Page 65 of Trapped By Clocks and Hearts

For a moment, the Queen’s gaze glanced down at my chest. She knew exactly where the coeur was too. She knew it was not with Allie. But she tilted her head with a mere drawl, “Why do you care? Are you so concerned about this girl? I heard a rumor from the Hatter that you risked your life to save her when you didn’t need to.”

Keeping my irritation in check, I pursed my lips. “I was only attempting to fetch a Heartlamp, and that Hatter was simply playing tricks on us. He’s probably spreading all sorts of lies across Wünder.”

“So you don’t care about this girl?”

“Like you, I am only interested in the magic of her coeur,” I declared.

“Excellent.” The Queen clapped. “Then we have no quarrel, you and I.” Her eyes rolling up to consider, she tilted her head. “Although you did hide this girl from me for a significant amount of time and tried to deceive me too.” She gave me an expectant look. “Why?”

I shrugged. I didn’t need to lie. “I was concerned that my life clock was slowing. I needed to extract the magic of her heart to fix it.”

“Ah, I see.” The Queen sat back, her fingers steepled before her. “Not only that of course. You must have also wanted to overthrow me with the power of the coeur?”

A nerve ticked in my cheek, but this was no secret either. “It crossed my mind.”

The Queen laughed again. “That’s what I like about you, Rabb. You can be quite honest when you want to be.” She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. “Would you…like me to fix your life clock?”

I nearly winced at her offer, but I wasn’t innocent in the ways of the world either. “In exchange for what?”

“Well, naturally, if you ask something of me, I must ask something of you.”

I kept my voice steady. “Name it.”

A corner of the Queen’s lips lifted. “Make a bargain with me then,” she proposed. “Do not interfere with the girl tonight. Let me find her a place in Wünder. And I shall happily help restore your life clock. Not only that,” she went on as if a fresh thought struck her, “if you keep to your word, I shall give you that one other thing you’ve always desired.”

Almost involuntarily, the heart in my chest began to pound once again.

The Queen grinned. “Do this one simple thing for me, Rabb. Be a good boy, and in return, I shall cut off your leash.”

I almost sucked in my breath in eager anticipation.

Freedom.

The Queen was offering my freedom in exchange for something I was already going to be doing regardless. My life clock would be restored and I would no longer be required to do the Queen’s bidding. For the rest of my immortal existence. It was too tempting not to consider.

I was certain the Queen had an underlying plan, but it wasn’t immediately obvious. I couldn’t hesitate for too long to think about it. I narrowed my eyes. “And if I break our bargain?”

The Queen clutched at her chest. “Breaking our bargain? My darling, why think of something so inconceivable right from the start?” She sank back in her seat once more. “I think you already know the punishment for displeasing the Queen.”

My entire life’s service was already dedicated to her. There was only one more punishment left to be rendered. Incidentally, the Queen’s most favored punishment to render.

I would lose my head.

“Why?” I attempted to rationalize my defense. “Aren’t I more useful to you as an assassin? As your most talented sorcerer?”

“Why, my dear?” the Queen mused. “But for no other purpose of course other than I would find it exceedingly amusing.” Her malevolent laughter was a cackle that echoed all down the halls and out the front doors. I wouldn’t have been surprised if it gave the gardeners a fright.

Swallowing hard, I knew I had no choice. I gave her a curt nod.

The Queen’s smile quirked once again. “I’m afraid I need more than a nod, Rabb. Say the words.”

I met her sharp gaze. “I agree to your terms.”

“Excellent,” she remarked. “We have a deal then.”

I took a steadying breath but as I moved to leave, the Queen clicked her tongue, and I glanced back.

“My darling, our business is not yet concluded.”