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And it hurt.
The queen he’d faithfully served since his arrival had been lying to him for centuries. The lifetimes of unwavering faith in Amari had been deeply shaken.
“Amari...” he murmured again. “Is it true?”
Her lower lip trembled as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“I didn’t know what else to do...” she whispered. “The balance of power between my sister and I has always shifted back and forth, but this time she’s too strong. She’s too powerful to stop, and she won’t stop until we’re all dead!”
My stomach roiled with anxiety as I realized what this was all boiling down to.
This sanctimonious nut job would’ve rather fed me to the wolves than admit she’d been a greedy little bitch when she was younger. All of this could’ve been avoided if she’d had the guts to ask her friends for help centuries ago.
But what bothered me the most was knowing that if the Red Queen and her Jabberwocky were sitting on her doorstep, she would’ve sent me out there to die.
It wasn’t that Amari was evil...but she was definitely making some terrible choices.
I sure as hell couldn’t trust her with mylife.
My mind was racing as I glanced around the courtyard. My wicked boys were capable guys—they already had a plan in place to kill Roxanne and be done with the whole cycle of Amari summoning Alices. And after the White Queen’s confession, I had a pretty strong feeling that this time would be the last time...
Whether I was involved or not.
The truth was that this wasn’t my problem to solve.
I wondered if any of the guys cared about me enough to beg me to stay. I wasn’t jealous of Amari—she was a queen, after all—but man, I wished I had guys as devoted to me as the White Knight was to her. A pair of red eyes and a pair of green eyes swiveled in my direction as Jack and Chess picked up on my thoughts.
We had fun, but it’s not like we’re gonna live together happily ever after, I told them. I stood there for a few moments, waiting for a reply.
I got nothing.
Well, at least it was a more elegant breakup than when photos of Remy’s side chick got leaked on the internet. Not every relationship had to end in a commitment.
“I think I’m done here,” I said, casually stepping away from the group. “I appreciate the hospitality and everything, but I’m not really up for getting eaten by the Jabberwocky or killed by the Red Queen...or her army...or any fuzzy pink bunnies...or whatever else is out there.”
“Alice...”
“Don’t...”
“And Ransom’s right,” I added, still backing away. “Why would I want to fight for someone who hides behind little girls and White Knights? And now you want me to risk my life for you, too? It’s just...it’s just so gross. I can’t even.”
“Alice...please...”
I whirled around before I had time to change my mind. After all, self-preservation was human nature.
The looking glass running the length of the courtyard loomed before me, a shimmering portal that would take me back to the world I knew. Back to a life that seemed basic as fuck and relatively pointless compared to the insanity and vibrance of Wonderland.
With a deep breath, I lifted up my foot and stepped through to the other side.
* * *
ChapterFifteen
ALICE
I stumbled through the looking glass and landed back into the soothing, familiar surroundings of my favorite Malibu Starbucks. An immediate wave of relief washed over me at how easy it was to tap out.
Finally, I was back in control of my life. No more looming battles, no more arguing with irrational queens, and no more obligations to kill Jabberwockies. The warm, humid, ocean air and the scent of roasting coffee beans enveloped me, a comforting reminder of home.
