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“Then we hide Alice somewhere else,” Callister said. “You could use the Looking Glass to send her back to her world. The Queen can't follow her there.”
Hatter perked up at this idea.
“Ah, yes! And without Alice, she has no reason to destroy Wonderland.”
“She’s already destroying it!” Ransom snapped. “Whether or not Alice is here, Roxanne won’t be satisfied until our world is nothing but ashes and despair. Sending Alice away only delays the inevitable.”
“I’m not hiding anywhere,” I said, crossing my arms defiantly over my chest. I wasn’t about to run away like a coward, leaving Wonderland at the mercy of that monster. These wicked boys had become my friends—even Callister. I couldn't abandon them now, when it mattered the most. "There’sgotto be another way.”
“If we don’t run, then we fight,” Callister growled. "Teach the bitch a lesson once and for all."
"With what army?" Ransom snapped in thinly veiled exasperation. "In case you haven't noticed, you’re next to useless right now and Hatter’s going mad before our very eyes! Roxanne has us outnumbered. A direct attack would be suicide."
"We could create a spectacular diversion," Hatter chimed in, still lying across the other sofa. “Let’s throw a masquerade ball! Everyone loves a party. The Queen will be so busy drinking and dancing that she won't even remember why she came here."
Ransom peered down his nose at the fae sprawled out below him. He looked like he wanted to strangle him. "Do you evenhearyourself, you fuckwit? This isn't a game!"
“This fuckwit may have a point," Chess mused, actually considering the suggestion. "Roxanne's vanity is her weakness. If we give the appearance of a grand spectacle, she may lower her guard. And if we’re all in disguise, she won’t know who is who. We could hide in plain sight.”
"It could work." Hope flickered inside me. "If she thinks she's walked into a huge party, she won't be expecting an attack."
Callister was silent, gazing into the shadows, his eyes distant. Finally, he looked at me, a strange light entering his eyes. “Actually...” he said softly, “this might be the perfect opportunity for us to kill the Red Queen. We could use Alice as bait to lure her in, then ambush her. Take her out. Problem solved. Then we can be rid of her forever.”
Ransom's eyes flashed with anger.
"Absolutely not! If you ever suggest using Alice as bait again, I will rip out your entrails and strangle you with them! Are we clear?"
“Ransom, he’s right,” I said, gentle but firm. “It could work. I can distract the Red Queen long enough for you guys to kill her.”
“You don’t understand,” he said with a grim expression. “Whether it’s the Red Queen or her Jabberwocky,you’rethe one who has to deliver the death blow. We can’t do it. It has to be you.”
“Oh...” I whispered, shrinking under their gazes.
"I won't put you in harm's way."
“She’s already in harm's way,” Callister said from beside me. “If we want to end this, Alice needs to face the Red Queen.”
"She's not ready. It's too dangerous,” Ransom argued, but Callister was already shaking his head. With a significant amount of effort he rose from the sofa and pulled himself to his feet. He straightened, meeting Ransom's gaze.
“Will she ever be ready enough?” he asked through bared teeth. “You see what the Red Queen has done to me! You know what she’s done to my brother, to our friends, to everyone we’ve ever known. If we want to defeat her once and for all, we need Alice. This would be the perfect opportunity, and you fucking know it!”
"We can handle Roxanne, if you’re willing to finish her off,” Chess said to me. “You have the Vorpal Sword. Use it to end Roxanne's reign of terror over Wonderland once and for all."
A surge of determination rose inside me. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. Could I really face the Red Queen? What if I wasn't strong enough to finish the job?
Callister put his hand on my shoulder, as if sensing my fear. "You won't face her alone. We'll be right there with you." His eyes gleamed. "Time to show Roxanne she fucked with the wrong Alice."
My chest tightened. I knew the Red Queen would stop at nothing to get what she wanted—my head.
“Even if you guys helped me, I don’t have the sword,” I admitted before glancing at Ransom.
“Where is it?” Callister asked.
“It’s not here,” said Ransom. “I put it somewhere safe.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere the queen will never find it. That’s all you need to know.”
