Page 101 of Knot My Wonderland: Part Two
I felt the I felt the truth of his words settling into my bones, the shadows beneath my skin responding to his presence like they recognized their origin. It was a strange sensation—not losing myself to the darkness, but discovering that part of me had always belonged there.
"What happens now?" I asked, though through our bond I could already sense his thoughts turning toward tomorrow's challenges. "After the declaration, after we face the Queen... “
Seth's expression grew contemplative, shadows pooling at his feet as he considered the question. "That depends on whether Wonderland survives what's coming," he said quietly. "But if we succeed, if we can purify the corruption..." He paused, his blue eyes meeting mine with startling intensity. "Then we will see how Diamond and Clubs react…and if they will be a problem as well.
"Are they likely to be a problem?" I asked, concern rippling through me. We had enough to deal with in confrontingthe Queen without adding complications from the other royal houses.
Seth's shadows shifted, coiling more tightly around my wrist. "Diamond has remained neutral through most of this conflict, watching from his crystal towers. Clubs..." His expression darkened. "Clubs has always been unpredictable. She tolerates the Queen's madness because it serves his purposes."
"Which are?" I asked titling my head in curiosity.
"Chaos," Seth said simply. "The Clubs Queen thrives on disorder. A corrupted Wonderland offers opportunities she wouldn't have otherwise."
I considered this new information, feeling the weight of tomorrow's confrontation growing heavier. Not just the Queen, but potentially other powerful enemies waiting in the wings.
"One battle at a time," Seth murmured, sensing my concern through our bond. His shadows wrapped more securely around me, offering comfort in their cool embrace. "We deal with the Queen first. Everything else can wait until Wonderland is no longer dying from within."
I nodded, drawing strength from his certainty. Through our connection, I felt his strategic mind already working through contingencies, planning for threats that might emerge after tomorrow's confrontation. But beneath that calculation was something warmer—a fierce protectiveness that made the void magic pulse with dark satisfaction.
"You should rest," Seth said softly, though his shadows seemed reluctant to release me. "Tomorrow will test all of us in ways we can't fully prepare for. That and bonding makes you even more exhausted on top of you coming back from the dimensional pocket."
"Will you stay?" The words escaped before I could stop them, vulnerability bleeding through our bond despite my attempt to remain composed.
Seth's blue eyes softened, ancient loneliness giving way to something warmer. "As long as you wish," he promised, his voice carrying undertones of shadow that made the bond between us hum with contentment.
"Come," Seth said, offering his hand as shadows swirled around us. "I can take us there more quickly than walking."
I placed my hand in his, feeling the void magic respond instantly to my touch. The shadows around us thickened, darkness folding over us like a living blanket until the workshop disappeared entirely. For a breathless moment, we existed in a place of perfect darkness—neither cold nor frightening, but comforting in its infinite quiet.
Then reality reformed around us, and we were in my room. I didn’t feel anyone else around so I assumed thy are busy preparing for the morning.
"It's so quiet," I murmured, noticing the absence of the four bonds. The bond network hummed with their distant presence—they were somewhere in the compound, likely coordinating final preparations.
"They're giving us space," Seth explained, his shadows reluctantly withdrawing from around my wrist though they never completely broke contact. "The void bond needs time to settle without interference, even from other completed connections.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, suddenly aware of how exhausted I truly was. The dimensional transition, the dream of Wonderland, the completed void bond—each had demanded energy I hadn't realized I was spending. The pattern beneath my skin pulsed more sluggishly now, silver and gold light dimmed with fatigue.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," Seth observed, his voice gentle as he moved to sit beside me. "Even with the bonds supporting you, there are limits to what your body can handle."
His shadows curled around my shoulders like a protective cloak, soothing the ache in my magical reserves. Through our bond, I felt his concern mixing with dark satisfaction that I was finally allowing him to care for me without barriers between us.
"I don't have a choice," I said quietly, leaning into his solid warmth. "Every hour we delay, more of Wonderland dies. I can feel it through the pattern—the corruption spreading like poison through the realm's veins."
Seth's arms tightened around me, his voice dropping to that rumbling tone that made shadows dance. "You won't save anyone if you collapse from exhaustion before we reach the Queen."
Through our connection, I felt his memories of other battles, other conflicts where good intentions had led to devastating losses because heroes pushed beyond their limits. The void magic within him stirred restlessly, ancient power recognizing the truth "You're right," I admitted, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling deeper into my bones. "I just feel like there's no time."
Seth guided me to lie down, his shadows adjusting the pillows with surprising gentleness. "Rest now. I'll wake you if anything changes."
I wanted to protest, but the moment my head touched the pillow, the full extent of my exhaustion washed over me. The pattern beneath my skin dimmed further, conserving energy as my body demanded recovery.
"Sleep," Seth murmured, his voice carrying harmonics of shadow that seemed to resonate with the very core of my being. "I'll keep watch.” His shadows spread across the bed like a living blanket, cool and comforting against my skin. Through our bond, I felt his protective vigilance, standing guard over my vulnerable state and I couldn’t help but fall asleep with a smile on my lips.
Chapter
Forty
ALICE
