I don’t like the sound of this, Margo.”

Mouse studied her sister’s concerned face and she couldn’t hold back her emotions. She threw her arms around Maddie, squeezing her tight. “I’m sorry for earlier. I’m sorry for the past few months.”

“You don’t have to apologize for anything,” Maddie murmured, brushing a loose tendril from Mouse’s plait behind her ear. “If I had known what that sick bastard had done to you, I would’ve left the safe house and slaughtered his arse myself. Stabbed him with a thousand hatpins, then cut him into the smallest of pieces before setting them on fire.”

“That was one reason I didn’t tell you—I didn’t want you to risk yourself again. But most of all, I thought it would be easier to keep everything inside, that it would go away.” Things never truly went away, though—they just lessened over time. Even after Mr. Taylor ripped away her virginity, she was still haunted by the good times they’d had when he’d courted her. And shehatedthat.

“Think of a hat,” Maddie said. “There is only so much fabric and pins you can place on and in it before it will tip over and bleed to death.”

“I love your analogies.” Mouse smiled softly. “That would be quite the bloody predicament.”

“The bloodiest,” Maddie sang, then she drew back, her expression serious. “Now tell me what you’re planning. I assume I won’t want to throw a tea party in celebration of it.”

Mouse stood and adjusted her skirts to avoid her sister’s staring, then took a seat on the chaise. “You certainly won’t. But I need you to do me a favor.”

Maddie pressed closer to her sister. “No more beating around the bush,” she sang.

“I need you to take care of Des.” Mouse took the sleeping caterpillar from inside her pocket and placed her in the center of Maddie’s palm. “I’m going on a little adventure with Ferris.”

Maddie’s lips tilted up at the edges in delight, one of her eyebrows quirking as she tucked Des into the pocket of her skirt. “A sexy adventure? It’s about damn time. This will be good for you, sister.”

“What?” Mouse shrilled, her blood coursing through her veins, straight to her heart where the blasted organ wasagreeing. “Ferris is myfriend.” A friend who she liked kissing. A friend whose salty skin she wanted to feel her teeth on. A friend who she wanted to see naked on his bed again. Or preferably her lips on hiswhilehe was naked, then pleasuring one another, taking him in between her lips, her tongue swirling around that piercing of his.Oh, heavens… Her body was growing warm, too warm.

Maddie cocked her head, her eyebrow still arched, disbelieving.

“I’m going with him to Red!” Mouse hissed.

“Red!” Maddie screeched back. “No. No, no, no. Are you mad?”

“Maybe we’re all a bit mad here.” Mouse laughed softly and lifted a brow in return.

“This is no laughing matter, Margo! The Jabberwocky is venturing wherever the hell it wants to now. It isn’t as if the fucker is nestled away like before!”

“Then it may not even be in Red.” Mouse shrugged. “Besides, Red’s a big place. We’ve been there together,remember? Before Ever sends guards in search of the beast there, I want to see if we can find a hidden way to kill it so they don’t get themselves slaughtered. It would be beneficial for the guards to remain here for the time being after the recent attack anyway.”

Maddie scowled and Mouse could see in her sister’s gaze that she knew she was right about the guards. “Wouldn’t someone have found an answer already if one existed?”

“I don’t believe anyone haslookedbefore.” Mouse folded her arms. “Remember when we had a tea party in the abandoned palace? You, me, and…” Her voice trailed off before she could say March’s name. He’d asked Ever to kill him and she had to accept his decision.

“Ever was so mad!” Maddie laughed.

“Yes, mad we didn’t invite her,” Mouse pointed out. “Anyway, we never thoroughly searched the palace. Maybe there is something hidden?”

“You know what? You’re right.” Maddie waved a hand in the air and stood from the chaise. “I’m coming with you.”

She then spun on her heel and Mouse hauled her back by the arm. “You will do no such thing.”

“And whyever not?”

“You went to werewolf territory to save Alice, where hundreds andhundredsof snarling beasts live. This is only one monster. Let me do this alone with Ferris. I know how to hide well. The more people go, the more chance of being spotted.” She held up a finger. “And hush. You will not go with Ferris.Me. I’m going to meet him at the entrance now. This might be a way to find myself again. Not sit in the palace and dwell or drink blood in the mortal world day after day.”

Maddie pursed her lips while holding Mouse’s gaze, then relented. “Fine. You deserve to do this, to make your own choices. But you do need to be careful since you’ve been craving fresh blood even more so lately. When you return, if you want me to come with you while you feed, I can make sure you don’t get carried away. I’m your big sister and I’m always here for you.”

“I would like that.” She released a breath. “But I’m going to drink powdered blood every day, and Ferris is going to have cold bags right when we leave.” Mouse ignored the hunger churning in her stomach at the thought of blood.

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