Page 71 of Knot My Wonderland: Part Two
As we stepped into the main room of the cabin, I was immediately greeted by the sight of Heart at the stove, his golden patterns glowing brighter than usual as he hummed softly to himself. The scent of something delicious filled the air—eggs andwhat smelled like bacon, though knowing Wonderland it could be anything.
"There she is," Heart said without turning around, though I could hear the smile in his voice. "Perfect timing. Everything's almost ready."
The Tweedles looked up from where they sat at the table, their silver eyes assessing me with interest. Through our bonds, I felt their satisfaction at whatever changes they could observe in my magical signature.
"Fascinating," Vee murmured, his gaze tracking the golden threads now permanently woven through my patterns. "The stabilization is even more pronounced than our calculations predicted."
"Indeed," Dee agreed, adjusting one of his temporal devices. "The probability matrices for successful magical control have shifted dramatically overnight." I felt my cheeks warm under their analytical scrutiny, but their fascination seemed purely academic—focused on the magical implications rather than the intimate act that had caused them.
"Good morning to you too," I said dryly, sliding into an empty chair at the table. "I'm glad my love life is providing such interesting data points."
Heart chuckled as he brought plates to the table, pausing to press a kiss to my marked neck that sent a pulse of golden warmth through our bond. "They've been theorizing all morning.”
"Theorizing about what, exactly?" I asked, though I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to know the answer.
Vee's silver eyes gleamed with scientific interest. "The exponential increase in magical stability that occurs when a primary bond reaches full completion”
"You're treating me like a research subject," I protested, though there was no real heat in my voice. Through our bonds,I felt their genuine care wrapped around their intellectual curiosity.
"A fascinating research subject," Dee corrected with one of his rare smiles. "The temporal resonance patterns are particularly intriguing. Your timeline branches have stabilized significantly - fewer chaotic variables, more predictable outcomes."
Heart set a plate before me, his golden patterns pulsing with amusement at my expression. "They mean it as a compliment," he assured me, "Though I admit their bedside manner could use work."
Chi settled beside me at the table, his tail curling contentedly around the back of my chair. "What they're trying to say, in their typically clinical way, is that you're stronger now. More anchored. The wild fluctuations in your magic should calm considerably."
I took a bite of what turned out to be something similar to scrambled eggs but with a subtle sweetness that made the pattern beneath my skin hum with pleasure. "So no more accidentally exploding shields during practice?"
"Unlikely," Vee confirmed, though his tone carried the careful precision of someone hedging their bets. "The mating bond provides a stable foundation for the others to build upon. Think of it as... magical scaffolding."
"Romantic," I said dryly, earning a snort of laughter from Chi.
Heart's hand found my shoulder, his touch sending a pulse of golden warmth through our bond. "There are significant practical advantages to what happened between us," he acknowledged, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "But I hope you know it means far more than just magical stability."
I leaned into his touch, feeling the truth of his words through our deepened connection. "I know," I said softly, the mark on myneck pulsing with gentle warmth that echoed the love flowing between us.
The moment was broken by Chi's dramatic sigh. "And now we'll have to endure months of sickeningly sweet exchanges," he teased, though his tail flicked with what felt like genuine pleasure through our bond.
"Years," Heart corrected, his ruby eyes meeting mine with such intensity that my breath caught. "Centuries, if we're fortunate."
I felt my cheeks warm at the implication—that we might have centuries together, that this wasn't just a fleeting connection born of extraordinary circumstances. Through our golden bond, I felt Heart's absolute certainty in those words, his vision of a future that stretched far beyond the coming confrontation with the Queen.
"Centuries," I repeated softly, testing the word on my tongue. The concept felt both impossible and inevitable, like something I'd always known but never dared hope for.
"Assuming we survive the next few days," Dee interjected with his typical bluntness, though his silver eyes carried warmth that softened the harsh reality of his words.
Chi's tail flicked with annoyance at the temporal twin. "Must you always be so cheerfully pessimistic about our chances?"
"I prefer 'realistically optimistic,'" Dee replied, adjusting one of his devices. "The probability matrices have improved significantly, but variables remain."
"Speaking of variables," Vee said, his silver eyes growing serious as he set down his fork. "We need to discuss the remaining training schedule. Two days left in the pocket, and there are still techniques that require mastery before we face the Queen."
I felt the familiar weight of responsibility settle over me, though it felt more manageable now with Heart's steadypresence anchored in my consciousness. "What still needs work?"
"Integration," Heart said, his hand still resting on my shoulder. "You've learned creation, defense, and offensive techniques separately. Now you need to weave them together seamlessly."
Chi nodded, his tail swishing with anticipation. "Combat magic isn't about individual techniques—it's about fluid transitions between them. Creating a shield while simultaneously preparing an attack, for instance."
"And temporal awareness," Dee added, his temporal devices humming softly. "You need to sense when the Queen's blood magic is building before she can fully manifest it. The pattern can show you the temporal distortions her corruption creates, but only if you're trained to recognize them."
