39. Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Alice
I slipped back into the chamber just as Chi's eyes fluttered open, his teal gaze immediately finding mine with relief. Through our bond, I felt his momentary panic at waking without me nearby, followed by the calm that settled over him as he registered my presence.
"You left," he said softly, his voice still rough with sleep. His tail uncurled from where it had been wrapped around empty air, reaching toward me with obvious need for contact.
"Just for a moment," I assured him, settling back on the edge of the bed. The silver patterns beneath my skin responded to his proximity, brightening where they'd dimmed during my conversation with Seth. "I needed some air."
Heart stirred beside Chi, ruby eyes opening with the sharp alertness of someone accustomed to danger. The golden bond between us carried his instant assessment of the situation—my slightly elevated heartbeat, the way the silver patterns on my skin.
“You smell like the King of Spades.” He muttered, eyes still on me before his hand shot out, grabbing me and pulling me into his lap.
I gave a small yelp, but let myself settle so I was straddling his lap, his arms going around my waist as he kept me in place.
Heat flooded through me at the sudden intimate position, the golden patterns beneath my skin flaring to life where our bodies pressed together. Through our bond, I felt Heart's possessive satisfaction mixed with territorial concern about Seth's lingering scent on my skin.
"Heart," I breathed, my hands coming to rest on his shoulders as I tried to steady myself. The silver and gold patterns spiraled outward from every point of contact, creating intricate designs that pulsed with our shared heartbeat.
Chi sat up behind me, his solid form pressing against my back as his tail wrapped around my waist just above Heart's hands. "The shadows cling to you," he observed, his voice carrying a note of curiosity rather than jealousy.
Heart's grip tightened slightly, as he took a deep breath, “If you don’t mind. Would you let us scent you? You really do smell strongly of him..” The and not smelling like us was left unsaid but I definitely could hear it.
I blinked and gave a nod, “Yes.” I hadn’t been scented by someone like this before. I had when I was a child to help calm me down by my parents…and even siblings but not by someone not family.
Heart's hands moved to cup my face, his thumbs tracing gentle circles along my cheekbones as he leaned in close.
The golden patterns beneath his skin blazed brighter, responding to our proximity and his obvious need to reclaim what he considered his.
When his lips brushed against the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder, I gasped at the intensity of sensation that flooded through our bond.
Chi's hands settled on my hips from behind, his solid form a warm presence as he stood against my back as he nuzzled into the other side of my neck.
The silver patterns beneath my skin spiraled outward in response, creating bridges of light between all three of us as they began the careful process of overlaying their scents with Seth's lingering shadows.
"Better," Heart murmured against my throat, his breath warm against my skin. Through our golden bond, I felt his satisfaction as his scent began to mingle. He gave a low growl as he gave the side of my neck a couple open mouth kisses.
I shivered at the possessive sound, my body responding instinctively to the primal claiming.
The golden patterns beneath my skin blazed brighter where Heart's lips touched, creating spiraling designs that pulsed with heat.
Chi's scent joined his from behind, a cooler counterpoint that made the silver threads dance across my shoulders and down my arms.
“You smell like us now.” Chi observed with satisfaction, his tail tightening around my waist as he pressed soft kisses along the curve of my shoulder. Through our foundational bond, I felt his contentment at reclaiming his place in my magical signature.
Heart pulled back slightly to study my face, eyes dark with possessive satisfaction.
"So much better," he agreed, though his hands remained firmly planted on my hips.
The golden patterns connecting us pulsed with territorial triumph mixed with something deeper—relief that I'd come back to them willingly.
I closed my eyes letting my head fall against his chest, my head fuzzy from the scenting and magic pulsing under my skin. I let myself just bask in their presence. I didn’t even know I started purring in content.
The soft rumbling sound emanating from my chest made both Chi and Heart freeze. Through our bonds, I felt their wonder and fierce protectiveness intensify as they realized what they were hearing—a purr of complete contentment, something I hadn't even known I was capable of producing.
"Alice," Heart whispered, his voice thick with emotion as his hands gentled on my hips. The golden patterns beneath his skin pulsed with tender amazement. "You're purring."
