“We burrow beneath the castle,” Bevan answered. “Underland will save us again.”
“So be it,” I agreed. “We'll tunnel beneath the Heart Castle and steal back my sword, and then I'll return to battle Rina with the Vorpal firmly in hand.”
“You'll need to practice those new magics of yours too, Queen Alice,” Draven said. “We need you to know exactly what you're capable of when we finally march on Hearts.”
“What I'm capable of,” I whispered as I looked over the three kings. “And whatwe'recapable of.”
“You feel it now.” Bevan smiled softly at me, and I couldn't look away from his sweet face.
Bevan's eyes were warm and kind, but his lips were strong and determined. Next to Jaxon, Bevan appeared slimmer, but he wasn't a small man. The curves of his biceps pressed against his tunic, and a sleek expanse of solid chest could be glimpsed through the V neck. He blinked long-lashed eyes, and I took another deep breath.
“Queen Alice?” King Draven laid his hand on my shoulder.
I looked over at his hand. Long fingers attached to a soft palm; this was the hand of a hedonist, a man who knew how to give and take pleasure. I looked up into his bedroom eyes and licked my lips. The motion made his stare drop to my mouth, and I saw him swallow convulsively. The column of his throat was fair and pampered, but I traced the line of it to his wide shoulders and knew that Draven hid more power than he revealed. He would let his enemies believe his mask of lazy sensuality until they were right upon him, and then he would strike.
“Alice!” Jaxon snapped his fingers in front of my face.
My stare jerked to him and widened. All of these gorgeous men were mine. I knew it now with complete certainty. These were my Card Kings, and I could play them as I saw fit. I stood abruptly and grabbed Jaxon by his tunic. His eyes darkened to indigo as I jerked him forward and set my lips to his.
Our kiss was as wild as my magic–a triumphant reunion with the man I was meant for. Did I love him? I didn't know. But did I want him desperately? Yes, I did. I wanted them all, and I put that desire into our kiss. Jaxon's hands went to my waist and pulled me tighter to his solid chest. I groaned and ground myself against him, luxuriating in the feel of him hardening between us. Magic tingled along my tongue, and he drank it down.
Then I felt the other kings surround us.
Jaxon eased back, heavy-lidded and happy as Draven came forward. I turned to my Diamond King with a smile and drew him against me slowly, sliding my hands up his chest. He inhaled sharply and closed his eyes, basking in the attention. My hands crept up his neck and bracketed his face as I began kissing his sharp jawline. I nuzzled his face as he moaned and then brushed my lips over his.
“Alice,” Draven whispered just before I claimed his mouth.
We sank into each other sensuously; an erotic dance of hips and hands, of licking and nibbling. His fingers threaded through my hair, massaging my scalp as he made love to my mouth. Where Jaxon's kiss had been conquering, Draven's was pure pleasure. It was over too soon.
But then there was Bevan.
He smiled softly as I went into his arms, one gentle hand going to my cheek. Bevan just looked at me for a moment, taking in every nuance of my face before he laid his forehead against mine. We breathed together as he took my palm and placed it over his heart. Then he laid his hand on my chest.
“I've waited so long for you,” Bevan said.
Then he covered my mouth with his and kissed me with all of that longing. He stoked the fire of my desire steadily until I was pulling at his shoulders and slashing my lips over his. But Bevan pulled away just as gently as he had begun, and smiled into my hot gaze.
“Welcome home, Alice.”
Chapter Nine
It took us a week to burrow beneath the Heart Castle, but during that week, we planned. First, I needed to get the Vorpal sword; then I needed to slay the Jabberwocky. The Vorpal was the only weapon that could slice through Jabberwocky hide. Once the beast was dead, it would weaken Queen Rina enough for me to kill her with my wild magics.
Not only did we plan, but we also talked. I got to know the Card Kings, and I quickly began to care for them. Each man had special qualities, and they seemed to compliment each other. Jaxon was a man of action, but he was also a strategist. He knew when to fight and when to stalk his prey.
Draven loved the finer things and believed that every day should be lived to its fullest. I would have thought that a man like him would fare poorly in hiding, but Draven also had an indomitable spirit, and nothing could dampen it. He had lost a wife and a kingdom, and yet he could still find the beauty in a sunrise or pleasure in a glass of wine. The King of Diamonds knew how to treasure every moment and hoard them in his heart forever.
Bevan, on the other hand, loved in a deeper and wider manner. A healer at heart, Bevan was at his finest when he was helping people. He truly cared about every living thing in Wonderland. When a patient was brought to him, he looked after them as if they were family and checked up on them often. He knew everyone's name and the names of their children. When he wasn't healing, he was experimenting with potions to be used to heal or help others.
They were all wonderful, but I felt incomplete. We were missing one king, and my heart knew it. It made me ache and also made me angry. I wanted to hurt the Queen of Hearts, not just conquer her. I was looking forward to killing the woman who had murdered the lover that I would never be able to love. My King of Hearts.
“Are you ready, Alice?” Jaxon stood in the doorway, staring at me curiously.
“I'm ready.” I went over to him and kissed him gently.
“I'd rather you just stay here–”
“Jax,” I growled, “we've been over this.”
