Page 50 of Maddie
Noah sat beside her and tugged at the blanket so it covered more of her thigh. He paused. What was she wearing? A large black T-shirt and… “Where are your trousers?”
She shrugged. “Maddie’s clothes are too small and Ferris is tall so his shirt fits like a dress.”
“Seems like I’m dressing everyone these days,” Ferris mumbled as Maddie set her box onto the small table just inside the door.
“It’s not like you were using them.” Maddie grinned, tapping Ferris’s nose. “You didn’t even know I’d gotten them from your flat after you entered the palace.”
Ferris crossed his arms and stared at the box. “Is that the hat for Imogen?”
“Yes.” Maddie made a small squeak of excitement and pulled off the top, lifting the cocktail hat from inside. “It’s a masterpiece, if I say so myself. Far too perfect to sit on that shrew’s head.”
Noah turned from them as Maddie started explaining how she crafted each piece of the hat. Something tugged in his chest as he watched how her face lit up over her craft. She was … she wasadorable. But then his gaze shifted to Alice and his stomach sank. His sister needed his attention more at that moment. “Are you feeling better?” he asked.
“Much. Everything’s been hazy after I … after I attacked you.” Her face turned bright red, and she hung her head, hiding behind her hair. “I know I already said this, but I’m so sorry, Noah.”
“Don’t be.” He reached over and took her hand in his. “It wasn’t really you. I’m just glad Maddie and I got the cure for you.”
Alice chewed her bottom lip. “Ferris told me what you had to do to find it. You really shouldn’t have—not that I’m ungrateful, but you could’vedied.”
Thinking back on it, Noah was honestly surprised they hadn’t died in the swamp. “I could have. Youweregoing to die though, so how could I not risk it?”
With a heavy sigh, Alice settled into the back of the settee. “We should be able to go back home when the cure has finished setting us both right.”
They couldn’t gohome—home wasn’t safe anymore, but that was just another thing they needed to discuss. Noah shifted uncomfortably. “I haven’t taken it yet,” he said in a quiet voice. He hadn’t wanted to talk about this the moment he walked in the door, and he would’ve preferred it be a private conversation. Though, if he were being realistic, no matter where they spoke inside the small safe house, Maddie and Ferris would’ve been able to hear.
“What?” She sat up straight and twisted to face him. “Why? Ferris gave it to you before you left.”
“I promised Maddie I would help rescue her sister. What good would I be as a mortal?” The other reason—the part about not hating being a vampire—could come a little later. He pulled the semi-wilted mushroom from his jacket pocket. “See? I still have it.”
“Eat it,” she urged. “We don’t owe them anything.”
Noah’s mouth parted in surprise. “I’m fairly certain we owe them a fuck-ton. They snuck you out of the palace, hid you from Rav and the queen, and helped me save you from certain death.” Maddiehadtried to turn Alice in for her own benefit, but that didn’t negate the good things she’d also done.
“You’re right.” Alice winced. “I know you are. I’m sorry, it’s just … I want to go home and forget this ever happened. And I need you there with me. If you stay here, you’ll end up dead, and it will be my fault for dragging you into this mess.”
“I’m not going to die.” Noah ran a hand through his hair, hoping that was true. “It’s going to be a quick rescue mission. Maddie will distract Imogen while I sneak inside with Ferris’s map. By the time she finishes delivering that hat, I’ll be back here with her sister, safe and sound. Okay?”
“You don’tknowthat. Besides…” She paused and chewed on her bottom lip. “What will I tell Mum and Dad? That you’ve run off on holiday?”
“I can come back and visit sometimes.” Around Christmas and birthdays, as long as it was at night...
“Come visit?” she nearly shrieked. “I meant if you weredead. Are you seriously considering staying here?”
Noah felt Maddie and Ferris staring at him, but he was too cowardly to look over at them.Fuck. He had wanted to think this through. “I’m not sure what I want,” he told her honestly. Staying in Wonderland meant leaving his entire life behind. He was torn between what heshouldwant and what hedidwant. “I’m going to think about it for a couple days.”
Alice grabbed his forearm with both hands. “You can’t stay in Wonderland. Please, Noah, you have to come home with me where it’s safe.”
Safe? She was clearly in denial. But, regardless, what did he have there that was really worth returning to? A job he tolerated, another year at university to then get some new job he wasn’t thrilled about? A lying bitch of an ex-girlfriend who wouldn’t leave him alone? Their parents rarely made an appearance so, if he did visit once or twice a year, he would be seeing them just as much. He would have Alice, of course, but he couldn’t live his life for her. He needed to live it for himself. What he needed to decide was howlonghe would live—another sixty years or forever?
“Bloody hell,” he growled, not meaning to sound so angry. “I’m sorry. I need to think, okay?”
“Think about what? This isinsane!” Alice said with wide, panicked eyes.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” Noah stood and avoided meeting Maddie’s heavy stare. “If you need me, I’ll be in the other room.” His flat tone implieddon’t need meunless it was a true emergency. He hoped they picked up on his need to be alone for a bit. To sort through everything without outside pressure, life-or-death stakes, or a sexy hat-wearing female muddling his head.
As soon as the bedroom door shut behind him, he heard Ferris whisper, “What the fuck was that about?”
“Nothing,” Maddie replied, her voice uncertain. “He’s probably just tired.”