Chi's tail curled tighter around my waist, his solid form trembling slightly against my back. "I've never heard an Omega purr like that," he murmured, pressing his face into my hair. "So pure, so trusting."
The purring continued without my conscious control, my body's instinctive response to feeling completely safe and cherished between my two anchors.
The silver and gold patterns beneath my skin shimmered with contentment, creating harmonies that resonated through both bonds.
I felt myself melting further against them, the last of my tension dissolving in the security of their shared protection.
"I didn't know I could do that," I admitted softly, the purring subsiding slightly as I spoke. The silver and gold patterns continued their dance across my skin, no longer just responding to external stimuli but actively seeking connection with both anchors.
Heart's ruby eyes softened as he gazed down at me, one hand moving to stroke gently along my spine. "It's a sign of complete trust," he explained, his voice carrying a reverence I hadn't heard before. "Omegas only purr when they feel absolutely safe."
Chi nuzzled against my hair, his chest vibrating with a deeper rumble that complemented my softer purr.
"In the old days, before Wonderland fractured, an Omega's purr was considered sacred," Chi continued, his voice taking on an almost reverent quality.
"It meant the pattern recognized perfect harmony between protectors. "
“That’s good right. I know back where I’m from, purring isn’t done very much either. Mating and bonding is very contractional.” I muttered
"In Wonderland, it's a sign of rare trust," Heart explained, his hand continuing to stroke my back in gentle circles. "The pattern within you recognizes us as true anchors, not just temporary connections."
Chi's tail tightened around my waist as he added, "The ancient texts speak of Omegas as the heart of Wonderland's magic. Your purr is the pattern's way of confirming the bonds are forming correctly."
I let the information sink in, feeling the weight of its significance. The silver and gold patterns beneath my skin had settled into a steady rhythm, no longer chaotic but purposeful in their movements.
"What the King told you," Heart said suddenly, his voice careful. "About Martha. Is it true?"
I tensed slightly, surprised by the question. "How did you—"
"Your thoughts were open through our bond when you returned," Chi explained gently.
I bit my lip, “Are you angry at him?” I asked, Heart sighed as he brushed some of my hair from my face.
“I want to…but I would’ve been more heartbroken if she’d betrayed me. I trust Martha with my life…and if she had betrayed me….” He trailed off.
I reached up to touch Heart's face, feeling the tension in his jaw through our bond. "The King—Seth—has been protecting her from your mother's blood magic for years. Without telling either of you."
"Seth?" Heart repeated, his eyes sharpening at the name. Through our golden connection, I felt his territorial instincts flaring at my use of the King's personal name.
Chi gave a low hum as he stepped away from me and let Heart shift me so I was sitting beside him. Chi’s teal eyes studying me with quiet assessment. "You've gotten closer to him," he observed, no accusation in his voice but clear awareness of the developing connection.
I nodded, not wanting to hide anything from them. "We talked. He showed me... vulnerability I didn't expect." The silver patterns beneath my skin pulsed with the memory of his shadows intertwining with my light. "He's been alone for so long, carrying burdens no one else could understand.”
Heart's jaw tightened, the golden patterns beneath his skin flaring with protective concern. "That's how he operates, Alice. Shows just enough vulnerability to gain trust, then uses that trust to further his agenda."
"I don't think that's what this was," I said softly, remembering the raw honesty in Seth's dark eyes. "He's genuinely afraid of the void bond—of what it would mean to let someone that close after centuries of isolation."
Chi settled cross-legged on the bed facing us, his tail curling thoughtfully around his ankle. "The King of Spades has always been... complicated. Even when Wonderland was whole, the void monarchs stood apart from the others."
"Because they had to," I murmured, the silver patterns beneath my skin pulsing with new understanding. "Someone has to maintain balance between realities, make the hard choices others can't."
Heart's expression darkened, but I could feel him fighting against his instinctive distrust. "Even if that's true, his methods remain questionable. Placing shadow magic on Martha without her knowledge or consent—"
"Would you rather she'd been turned by your mother's blood magic?" I asked gently. "Sometimes protection requires difficult choices."