Page 53 of Knot My Wonderland: Part Two
I nodded, reluctantly setting the staff aside. It remained solid and substantial, propped against a nearby crystalline formation. "You're right. I should pace myself."
"Besides," Dee added, checking his temporal devices, "we still have other aspects of your training to complete. The creation magic is impressive, but defensive techniques will be equally important when facing the Queen."
Heart approached, his golden patterns brightening as he reached for my hand. "The staff is remarkable, Alice. But Dee's right - we need to ensure you're equally skilled in all aspects of the pattern's abilities."
I nodded, feeling a twinge of reluctance as I moved away from my creation. The staff continued to pulse with gentle light, as if reassuring me it would remain until needed. Through our communion, the pattern showed me the importance of balance - creation was powerful, but without protection and other complementary skills, it could become a vulnerability rather than a strength.
“Take a small break. I don’t want you to use creation magic back to back with this being your first time with it.” Dee spoke, eyeing me with a small smile.
I opened my mouth to protest before Chi came to me with a grin on his face, “Lets have a chat while you rest.” I didn’t get to say anything as he wisked me away from the others.
Chapter
Twenty-One
ALICE
Ifelt my back hit one of the trees with Chi pinning me against it, his teal eyes gleaming with mischief and something deeper. His tail wrapped around my waist, securing me against him as his face hovered inches from mine.
"This isn't exactly resting," I pointed out, though I made no move to escape his hold. The silver bond between us pulsed with shared amusement and anticipation.
"I thought we might continue our earlier conversation," Chi murmured, one hand coming up to trace the line of my jaw. "About choices and... personal discoveries."
My pulse quickened as his fingers trailed down my neck, leaving trails of silver light in their wake. The pattern beneath my skin responded eagerly to his touch, reaching toward his energy with delicate tendrils of gold and silver.
"Here?" I whispered, glancing back toward the meadow where the others were still visible, though at a distance.
Chi's tail tightened around my waist, his lips curving into a smile that made my heart skip. "They're giving us space for areason, Alice. The pattern's enthusiasm after creation magic is... well, it affects the bonds in particular ways."
I became acutely aware of the silver light pulsing beneath both our skins, brighter and more insistent than usual. The pattern was indeed stirring with an energy that felt different—less cerebral and more primal, flowing through our connection with undisguised intent.
"Is that why I feel so..." I trailed off, not quite having words for the restless energy coursing through me.
"Alive?" Chi suggested, his voice dropping to a register that sent shivers down my spine. "The First Queen documented this effect. Creation magic opens channels between realities, between possibilities. It makes everything more... intense."
His fingers continued their exploration along my collarbone, leaving trails of silver light that made my breath catch. The pattern beneath my skin seemed to chase his touch, silver and gold tendrils reaching toward him with eager intensity.
"The others will see," I whispered, though the objection sounded weak even to my own ears.
Chi's laugh was low and warm against my skin. "They understand, Alice. The pattern affects all the bonds, not just ours. Heart is probably pacing the meadow right now, trying to give us this moment while managing his own response."
As if confirming his words, I caught a glimpse of Heart in the distance, his golden patterns visibly brightening even from here. Through our bond, I felt waves of what might have been encouragement mixed with his own barely contained desire. I felt Chi pull back and give a small sigh as he looked at me as if sensing something.
“Let’s sit and talk. We don’t have to do anything now.” He told me leaning forward and giving me another kiss before he pulled me down so I was in his lap, with his back against the tree.
I relaxed against Chi's chest, feeling his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. The silver bond between us pulsed with contentment, no longer frantic but still bright with connection.
"This is nice too," I murmured, watching our intertwined patterns of light dance across our skin where we touched. "Just being close."
Chi's tail curled more securely around my waist, his chin resting atop my head. "The pattern appreciates all forms of connection," he said, amusement coloring his tone. "Though it certainly has preferences."
I laughed softly, feeling the tension from the creation magic gradually settling into something warmer, more sustainable. "It's strange how quickly this all feels normal. Not that long ago I was just Alice, nothing special, certainly not someone with five potential mates and ancient magic flowing through my veins."
"You were never 'just Alice,'" Chi corrected gently, his fingers threading through my hair. "The pattern doesn't choose randomly, Alice. It recognized something in you that was already there—the capacity for connection, for balance, for growth."
Through our bond, I felt his absolute certainty in those words. Chi had always been the most observant of my bonds, watching and analyzing with the careful attention of someone who understood the deeper currents beneath surface appearances.
"What did you see in me that first day?" I asked, curious about his perspective during those early, chaotic moments when I'd stumbled into Wonderland.
