Hatter's Heart - Erin Bedford Page 0,11

place he could go is the Underground. There is certainly nothing here in the human realm he would want so badly to leave me for."

"Alright then. Let's go." Kat sat down on her couch and dragged her shoes from underneath the coffee table. "We can start at his house and then work our way through." She paused mid-tying of her shoe. "Seer might know something as well. We'd better stop by."

"Love." Chess slid onto the couch next to her. "You can't go with her."

Kat didn't even look up from her shoes. "I know you're not trying to tell me what to do." A dangerous gleam flickered in her eyes as she smiled at him. "You remember what happened last time."

Chess wiggled on the couch, his tail sliding around her waist. "As delightful that punishment was, pet. I wasn't talking about stopping you. I'm reminding you about your meeting..."

Kat angled her head to the side, frowning. "What meeting?"

Clearing his throat, Chess shot a look toward the others and myself before turning back to Kat. "The one with your parents about the event we wished to discuss."

Mouth forming a u-shape, Kat laid her hands on top of his and turned back to me, an apologetic smile on her face. "I'm sorry Alice, Chess is right. I'd love to come with you, but I have a prior engagement that I cannot get out of."

Curiosity peaked, I asked slowly, "Is there anything I can do?"

"No!" Kat rocked and waved me off with a suspiciously too bright smile. "I mean, no you have enough to worry about. Just keep your mirror on you and let me know if you run into any trouble."

I wasn't nearly satisfied with her answer but knowing Kat, she'd tell me when she was ready.

"Very well." I shifted my weight to one side and placed my hands on my hips. "I suppose I'll have to venture it alone."

"Not hardly." Mop scoffed and shook his little brown head. "Imma not lettin' ye outer me sight. That be Hatter's orders."

I rolled my eyes and scowled. "Since when did you follow anyone's orders but your own?"

Kat stifled a giggle, earning her a glare from Mop.

"That not be true. I followed his majesty's orders well enough." Mop paused and tugged on one of his large ears. "When he be ‘round anyhow. Regardless," Mop locked his gaze with mine. "I be feelin' better knowin' you ain't gettin' in trouble."

I huffed. "I do not get into trouble." Everyone stared at me knowingly. "Fine. I attract trouble. However, that is hardly my fault." I placed a gloved hand on my chest. "I’m innocent in all this. I have been taken advantage of. I cannot help that I have a giving heart."

"More like a pain in the ass."

I shot a glower at Kat. "I heard that."

Grinning primly, Kat said, "You were meant to."

Chess slapped his thighs and stood. "I suppose you will be wanting to use the mirror? "

I gave Chess a grateful look. "I would appreciate it. It would be a long walk in these shoes to Kat's grandmother's house. How is she by the way?"

Kat snorted. "Living it up. Ever since the Fae came out of her back yard, she has been hoarded by reporters and talk show hosts wanting to get the low down."

"So, she's loving it?" I countered with a sly look.

She grinned and shrugged. "She's eighty. Grandma hasn't had this much attention thrust onto her since she was my age. Or at least that's what she keeps telling me." Kat chuckled and stood as well. "Come on, I'll shoot her a text letting her know you're coming."

We followed Kat and Chess into the kitchen and then to an office off to the side. A desk sat up against one wall beneath a window which overlooked their garden. I imagined Kat spent many a day manipulating said garden when she couldn't get her mind on her work. A wicker chair overflowing with books had been shoved in the corner next to a tall lamp. The books were of Fae lore from all over the world. I had helped Kat collect them over the last few months. It helped to know what humans already thought of us so we could correct the misconceptions.

"I haven't made much progress," Kat told me, leaning against her desk Chess at her side. "There's far more make believe in the books than fact. Thankfully, not many actually mention our one weakness. Iron."

We all frowned and tensed, visibly uncomfortable from the mere