Page 84 of Edge of Wonder

The petals expanded, drinking the blood as it continued to flow. A red stain spread through the flower, and soon there weren’t any white petals left. Sebastian wrapped a strip of fabric around his hand, and I helped tie it closed. But even after he’d stopped, the rose continued to absorb the blood, producing its own as a flood of red surged like a wave over the plant. It kept expanding, from plant to plant, until the entire clearing was swathed in red roses.

“It worked!” I plucked a rose, watching as the petals dripped blood onto the forest floor. The flower was saturated, almost heavy in my hand.

“Alice, look.” Sebastian pointed to the ground where the blood had landed. The droplets glided like water on glass, then sank into the dirt. The dead weeds beneath my feet grew vibrant, and the thorns along the path withered. Spindly branches broke free, dissolving into dandelion spores that blew away in the wind. All around us, the forest evolved from a gray desolate labyrinth, into a lush woodland of ferns and blooming flowers.

“You broke the curse,” I whispered, angling my head back as rays of sunlight slipped through the leaves. Sebastian moved behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.

“And you have your third key.” A wooden door embedded in a tree trunk popped open, revealing a wire birdcage.We did it.The little gold key dangled from a chain. I placed my hand on the lock, feeling the vibrations as magic released the wire door.

I strung the third key on my pendant necklace next to the other two. When they touched my skin, they glowed brightly, shimmering in the sunlight.

“All we have to do now is use the keys to restart the time, and this will all be over. But there’s one minor problem.”

“What’s that?” Sebastian asked, wariness tinging his tone.

“Fake-Tristan wasn’t lying about everything. The queen really does want the keys. She’s guarding the House of Clocks, waiting for her mercenary to bring me to her. We won’t be able to just walk inside, and she won’t be able to use the keys unless I’m dead.”

Sebastian groaned. “Isn’t anything easy in this realm?”

“Don’t worry. Thanks to a little dagger mishap in the woods earlier, and these brimming roses, I have a plan.” I crushed the rose in my fist, forcing blood to stream over my hand. “The queen wants me dead? Let’s give her what she wants. It’s time we play our own game.”

Chapter 29

Alice

“This is a terrible plan,” Sebastian said, adjusting the scarf over his mouth.

“See, now that’s where you and I disagree. I think it’s brilliant. It’s got origin story vibes written all over it.”

“Maybe, but you’re not the one who had to get a mercenary tattoo inked on your arm.”

I rolled my eyes. “Duchess promised it would wear off. She used a brand of her very own temporary ink. It’s not permanent.”

“It still hurt. Besides, I don’t like the variables in your plan. Too many things could go wrong. You didn’t drag me through a portal, have me compete in three nightmarish challenges, make me fall in love with you, only for you to die in the end.”

“That’s a bit dramatic. We practiced the plan a hundred times. It will work. Plus, your disguise and the fact no one knows that Fake-Tristan is dead is the only way we’re getting inside the House of Clocks. So it’s my plan or we both get murdered steps away from the finish line.”

Sebastian made a face as he pushed a tree branch out of my way, allowing me to duck under it. In the distance, I spotted the House of Clocks. The marble structure with ornate Gothic columns, and a massive clock face embedded in the stone, sat atop a rocky ledge. A long spiral staircase rose out of the ground, connecting the building to the majestic courtyard below.

“You should probably tie my wrists now while we’re still out of sight.”

Sebastian quirked an eyebrow as he removed a length of rope from his pack. “This was my favorite part to practice. Come, here.” He crooked his finger, and I smiled, cupping my hands together and holding them out for him. Slowly, he looped the rope around my wrists, loose enough that I could break free without letting anyone notice.

“All done,” he murmured, backing me up against a tree trunk. He lowered the cloak on his hood and tucked the scarf under his chin. A seductive gleam glittered in his eyes.

I circled my bound wrists over his head, resting them on the back of his neck. “It feels like you’re taking advantage of your prisoner, sir.”

“One of the perks of playing the villain.” He kissed me, stealing all thoughts of our upcoming plan. Of everything that could go wrong. But nothing would. We’d come too far. Were too close. And I was betting on that happy ending. He smiled against my mouth. “Maybe we should keep practicing. Come back tomorrow? Or next week?”

A laugh bubbled in my throat. “Stop stalling and get back into your disguise. Everyone is waiting. They’re counting on us. Besides—” I dropped a kiss to the base of his neck, skimming my teeth over his collarbone. “Just think of what we can do once the castle is ours. My first decree as queen will be that everyone has to leave us alone for…a few days?”

“A month.”

“You drive a hard bargain, villain. But I accept. I may even extend the time for good behavior.”

He spun me away from the tree with a wicked grin. “Then, as Shire would say, quit lallygagging around the forest and go take back your kingdom.”

“You have the dagger?”

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