Red and Her Wolf (Kingdom, #3)

“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.