Page 41 of Cheshire's Smile
I reluctantly drew away from Cheshire. “We have to go to the Human Realm. It’s the only place that’s safe. At least until the sapling can reach maturity or—”
“Someone becomes High King,” a deep voice finished for me.
All eyes turned to the fae male who entered. The Reaper, or Eugene as he was known, was an older version of Dorian, with a few harder qualities to his face than his son. His eyes were almost black over blue, and his skin was so pale it was almost translucent to the viewer. Unlike his son he wore a ratty black cowl over his body, leaving his feet bare on the floor.
I didn’t know how Eugene became the Reaper, no one did, and I wasn’t about to be the one to ask.
“Or Queen,” Morgana interjected with a sneer. “Don’t be such a misogynist.” She leaned her face on her hand, elbow onthe couch arm. There was no love in her eyes for the fae who would one day reap her soul.
Eugene inclined his head, not bothered by the acid in her voice. “Yes. Or Queen. Unfortunately, someone cannot simply take the place,” he continued before anyone could volunteer. “It requires going through a great many trials. Trials that most normal fae would not be able to endure.”
His eyes settled on me for a long moment before they passed back to glance at the others. “However, that is not something we need to worry about just now. Alice? I believe I have someone that you wish to see.”
I swallowed thickly, licking my lips to wet them. “Yes, please tell me he’s here.”
A small sad smile lifted his lips. “Yes, Hatter is here. But I’m afraid, he may not be leaving the same way he came.”
My brows pinched together as my heart stuttered in my chest. “Wha—what do you mean?”
Cheshire wrapped his arms around me from behind, holding me close to his chest. I let myself be comforted by his presence for a moment before he lifted my head to meet his gaze.
“Alice, pet. I’m afraid Hatter has the sickness.”
Chapter 19
No one and nothing else mattered. I shoved passed Cheshire and the gaping twins and raced through the doorway Eugene had entered. Dorian stepped out of a room, his expression grim.
“Is he?” I swallowed barely able to speak around the knot in my throat.
Dorian nodded. “He’s in there.”
The scent of sickness pressed on my back telling me that Cheshire was following me. I didn’t wait for him. If I did, I’d cry. I’d fall apart and I wasn’t sure if I would get back up again.
Forging forward, I braced myself for what was to come. I knew in my heart that Hatter’s sickness was not like Cheshire’s. If it had been they wouldn’t be hiding him away. No, Hatter... Mercury had to be worse and I didn’t know if I could take it.
I pushed the already half opened door and stepped into the room. The scent of sickness overwhelmed my senses. I powered through. My gaze solely focused on the male laying in large bed in the middle of the room.
Long silvery hair was spread across the pillow. Someone had a bowl with a washcloth sitting beside the bed as if they had just finished washing the sweat from his brow. His body shook with tremors and yet he was covered in piles of blankets. His handsome face had grown gaunt and deep bruises sat beneath his eyes. It broke my heart. I hardly recognized the male who had spent the last year with me.
“M... Mercury,” I gasped, my hand over my mouth before I stumbled across the room to fall at his bedside.
Those gorgeous silver orbs opened painstakingly slow. A small smile curling his lips. “Alice darling,” he croaked and then fell into a coughing fit.
I clasped his hand in mine, clinging to him as I brought a cup of water from the bedside to his mouth. “Oh, Mercury.” I could barely breath each word, a painful stab in my chest. “Why did you come back here? None of this would have happened if you’d just stayed home.”
Hatter sipped from the cup before weakly lifting his hand to my face. “I couldn’t let my heart go on uncomplete.” His gaze flickered over my shoulder and I knew the others were there watching. I didn’t care.
It didn’t matter if Carban and Coby knew how much I cared for Hatter. It didn’t matter if I showed all my cards right then and there. I was about to lose one of the pieces of my heart right now and I could do nothing about it.
“But it’s not,” I argued, holding the hand firmly to my face. “I’m right here. Aren’t I enough?”
Hatter made a sound that was supposed to be a laugh before he began coughing again. After a small sip of water, he stroked a finger under my eyes brushing away the tears. “You were always enough for me, Alice darling. But you were not complete.”
I followed his gaze as it shifted over my shoulder. Cheshire stepped forward and knelt beside me on the floor, his arm wrapping around my shoulder while his other hand sat on top of Hatter’s lap. For a brief moment, I let my eyes bob over the twins. Not wanting to see the mistrust in their expression, I turned back to Hatter.
“I don’t understand.”
Cheshire squeezed my shoulder. His eyes locked on Hatter. “Don’t you though? Hatter knew what you were missing before even you did. It’s only right that he would want to bring them back to you.” Cheshire glanced over at the twins, still speaking, “Because without all of us, you are not Alice. And Hatter wouldn’t be who he is, if he was selfish enough to keep you to himself.”
