39. Clara

CHAPTER 39

CLARA

" Z aven!" I scream, frantically looking around the room as if he'll suddenly reappear, as if I don't already know that he's far from me. "Zaven!"

"Clara, calm down!" Cal tries. "We'll find him."

"Don't tell me to calm down!" I growl. "My child has been taken?—"

"Stop," Hatter whispers. It's so soft. It's so quiet, it shouldn't have been heard. But it's like a gunshot in the room. Everyone falls into silence.

"Clara Bee," he says, and his voice is clearer than it's been since before Zaven was born. "He wanted to go."

"What?" I ask, horror creeping into my voice.

"He knew, Clara," he rasps, taking my hands. "He knew ."

"And what does that mean?" I cry. "My baby, our baby, is gone!"

He nods. "We will go get him."

"But Wonderland?—"

"Will be safe," he stops me. His hands come up to cup my face. "I love you, Clara Bee," he murmurs. "With all the madness in my soul. Just as I love Zaven." He presses a kiss against my forehead. "We'll go get our son. We'll bring him home. And then we must discuss the reason Zaven felt it necessary to leave."

My chest squeezes. "Must we?"

Hatter nods. "We must. But not now. Not yet."

Because there are things at work none of us understand. Because the worlds are changing. Because at some point, many worlds could become one, and none of us are prepared for that.

"Okay," I rasp, looking up at the man who changed my life, the man who holds my heart in his hands. I can see his determination there. I can see how prepared he is to walk the ends of the worlds to bring Zaven back home. "Okay," I repeat. "I'll grab my stuff."

"What about Wonderland?" Cal asks.

"You and Cheshire can watch over everything until we get back," I tell her, not leaving any room for argument.

Her eyes widen and she glances at Chesh. "I don't think that's a good?—"

"I'm going to get my baby," I interrupt. "You'll have plenty of help while I'm gone." I take her hand. "Cal, I'm asking you this as a favor, as your friend, not as your Empress."

She winces. "Our triad isn't exactly complete."

"We may be spread thin, but we are not weaker for it." I pull her into a hug. "I know this isn't what you wanted. I'm sorry to throw you into the deep end."

She huffs. "We'll be fine. I'll figure things out. Just go get Zaven and bring him back home."

I nod and release her. "We'll be back before you know it."

Hatter takes my hand and tugs me away before I start crying. I haven't left Wonderland since. . . I haven't left ever. I always stay behind, but this time, it's our turn.

"Are you ready for our next adventure, my Clara Bee?" Hatter asks.

It feels like a heavy question. Life has been one great adventure since I fell down that rabbit hole, since White dragged me to the Hatter and told me I was meant to bring down Alice. This is just another adventure, another mission.

"I'm ready," I say, tilting up my chin. "Let's bring our son home."

No matter the cost.

No matter the cost. . .

No matter. . .