Red and Her Wolf (20 page)

She looked at him, a fond smile on her lips. “Oh, it is, usually. But I told Hatter that we needed to make her as comfortable as possible. I wasn’t too sure what she’d think of my fifty foot toad, so he made it all conform.”

Ewan wasn’t certain she was entirely kidding.

The bright red door was thrown open and Hatter--dressed in his customary suit brimming with pocket watches--stepped out.

Alice
cried, and he smiled. Then she was in his arms and he was bending her over, giving her a passionate kiss, and suddenly Ewan knew Violet had been very safe. It was obvious, even to the deaf and blind, the passion that brewed between the two.

“I worried,” Hatter whispered against
Alice
’s lips after a while. “Did you have any trouble?”

She nuzzled his neck as he helped her stand, readjusting her skirts.

“No, but I think we gave Ewan a fright.”

Dark eyes zeroed in on him. “Wolf,” Hatter extended his free hand, the other was still firmly clamped around
Alice
’s waist. “Forgive us for the necessity of it, but
Malvena’s
spies are everywhere.”

He nodded. “She explained. Was Red harmed at all?”

Hatter flashed bright white teeth. “No, though I think
Tweedle
-Dee and
Tweedle
-Dum gave her a terrible fright. She was reluctant to enjoy one of my wife’s cupcakes, or even talk for that matter.”

Alice
touched the tip of his nose. “I think the poor thing needs a hot meal before a cupcake, Hatter.
Ewan?”
She glanced at him and gestured toward the door. “She’s inside.”

“Thank
ye
.” He stepped in, taking a brief moment to adjust his eyes to the dim lighting within.

“Ewan?”

Her melodic voice made him weak in the knees and he wondered if she could hear the stutter of his heart.

“Red?”

Then she was in his arms, flinging herself into his body the way
Alice
had into her Hatter’s. A wave of sunshine and wild magic engulfed him, and heat spiraled through his veins. She felt so good, so small, and perfect, and safe. Rubbing her back, he was reluctant to ever let her go.

She pressed her cheek against his chest, small fingers curling into the back of his shirt.

“I’m so sorry. I got tricked by that awful cat--”

“
Cheshire
?” His deep voice rumbled.

She shuddered. “Yes, he looked so fluffy and let me pet him--”

“He let ye pet him?” Ewan pulled back, chuckling.
“The cat?
That vile rodent?
He never lets anyone pet him.”

“He tricked me.”

He kissed the pulse at her temple, wishing he could do so much more. Wishing he could taste her as passionately as Hatter had
Alice
. “It was a ruse Hatter and Alice orchestrated.”

Blue eyes filled with confusion. “Why?”

“Because,” Hatter’s deep voice answered behind them, “
Malvena’s
crows were spotted within these woods not two nights ago. We’ve much to discuss.”

Alice
kissed his cheek. “But not before dinner.” She glanced at Violet.
“And a bath.
Jeez, Ewan… what in the world did you do to the poor thing?”

“Don’t ask,” he grumbled.

Red winced. “Can I take my bath alone?”

Alice
laughed.
“Of course.
Did you think I was going to bathe you? Come on.”

Violet turned to follow, and then stopping, took a deep breath and quickly pecked his whisker roughened cheek.

“I’m glad to see you,” she whispered, and he swore the ground shifted beneath his feet.

Chapter 12

“So you’re
Alice
, huh?” Violet asked
,
resting her hip against the mushroom cap shaped counter.

“That’s what they say.”
Alice
grinned, pulling a steaming foil wrapped pan from out the oven.

The aroma of roasted beef and vegetables made Violet drool.

Alice wiped her hands on her teapot apron and then lifted a corner of the foil, a thick jet of white steam escaped, tempting Violet to peek inside and sniff at it like a dog.
Or a wolf.
Like a big black one.

She shook her head.

“Thanks for my clothes.” She plucked at her red knit sweater. “Though you know, you didn’t need to get me red. It’s not my favorite color or anything.”

Alice
pulled a silver thermometer out of the hunk of meat and covered the pan again. Crossing her arms, she leaned beside Violet.
Alice
had changed out of the dress Violet had first seen her in. She was now wearing a short blue dress with thigh high striped socks.

She was short and petite, not to mention Asian.
So unlike the
Alice
of legend.

“I guess I shouldn’t rely on fairy tales for the truth then,”
Alice
chuckled. “You do know your story, right?”

Violet rolled her eyes, plucking at a bit of fuzz on her shirt. “You mean the one where Ewan ate my grandmother. Yes, I’m familiar.”

Alice
patted her arm. “He didn’t really. Did he?”

