The Mad King (The Dark Kings #1)(68)
“No promises. Heal her feet,” he demanded again.
With a sigh, Danika flew toward Alice, becoming a golden streak of light that bobbed and weaved around her feet.
Alice yelped, snatching her feet back and then sighing happily when the bleeding stopped. Their eyes met and Hatter had no words; all he could do was stare and hope and hate. He clenched his jaw as Danika flew back to him.
“Take her to the waters. Have her wash her feet. They’ll be healed after that.”
Hatter nodded his thanks, then walked up to Alice and cleared his throat. “Come with me,” he said, much gruffer than he’d intended.
She frowned, pulling her bottom lip between straight teeth. “Where?” Wariness shone in her gaze.
“Just... come.” He grabbed her elbow, wishing he had more kindness in him. She wasn’t the same Alice, or so Danika said, and yet... The truth was hard to reconcile.
Huffing, she stood and jerked her elbow from his lax grip. “I can walk just fine, thank you.”
Hatter led them to the fairy waters a short distance behind the glen. Fairies, looking like lightning bugs the way they danced above the surface of the placid stream, added a magical, almost surreal quality to their surroundings.
He pointed to a depressed section of verdant grass. “Sit.”
She lifted a brow, an annoyed look creasing her forehead.
“If you please.” The words were thick on his tongue.
Reminding him of a queen the way she lifted her chin proudly, she sat cross-legged. “Well?”
Knowing he should apologize, not knowing how to even begin, he did the only thing he could think of. Hatter knelt by her side, a shiver rippling through him as her scent of caramel and sunshine tickled his senses, filled his head. He dipped his hand into the water. “Give me your feet.”
“Why? My feet feel fine really.”
She grabbed hold of them, tucking them tightly against her shapely thighs. He’d put her through this. He’d make it right. Gently, he traced the instep of her left foot.
“Give me your foot,” he asked again, gently.
Her big brown eyes softened, and she didn’t resist when he tugged it free. Dipping his hand into the chill waters, he scooped up a palmful and let it drizzle against her soft flesh. She moaned when he rubbed the water in.
“Oh wow, that’s so... Wow.” She sighed, leaning back on her hands, silently opening herself up to him further.
He smiled, knowing the magical properties of the water did more than heal a scrape or seal a wound. The waters here were the purest essence of life, making new what was old. He rubbed the liquid in, kneading the hurt and rawness away.
Leaning in so close, feeling the breath of her body flit against top of his head, he licked his lips. Alice Hu, whatever incarnation she came in, had a way of affecting him in the deepest marrow of his soul.
Her body heat so close, wrapping around him like hug, made him forget that he couldn’t lean in and kiss her, that she wasn’t his. That he didn’t want her. All he knew was this moment, this touch, the rhythmic movement of her breasts as she exhaled slowly.
His fingers trembled as he moved to her other foot, forcing himself to repeat the same torturous massage, trying in vain to forget how soft she felt, how good she smelled, how her lips parted ever so slightly, fuller on the bottom than the top.
Hatter swallowed hard. She wasn’t his. Not now. Not ever.
Jerking back, he waved his hand over her feet. His own magic ran hot through his veins as he called forth a pair of sparkling silver flats to cover her feet.
Standing, he nodded, molars grinding so hard his jaw ached. He could never forget who she was. What stock she hailed from.
A snake could shed its skin many times in its life, but it never stopped being a snake. New Alice couldn’t be so different from Evil Alice.
What do you want from me, Alice? What do you want?
Chapter 5
They walked again. Thankfully Alice’s feet were fine. Which was amazing. One second she wanted to cry from the stinging pain, and then the next second, the ball of firelight ran across her feet and she’d felt better. And then he’d washed her feet and she’d felt amazing. Not an ache or pain anywhere the water had touched. Like she was a new person. Well, from the feet down anyway. And though there’d been nothing erotic or even sensual about his ministrations, her stomach and heart had fluttered like a girl with her first crush. He’d washed her feet, stood, and stared at her.
Maybe it’d been her imagination, but for just a moment, an infinite second in time, it’d seemed like he’d shared a piece of his soul, letting her peer deep into the burning depths of his heated gaze, but then he’d blinked and the spell (or whatever it’d been) had passed, leaving her shaken and tongue-tied.
He seemed different now. Not completely kind. Hell no, nothing that drastic. But there was much less hostility, which, she supposed, was better than nothing.
“I’m”—he cleared his throat and glanced at her from the corner of his eye—“the Hatter.”
Alice lifted her brow. “I pretty much figured that out.”
“Right.” He sighed and glanced to the side.
She rolled her eyes and huffed. “I’m Alice. Alice Hu.”
His jaw went rigid, but even so, her heart skipped a beat at the pure beauty and masculinity of his face. He was so much more than she remembered. Didn’t mean she’d forgiven him for what he’d done earlier. Not by a long shot.