“You're not to leave my side, Alice,” he said firmly. “Just you and I are going in there, so don't run off, not at any moment, or for any reason.”
“I understand, Your Majesty,” I teased him.
“When this is over, I shall show you my kingdom,” he whispered. “The mountains so tall that they seem to spear the sky–”
“And an ocean as blue as your eyes,” I interrupted. “I've seen it already, through the wild magic, but I look forward to experiencing it with you.”
“I love you, Alice,” Jaxon said softly.
I didn't even hesitate; the words were already waiting upon my lips.
“I love you too, King of Spades.”
“Yes, that's very sweet,” Nick said. “But, Your Majesties, I really must protest once more. I should be attending Queen Alice. I am the last Cheshire left, and the man her father, King Altair, appointed as her guardian.”
“And my last living relation,” I added with a smile.
Nick gaped at me. “You know?”
“I know.” I tapped my heart. “Why didn't you tell me that you are Uncle Ted's son?”
“I didn't want you to feel as if I had expectations of you.” Nick lifted his chin. “I have a duty to protect you–”
I pulled him into a hug and cut him off.
“Family is more important than duty, Nick,” I whispered. “Thank you for looking after me, but this time, you're staying behind.”
“Your Majesty–”
“Nick, call me Alice.” I kissed his cheek. “And the answer is still; no.”
Jaxon and I headed for the tunnel that was finally finished, the one that would take us directly below the Heart Castle grounds.
“Your Majes... Alice”–Nick hurried after us–“I'm at least coming into the tunnel with you.”
“Fine, Nick,” I tossed over my shoulder. “But you're waiting there. We can't draw any attention to ourselves. Two people sneaking in is already pushing it.”
“Have you forgotten that I can turn invisible?” Nick huffed, and we stopped walking. “Ah, now you see my point.”
I looked at Jaxon.
“No,” Jax snarled, “I am not being left behind, Alice.”
“It seems that Nick would make a better companion in this instance, Jax.”
“No.”
I grabbed Nick's hand and pulled him along. Nick smiled brilliantly as Jaxon sputtered in indignation.
“I am the King of Spades,” Jaxon huffed as he hurried up to us. “I am the finest warrior in all of Wonderland. You need me beside you when you infiltrate Heart Castle.”
“Actually, darling”–I stopped and kissed Jaxon's cheek–“I don't need a warrior today, I need someone sneaky. Someone like a cat.”
“Damn it all!” Jaxon cursed. “How did I become the man waiting in the tunnel?”
“Thank you, Jaxon,” I said sweetly and walked on with Nick.
The tunnel grew smaller the further in we went until there was only enough space for one person to crawl through it at a time. That didn't bother Nick at all, who simply turned into a cat and floated ahead of me. Then we reached the end of the tunnel. It sloped upward into a night alive with the flashes of lightning and the booms of thunder.
