Page 69 of Knot My Wonderland: Part Two
The words settled into me like a physical weight, warm and comforting. Through our now-permanent bond, I felt his overwhelming joy mingled with fierce protectiveness. The pattern beneath my skin had calmed to a steady, harmonious glow that pulsed in perfect synchronization with Heart's golden light.
"That was..." I trailed off, unable to find words adequate to describe what had just happened between us.
"Unexpected," Heart finished, a smile in his voice as he carefully shifted us to our sides, his knot still firmly locked within me. "Though not unwelcome."
I laughed softly, nestling against his chest as aftershocks of pleasure rippled through me. "Definitely not unwelcome."
Heart's fingers traced gentle patterns along my spine, each touch leaving trails of golden light that made the pattern beneath my skin pulse with contentment. "I didn't plan this," he admitted quietly, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "But I can't bring myself to regret it."
"Nor can I," I whispered, feeling the weight of his knot still connecting us. The sensation was strange but deeply satisfying, as if some part of me had always been meant to accommodate this connection. "How long will we be... like this?"
Heart chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest against my cheek. "Half an hour, perhaps a bit more. The first time tends to last longer." His hand continued its gentleexploration of my back, golden light flowing from his fingertips to merge with my silver and gold patterns.
I gave a hum as I let myself get comfortable as I listened to his heartbeat, “Do you think we woke the others.” I hoped not, but given the way they explained how the bond worked. How they could feel what others felt, I had a feeling, we’d woken them all up.
Heart's chest rumbled with quiet laughter beneath my cheek. "Almost certainly," he admitted, his fingers threading through my hair. "The mating bond creates... significant resonance through all connected bonds. They'll have felt the shift."
I felt heat flood my face at the thought of Chi, Vee, and Dee experiencing even an echo of what we'd just shared. "How much do they feel?"
"Not the physical sensations," Heart assured me quickly, his golden patterns pulsing with gentle amusement. "But the emotional intensity, the completion of the bond... yes, they'll have felt that."
Through our newly deepened connection, I sensed his certainty mixed with a hint of smugness that made me lift my head to look at him. "You're pleased they know," I observed, studying his satisfied expression.
"Territoriality is part of alpha nature," he said, a smirk on his lips. Heart's eyes gleamed with that primal satisfaction I was coming to recognize. "Besides, completing a bond strengthens all connections. They'll feel more secure now, knowing one bond has fully sealed."
"So this changes things with them too?" I asked, curious about how the magical network between us all functioned. Through our golden bond, I could sense a new depth, a richness that hadn't been there before.
"Every bond affects the others," Heart explained, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my back. "Think of it as a tapestry - strengthening one thread reinforces the whole design."
I considered this as I felt his knot finally beginning to subside, our physical connection gradually easing. The mark on my neck pulsed with gentle warmth, a permanent reminder of what had just transpired between us. When we were finally able to separate, Heart carefully helped me sit up, his hands gentle as he assessed the bite mark on my neck. The wound had already begun to heal, leaving behind an intricate scar that seemed to pulse with its own golden light.
"Beautiful," he murmured, tracing the mark with reverent fingers. "It suits you perfectly."
I touched the spot gingerly, surprised to find it didn't hurt despite the obvious depth of the bite. Through our bond, I felt Heart's satisfaction at seeing his claim so visibly displayed.
"We should head back," I said reluctantly, though I made no immediate move to gather our scattered clothes. The night air felt cool against my heated skin, but Heart's warmth kept the chill at bay.
"In a moment," Heart murmured, pulling me closer against his side. "I want to remember this exactly as it is—you, me, the stars, this perfect moment before reality intrudes again."
I settled against him, feeling the truth in his words. Later today would bring training, preparation, the looming confrontation with the Queen. But tonight, wrapped in Heart's arms with his mark warm on my throat, the future felt manageable in a way it hadn't before.
"I love you," I said quietly, the words slipping out before I could second-guess them. Through our bond, I felt Heart's sharp intake of breath, his golden patterns flaring with brilliant joy, “I know that it is too soon…and I don’t know everything about you…but I do know I love you.”
Heart went completely still beneath me, his golden patterns pulsing with such intensity that they cast dancing shadows on the crystal tree above us. Through our bond, I felt a surge of emotion so profound it nearly took my breath away—centuries of loneliness, careful walls built against hope, all of it crashing down at my simple confession.
"Alice," he whispered, his voice breaking on my name. His hands came up to frame my face, ruby eyes blazing as they searched mine. "Say it again."
"I love you," I repeated, more certain this time. The golden bond between us sang with the truth of it, harmonizing with the pattern beneath my skin in ways that made the very air around us shimmer.
"I love you too," Heart said, the words carrying the weight of centuries. “It may seem fast, but love doesn’t have a timeline.” I smiled at him, feeling a weight leave me at his words as I let myself bask in his presence before having to return to reality in the morning.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
ALICE
Iwoke slowly the next morning having felt Heart get up and tell me to go back to bed. I blinked a few times before drifting off again. I didn’t know how much time passed before I was woken up again by light touches on my face. Opening my eyes I was greeted with Chi sitting next to me on the bed, his finger ghosting over my cheek as he gave me a soft smile.
