Hatter's Heart - Erin Bedford Page 0,46

not.

You're the one who had to be Fae.

I know but—

You're the one who made a deal with the Shadow Man to break up the royal couple to get what you wanted.

That's true but still if the Seelie Queen hadn't—

"Are you, alright?" A hand touched my arm.

I glanced up from where I had been glaring at the floor. "Uh, yeah. Fine. Really. I'm alright." I scrambled to my feet and sniffed. "Let's go. I want to get this over with and go home."

Chess gave me a disbelieving frown but didn't push the issue.

To my great blessing, both felines were silent on the final leg of the trip. It wasn't until we reached the alcove with the small pond and tree that we had to talk to one another.

"So..." I drew out staring up at the hole in the tree, "have you ever gone out this way? Is it even possible?"

Cheshire snorted. "Of course, it's possible. This is the Underground."

I pushed my lips to one side, shooting him incredulous look. "I was quite aware. That does not answer the most important question of how?"

Cheshire opened his jaws to no doubt give me another annoying answer, but a sort of surprised gurgle came from his throat. His body twitched and glimmered for a moment. Then he placed his for legs out in front of him and his head fell forward as he stretched long and lean.

His tail thickened and the hair on his head lengthened. The fur on his body smoothed until it all that was left were a handful of stripes along his hips and breast bones.

I swallowed thickly.

The last thing to change was his snout. It shortened and paled revealing a strong nose and voluptuous lips, leaving his emerald green eyes in place.

Cheshire stood up straight his pale purple hair falling around him like a curtain shielding parts of his body from my view. Tipped ears peeked out between his hair as he pushed it from his face and turned to us, giving me a full view of the hard planes of his arms and the impressive length hanging between his legs. To say his was more than a little happy to see me was an understatement.

A startled eep fell from my lips.

Lips curling up into a seductive smirk, Cheshire purred, "Well, that's much better."

Chapter 15

"Father," Chess coughed and averted his eyes. "Clothing, please."

Cheshire looked down at himself and a sly grin slid up his gorgeous face. "What? I am in my natural state. What is so wrong with that?" His gaze shifted over to me, his tongue peeking out to lick along his fangs. "Besides, it looks like dear Alice enjoys me this way."

I made a choking sound and jerked my head away from him so fast I winced. "Clothing, clothing would be good." I wrapped my arms around my waist and tapped my foot, my shoulders bunched up around my ears as I pretended not to be affected by his nakedness.

With a reluctant sigh, Cheshire said, "Very well. If I must."

"You must," I clipped, turning my head toward him briefly before remembering myself and closing my eyes tightly. "This isn't the time or place for games."

"Oh, Alice dear," Cheshire purred. "You are so wrong. This is exactly the time. The Underground is dying what else is there to live for if not now?"

"Father," Chess sighed exasperated. "You can try and get into Alice's pants or rather skirts later. We have places to be. So, if you please?"

Huffing, Cheshire snapped his fingers. "Fine. There. You may open your eyes now. I am decent."

Not quite believing him, I peeked through my eye lashes before finally opening them completely. Cheshire without clothing was a treat but Cheshire with clothing on was just as deadly.

Lose billowy pants covered his legs and a robe-like material covered his top half though he might as well not be wearing a top at all. He wore the robe mostly opened barely belted at the waist to keep it partially together. His long purple tail lay over his shoulder like a feathered boa much thicker and longer than Chess's cat-like tail. Cheshire kept his hair long and flowing down around him.

Cheshire's large green orbs turned to me expectantly.

Swallowing down the need to drool over him just a little bit the way Kat did a double chocolate Frappuccino, I jerked my head tightly up and down. "Fine. Let's turn back to the matter at hand. How to get through to the Seelie Court."

"Oh, yes. I can help you there."