Page 13 of Queen of Mirrors and Madness

“This is Adelaide,” he says, tilting his head in my direction. “She doesn’t know who she is or anything about Wonderland. I brought the princess to you so you can help her remember.”

Baxter folds his arms across his honed chest, his muscles flexing enticingly. “Why would I do that? You know I have no love for the Queen of Hearts or her progeny.”

“I understand, but she’s the key to your revenge, brother. Adelaide is the only one who has magic similar to the queen, and being her daughter will allow her to get close.”

“Close enough to do what?” I ask.

Both of the men look at me, their faces similar and their expressions anything but. Darius gazes at me as though I’m his salvation. Baxter views me as though I’m his damnation.

Darius drops his arm from me and takes out his gold pocket watch. His brow furrows, and he’s quick to shove the timepiece back into his waistcoat. He blows out a sharp breath and nods to himself, causing tendrils of his white hair to fall across his forehead. This time, I give in to the urge gnawing at me.

I brush away the strands from his face. He jerks his head up, and the side of my mouth lifts in a half-smile. I can’t explain my need to touch him, not when I don’t understand it myself.

“He wants you to kill the Queen,” Baxter says, his voice flat.

Darius blinks as though coming out of trance and frowns at his brother. “I want her to figure out the queen’s vulnerability. It’s not the same thing.”

“Do you deny you’d encourage her to kill the madwoman, if given the chance?” Baxter shakes his head while clicking his tongue. “Let us not tell lies. You want that bitch dead, just as much as I do.”

Darius nods slowly. “This is true.”

“What about me?” I ask. “Why should I help you two? I don’t know her, and she’s never done anything to me.”

The brothers share a look that chills the marrow in my bones. Baxter scoffs and when he opens his mouth, Darius waves a hand, silencing him. He takes hold of my upper arms and stares down at me with such intensity that I brace myself for whatever he’s about to say.

“The queen treated you the worst of all,” Darius says quietly, his voice underlined with sorrow. “She used you for her own gains, forcing you to sleep with members of the court to ensure their cooperation and loyalty.”

I exhale. “But I don’t recall any of this. None of it is real to me.”

“When Baxter helps you retrieve your memories, it’ll all be clear. My only regret is I won’t be here to comfort you when you do.” Darius presses his lips to my forehead, letting the kiss go on longer than necessary. There’s a pain in his eyes when he pulls away. “Promise me that you won’t fight your mind. You regaining your identity is the key to unlocking your potential.”

“What if I can’t?” I ask. “What if you’re wrong about me?”

Baxter steps up to us, so close now that I can smell the fragrance of his soap. I inhale deeply, and he raises a brow in question. My cheeks begin to heat with embarrassment before I force the warmth away.

I can’t dig too deeply into how that’s possible, or I’ll end up rocking in a corner like I did in the mental facility. Actually, I still might.

“He’s not wrong,” Baxter says. “My brother is a lot of things, but he’s never uncertain when it comes to you. Never has been.”

Darius clears his throat, and a telltale skip of his heartbeat brushes my ear. “All will be well, Adelaide. Trust me on this.”

He releases me and tilts his head at his brother. “You will give me your word not to harm her. I mean it, Baxter. If I find out that you’ve willingly done something to put her life in jeopardy, I’ll fucking kill you.”

“I see the bonds of family can be traded for the softness of a cunt.” Baxter glares at me. “Aloosecunt at that.” When Darius takes a threatening step forward, the man rolls his eyes. “Very well. I’ll keep the whore safe.”

Darius gives him a curt nod.

“However, I can’t guarantee she won’t want to slit her wrists when she recalls her past. It’s nothing worth remembering.”

“That’s not for you to decide.” Darius pats his pocket where the timepiece rests, his fingers twitching. “Now, I must be off before my absence piques the queen’s interest.”

“Wait.” I step into his path, causing him to halt. My hands tremble when I reach for his shirt and I curl my fingers into the quality material, wrinkling it with minute remorse. “Don’t leave. Please.”

Darius’s silver gaze softens, and I grip him harder in response, unable to conceal my desperation. His lips lift in the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen on a person, and my heart feels lighter. It’s only for a moment, but it’s one I’ll never forget.

If I believed in the impossible, I’d think he loved me.

“Adelaide, everything I do is for you. Whenever I leave you behind or entrust you in my brother’s care, it’s to keep you safe.” He exhales, and I breathe deeply, knowing it’s the last of him I’ll experience for a while. “There’s only one time that I acted selfishly when it concerned you.”

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