Page 56 of Knave

“We’re wasting time,” Tin grumbled. He lifted his free hand and chanted words in that lyrical language of his while drawing a small rectangle in the air with his fingertip. A green outline formed in the same shape, only taller, wider. A portal like the one she’d seen earlier by the lake.

Tik-Tok removed a jeweled ring from his golden finger. “I’ll owe you one favor, if you ever need it. Put this on and I’ll know you’re ready to call it in. It will only work once though, so don’t be hasty.” He handed her the ring and it glowed a light red, tingling against her fingers. She unzipped the front of her pack and slipped it inside, hoping she would never have to use it.

Tin stepped forward, his axe relaxed at his side, his gaze shifting between Mouse and Ferris. “You did well today.”

“I hope your daughter feels better,” Mouse murmured.

Tin gave a small nod, lifting his weapon over his shoulder while stepping toward the portal.

Pipt ran a hand across the back of his neck. “It was a curse I never believed I would be free from. Centuries like this. Thank you all for freeing me.”

Mouse felt as though she didn’t do much, only threw chains across the Jabberwocky to hold him in place, but the four of them had done it together.

The trio of fae then walked through the portal and the green light flickered before vanishing. Mouse pressed her hand into the space where the portal had been and she felt nothing, not a single buzz of magic.

“This was an unexpected ending,” she said, dropping her hand back to her side.

“Or a fucking miracle.” Ferris sighed, drawing her into his side as she wrapped her arms around him.

“Now, we finally go back to Ivory.” If this wasn’t all a wonderful dream, then that meant the Jabberwocky would no longer terrorize Red, wouldn’t attempt to do the same to Ivory. Rav and Imogen were gone. And now the Jabberwocky was gone. Wonderland could become better. The seductive touch of a vampire, their dark habits, and ravenous appetites would still rule the nights, yet no one would have to worry about getting eaten by a vicious beast.

Mouse and Ferris journeyed back through the forest, finding no sign of any rogue werewolves, only bones scattered or in piles across the ground. After a bit, they reached the edge of Ivory, then crossed into the mortal world since it was still nighttime.

“Are we sure we want to use this portal, luv?” Ferris asked. “I think I know what’s going to happen when we pass through since we had to leap off the bridge to get to it.”

“Why, Ferris, have you never gotten a little wet before?” she drawled, then leapt into the portal with a laugh as he cursed behind her.

“I’m never going through that portal again,” Ferris said once Mouse grabbed his hand, helping him up from the Thames.

“The Knave who is always up for anything, even risking his life to break me out from a palace, is afraid of a little water?” she teased.

He traced a finger across her lips, sending a delicious shiver through her. “Tonight, you’ll pay for making me go through it twice.” A grin spread across his face. “With my tongue between your thighs.”

Mouse blinked, heat creeping up her neck and into her cheeks as he turned and walked away from her. “You can’t go teasing me likethat,” she shouted, catching up with him.

“Oh, well I just did.” He chuckled.

“See you at the palace then.” She smiled and took off with her enhanced speed toward the portal in the cemetery. It didn’t take them long before they crossed back into Wonderland, the alabaster gothic-like palace resting before them.

Noah stood in his Ivory uniform, guarding the front of the castle. “You’re back. It’s about damn time,” he said, pulling open the door for them. “Ever already put a search party together and they were going to leave in two days.”

“Suppose she’ll have to cancel that then, yeah?” Ferris asked.

Noah cocked his head. “Cancel?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Mouse patted Noah’s shoulder. “Let’s just say we don’t have to worry about the beast any longer.”

Noah’s brows shot up as they stepped inside the palace. Mock lingered on guard near the stairs and his lips parted in surprise. “I knew you two would come back.”

“I’m glad you were so confident,” Mouse whispered with a smile. “Can you tell us where Ever is?”

“She’s in the study.” Mock studied her, his lips curling upward. “I like this talking side of you. Don’t go back to being quiet around me.”

“I’ll try.” Mouse left Mock to continue guarding and walked beside Ferris to the study, where the deep sounds of Ever’s viola spilled into the hallway. Mouse could tell by the faster sounds that the queen was stressed, nervous, and she had more than an inkling of why. Not only because they hadn’t returned but because her territory had been at risk.

Ever stood in the middle of the room near a plush white chaise while Chess watched her from behind the desk. He held a stack of papers in his hand, but he wasn’t focused on them—all his attention was on Ever. Chess was the first to notice them, rising from his seat. “Well, well, look what the cat dragged in.” He gave them both a once over before cocking a brow at Ferris. “Do you own a shirt?”

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