Page 43 of Cheshire's Smile
Cheshire having the sickness? Okay, a bit of a problem. But it hadn’t been affecting him the way it had the others so it was just a minor inconvenience. Still workable.
Hatter with the sickness? Laying there looking so feeble and inches away from death? That was a problem. One that now I had to figure out how to fix.
I knew how to fix it. Everyone did. Except I couldn’t make the sapling grow faster. The only hope was finding someone to take the High King position. To be the ruler of all the Underground and bring the magic pieces back together.
Someone who wasn’t going to become some mad tyrant causing an all-out war. Someone who was selfless enough to give up their own freedom to be tied to the Underground for the rest of their life.
I snorted, kicking my foot out. That counted me out.
I hadn’t been selfless a day in my life.
There was nothing in this world that would make me want to be the ruler of all the fae. Sure some might say that I could be petty and become the High Queen simply to get back at all the fae who had treated me harshly over the years. But the responsibility that came with it far outweighed the satisfaction of seeing their faces when they realized I was their new High Queen.
Besides, even if I wanted to be the High Queen. Which I didn’t. There wasn’t enough time. Hatter could die at any moment. I didn’t have time to go through whatever trials that were required to prove to the Underground that I was the right choice. I needed a way to help Hatter now.
I sighed, my lids closing briefly. When I opened them, something dark zipped through the mist.
Sitting up straighter, I squinted into the pale purple haze.
A dark figure moved through the mist, coming closer with each moment. The figure became more solid forming that of a male. My palms started to sweat. Fear iced my veins over, making my movements slower. The mist separated and out stepped the fae who haunted my nightmares.
The Shadow Man.
Chapter 20
I skittered back like a crab, shuffling to get away from him. He kept coming. Floppy brown hair on his head. Those long dark lashes surrounding his brown eyes which on its original owner would have made his handsome face even more appealing. Except now it belonged to a creature that was pure evil.
“Alice, really? Running away from me?” He clicked his tongue and shook his head. His hands tucked into his dress pants. “I thought we were past all that by now.”
“What are you doing here?” I stuttered, pulling myself to my feet. “You’re not supposed to be here.” My eyes darted around looking for Dorian or Eugene. The ones who were supposed to be out there catching the shadows.
I was alone. No one was coming to save me.
Then I remembered. I didn’t need saving. I helped Kat take this fae down last year. I could send him running This time on my own.
“Oh, now, don’t be like that,” the Shadow Man pouted, not a good look on a creature with a black soul. “And here I thought we could help each other out. Just like old times.”
Hands curled into fists, I stepped forward. “Whatever you want the answer is no. Now get out of here before I make you leave.”
He adjusted the tie around his neck before pulling on the cufflinks of his white button up shirt. “Now, I know you don’t mean that. You need me.”
“I don’t need anything from you,” I gritted out between clenched teeth. “You ruined my life.”
A chuffing laugh was what I received back. “Hardly. You got what you wanted.” He gestured at me with a big smile. “To be fae. And I have to say, it looks good on you.”
I resisted the urge to cover my body with my arms. I wouldn’t let him get to me this time. I had enough to worry about and whatever he wanted wasn’t worth the risk. I wouldn’t be tricked again.
“And ended up with me in prison,” I countered with a snap. “I’ve had one year. One year to actually enjoy the fruits of my labors. Labors you tricked me into.”
He waved a hand in front of his face. “You and I both know I hardly tricked you into anything. Give the fae prince and princess a little push to admit their feelings and you got to be the one thing you wanted most in the world. You got to be fae and stay with your little boyfriends.” His lips curled up into a sly grin. “Which I have to say is impressive for a woman such as yourself. Went from one loser fiancé to four delectable fae males. Some would say they’re some of the Underground’s most eligible bachelors. And you snagged all four of them.”
“No thanks to you,” I shot back. “I didn’t even remember them until recently. So stop trying to flatter me into helping you. It’s not going to happen.”
The Shadow Man scratched at his face in thought before giving me a knowing look. “Not even to save your precious Hatter? I mean, you could save the whole Underground. Imagine it.” He paused and walked back and forth on the other side of the bridge from me. “The once villain turned savor of the fae race. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
Before I could respond, a voice called out, “Aly? Where are you?”
My head turned toward Coby headed in this direction. No, he couldn’t be here. The Shadow Man wasn’t the kind of fae you played around with. He might take one look at Coby and use him against me to do his bidding.
