He nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.” He braced his shoulders and held his chin high. “Just protect my family.”
He'd betrayed us once. Now he was making it right—the only way he knew how.
“I promise we will.”
I wished it was Ari volunteering to stay behind. But he stood by the broken doors, pacing back and forth, bound to me by that cursed web bracelet.
"I have much to make up for," Rabbit said quietly. "For betraying the Hatter. For betraying you."
Darius crossed to him and gripped his shoulder. "She had your family. You're forgiven."
Rabbit's eyes filled with fresh tears. "Thank you. All I ask is that you free them."
"Already done," Grump said. "My brothers and the harpies—if you can believe it—subdued the guards transferring Flint, Steel, and your family to the Shadowsteel mines. They're waiting in the Forgotten Forest.”
Rabbit's knees buckled. He caught himself against a pillar, sobbing openly now. "Thank you. Thank you."
He straightened, wiping his face. "I swear I'll find Brynn. I'll help her escape. Whatever it takes."
I held out my palm toward him. “Freeze.”
"How long can this little reunion last?" Ari called from over my shoulder, his voice dripping with impatience. "We need to get out. Now."
Darius glared over my head, his silver eyes flashing with hatred. "Why didn't you freeze him?"
I swallowed hard. "He used the web bracelet on me. I promised to get him out."
The color drained from Darius' face. He grabbed my shoulders. "You didn't. Alice, tell me you didn't bind yourself to him."
"I had no choice." I clutched his hand, pressing it to my heart. "He promised to get the keys. It was the only way to escape." I met his anguished eyes. "All is not lost. Trust me."
For a long moment, he just stared at me—fury and fear and love warring across his face. Then something shifted. Softened.
Without a word, Darius scooped me up into his arms, cradling me against his chest.
I cocked an eyebrow. "I can walk, you know."
"I know." His silver eyes burned into mine. "But it's my turn to save you. I'm not letting you spend one more second in this place."
He pressed a kiss to my forehead—fierce, protective.
Then he ran.
Not human running. Supernatural speed. The world blurred around us—corridors, torches, frozen guards, all smearing into streaks of color. Wind whipped my hair. My stomach lurched. I buried my face in his chest and held on.
We passed Grump, Chester, Caterpillar, and even Ari in a heartbeat. They were still figures in our wake.
Darius didn't slow. Didn't stop. He tore through the castle like a demon fleeing hell, and I clung to him, my heart pounding against his.
In seconds—impossible, breathless seconds—we burst through the castle gates and into the fading light of sunset.
Fresh air filled my lungs. Freedom.
We were out.
Chapter Forty-Three
Darius
