“Alice, look.” Henri gestured above us.
I followed his finger to find that the green flame had appeared. It was hovering over me, officially proclaiming me the victor of the calling of creatures.
Tears pricked my eyes.
“Alice White is the victor of the Trial by Aether!” a familiar, yet deeper and more resonant voice boomed over the beach, stealing my attention.
When I looked down at the crowd, I gasped.
Herald stood alone on an expanse of sand, his white fur glowing with the essence of the blue and silver godsflame.
“The challenger is the new queen of Wonderland!” the pooka continued, as onlookers watched in silent awe.“The Trial by Aether is over!”
Suddenly, the green flame streaked away from me and toward the pooka. My chest tightened as what was about to happen struck me like a slap to the face.
It was over quickly. The moment the green godsflame hit Herald and joined the blue and silver coursing through him, the pooka slumped and fell to the sand, dead.The godsflame flashed and then, as if saying goodbye, twinkled prettily one last time and soared off, over the sea.
My throat constricted. Herald was dead. I’d beaten the Red Queen. And with the godsflame exit, the Trial by Aether truly was finished.
“May the aether light your way, my friend,” Henri whispered, his voice thick as he stared at the pooka.
“We should go to him,” I said, wiping moisture from my eyes. “We—”
The cat popped into existence at my side, cutting me off. “I apologize for losing your dagger, My Queen. I couldn’t pry it out of the beast.”
“It’s fine—I’ll get another,” I stammered, as taken aback by the title as I was his sudden appearance.
The cat beamed at me.
It was strange that he was unaffected by everything that had just happened, but then again, everything about the Cheshire cat was off. I supposed I’d just have to get used to that. At least, while I was still here.
“It was an honor to serve you, My Queen. To rid the island of a tyrant.”
“Errr, yeah. Well, thank you. Because of you—”
A blood-curdling scream cut through me, only to be followed by four bone-chilling words.
“Off with her head!”
Chapter 32
“I’m sorry, but what did she just fucking say? Can she evendothat?” I leaned out of Hatter’s grasp only to have him wrench me back.
“You heard her right. And unfortunately, as the godsflame didn’t stick around to enforce its decision, I suspect that she can andwilldo as she wishes,” he said. “Thankfully, after the pixies freed me and Isadora, who they’d locked up too, I was able to send out the call.”
My gaze latched onto his. “The call?”
He pointed toward the beach. “Look.”
Hundreds of wild pixies swarmed toward the gathered crowd. Although it was impossible to tell from this distance, I imagined that I could hear Dee’s and Dum’s little voices screaming for their friends to attack. Larger fae joined them, tumbling over the boulders and onto the beach below—more rebels, ready to fight.
“How many?” I asked.
“I’m not sure. I had the girls round up the troops. At full strength, we’re well over one hundred, not including however many pixies flooded out of the forest at their summons. But if my plan works, more will join us.”
“Do tell.” I gestured for him to fly us closer to the beach where we could be part of the action.
“You and I will go for the witches first—get them to break the enchantment on the citizens of Wonderland. Even if that means ending them. Then we take on the queen.”