Lifting a spatula off the counter, Violet flicked it through air. “Depends on how you look at it.” She sighed, wanting to change the subject. “I thought you were supposed to be, you know, white.
Blond hair and stuff.
You look different than your story too.”

Alice
shrugged. “Well you’re supposed to like red.”

Grinning, Violet said, “Touché.”

Picking up a piping bag full of fluffy white cream,
Alice
quickly piped it onto cooled chocolate cupcakes, topping each one with a chocolate covered cherry.

“It’s Hatter’s favorite,”
Alice
murmured, tip of her pink tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth as she worked.

Fascinated, Violet watched as
Alice
swirled a perfect amount with artistic precision on each cake.

“He’s really nice you know.”

Violet’s brows drew together.
“Who?
The Hatter?”

He’d sat looking at her on the couch, his dark gaze seeming to bore into her soul. She shuddered, that look had burned with a strange amber glow. Madness and sanity trapped within that hard gaze. Violet had no idea how he’d ever managed to hook such a sane person like
Alice
.

“No.
Ewan.”
Alice
sat her empty bag down on the counter and picked up a cupcake. “I always have to taste the first one. Thank goodness I don’t seem to get fat in Wonderland.” She laughed.

Violet took the portion
Alice
offered her. “I’m not too sure he’d mind. He seems infatuated with you.”

Alice
’s dark brown eyes sparkled. “I know. Feeling is so mutual.
And what about you?”

Violet squirmed, shoving the cake in her mouth to prevent having to talk or do girl time. She wasn’t sure she was good at that. She’d only ever had Aunt Mir for the past few hundred years, and they weren’t exactly chat buddies.

Notes of passion fruit and salty sweet rock crystals burst on her tongue. “Oh wow,” Violet moaned, “so good.”

Alice
smiled. “Same reaction Hatter has. But you haven’t answered my question. I can tell you’re not totally comfortable with Ewan. Why?”

“I kissed his cheek,” Violet said, attempting to defend her position.

Snorting,
Alice
popped a piece of cake in her mouth. “Yeah, and I kiss the March Rabbit’s cheek, doesn’t mean I
wanna
date him.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Violet grumbled, yet eagerly accepted another portion of cake.

“Try me.”

Licking at the frosting on her fingertip, Violet shrugged. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to believe something whole heartedly, only to find out you were dead wrong? But not only that, I developed a hatred for him that’s so deep, I’m just not sure it’s ever possible to truly let it go, even though I know it’s no longer justified.”

“Hmm.
That sucks.”
Alice
’s lips twisted. “
Danika
didn’t tell us much of the story. But I do know that what Ewan did that night was in defense of you.”

Violet nibbled on the cake. Hard to stay angry when it tasted so good. “Yeah, but that’s just the thing. I didn’t know that. I was led to believe that my version of history was true. For over five hundred years I’ve lived with one goal in mind. Return to Kingdom so I could find him and kill him, except…”

“Except?”
Alice
lifted a perfectly sculpted brow.

Pursing her lips, a million answers flitted through her head.
Except he was so nice.
Except he kept doing things to protect her.
Kept giving her looks that made her toes curl and her blood boil.
That all she could think about was wanting to kiss him, even though at times an irrational hatred bubbled up and made her brain scream that it was wrong. That she should gut him like the stinky, filthy beast he was.

Instead she said, “He treats me like his property. Always growling at me and telling others I belong to
him
,” she mimicked his thick burr. “It’s annoying.”

Laughing,
Alice
nodded. “I can see how that could be. But it’s part and parcel of the wolf nature. And I hate to break it to you, Violet, but when one of the bad five sets their eyes on you; it’s pretty much a done deal.”

“Bad five?”

Alice
flicked her wrist.
“Another story for another time.
Here’s the deal in a nutshell. You’re it for him. He’ll never leave you, and I think a part of you already knows that. Maybe even thrills at the thought.”

Even now her stomach felt like it was bottoming out; her thighs shook at the thought of feeling that naked flesh.
Hearing him croon her name when in the middle of their passion.
Of peppering the scar on his face with hundreds of kisses, discovering why her body ached with
incredibe
pleasure at the thought of his touch.

“Ugh, but how can he love me? We barely know each other.”

Alice
shrugged one shoulder. “I’m sure he doesn’t love you yet. How could he?”

Violet’s heart sank. It shouldn’t matter. Hearing it said should only reinforce how stupid this whole thing was, but she’d be lying if she said it didn’t bother her.

“It’s all animal with him.
Right now its pheromones, your scent, your look, everything.
It all adds up to his perfect mate.”