not here majority of the time. He probably didn't want to bother with it." I scowled into the darkness. "I can't see a thing in here." Pushing some magic into my hand, I threw the ball of light into the air. The room lightened instantly.
"That's better." I walked around Hatter's home, picking up random books and discarded teacups as I went.
"He's a bit of a slob. Isn't he?" Chess mused, glancing around the dusty room.
I gave him a pointed look. "You're one to talk. I've seen your closest."
Huffing, Chess walked into the bedroom.
Just as I was getting ready to move on a loud roar vibrated the ground beneath us. A teacup sitting on a side table crashed to the floor. I flinched against the sound.
Chess raced into the living area with me his eyes wide. "What in the world is that?"
I shook my head my hands cover my ears at the ear-splitting sound. "I have no idea."
Chess stopped toward the door. I grabbed his arm.
"You don't know what's out there."
Giving me a reassuring smile, Chess patted my hand. "So worried about me, Alice? There was a time you only cared about yourself."
I sniffed and released him. "If you die, I'll never hear the end of it from Kat. Plus, I'll have your fatherless child on my conscious and no one should grow up without a father."
Chess gave me a strange look and then said in a somber tone, "But you already have a fatherless child on your head."
I frowned and cocked my head to the side. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to ask him about it further because another ear-splitting roar filled the air followed by a scratching at the door.
Chess and I rushed to the window. Standing on either side of the window, we peaked out between the tattered curtains. A large snout came into view filling up the entire window. We jumped back into place and froze.
The snout huffed and sniffed before backing away from the window. A loud thunk and crack sounded, making me jump and we scrambled back from the window. I thought the creature was trying to break through the door but when nothing burst through, we inched back to the window.
I met Chess's gaze and we peaked back around the corner.
Lounging on top of the now broken table was a large feline of sports. The creature rampaging around Hatter's home was a ten-foot-tall purple and black tiger. His bright green eyes stared at the house intently, not moving even when those big orbs locked onto us.
I pulled back and looked to Chess. My heart pounding in my chest as I mouthed, a tiger.
Chess frowned in response and then peered back out the window. I chanced a look back out as well.
The tiger Fae didn't even seem interested in us anymore as his long tongue stroked along his paw. A creak sounded and I glared down at my traitorous feet as the tiger's head swiveled back toward us.
"Do you think it's safe to go out?" I asked in a low whisper. "I've never seen such a Fae before."
Chess was still frowning. "I have."
Then without warning, Chess walked away from the window and marched right out the front door.
I scrambled after him but stopped when I reached the open door. Curling my fingers around the edge, I watched as Chess slowly approached the tiger.
At first, he didn't seem interested in Chess. Then his ears perked up and his tail swished from side to side, his big emerald eyes locking onto the approaching Fae.
Chess held out a hand and inched toward him. His voice low and calming as he spoke to the tiger, "It's alright. You're okay. We're not going to hurt you."
The tiger's whiskers twitched but he allowed Chess to move closer to him. I didn't dare call out to warn Chess to he careful in case it caused the tiger to change moods suddenly.
Don't die. Don't fucking die. I hadn't been exaggerating when I said I'd never hear the end of it. Kat would roast me alive and shove me into a pie to serve to the Fae in her house if I let her lover and father of her unborn child die.
Chess finally reached the tiger and held his hand out for him to sniff. The tiger tensed and my breath caught. I was sure Chess was about to get snatched up but then at the last second the tiger inhaled deeply and let out a long purr.
Placing a hand on the tiger's