Disclaimer note: I do NOT own Alice in Wonderland by any means, nothing but the plot is mine own.

Thank you to the amazing MinouZar for utilizing her beta-ing skills for this fic. ^^

For any of you curious about Deception, there is one more chapter left, I simply have to get around to getting it edited and all, however I simply couldn't procrastinate any longer so here it is, my next story. This is my first attempt at a slightly darker themed fanfic but I'm really excited about it. I hope you enjoy.

"You want him."

Mirana looked back, away from the window of her study, to the Knave sitting so casually behind her desk.

"He's with her now," Mirana retorted, "and I don't recall asking for an opinion on my feelings, Knave." She looked back to the happy couple. Tarrant was showing Alice around the garden. She stood demurely at his side wearing a blue frock dress and one of his latest creations upon her head. The Hatter, meanwhile, moved about in a maddening fashion, talking so animatedly he nearly forgot to breathe at times. Alice was ever attentive and seemed to hang onto his every word.

"You still want him, sweetheart," the Knave continued, ignoring her remark as casually as she'd said it.

"And you want her just a badly. Don't you try to deny it," she accused. "And I will not be spoken to with such informality; you will address me by my proper title, Knave."

"Oh I'm not the one in denial, Majesty." His breath crept along her neck, making her shiver. He had stood from the chair and moved beside her where she stood by the windowsill in such a short time. She wondered how she hadn't heard him.

"It appears as though neither of us is going to get what we want, then." Mirana said the words with a finality that implied their conversation was over, but Stayne had other ideas.

"I know a way we can help each other." He leaned in closer, placing his hands upon her hips.

Mirana looked at him in horror. "Release me," she demanded, yanking one of her hands away, reaching out as if to strike, only for him to catch her hand, and stop the attack.

"You misunderstood me," he drawled. "Don't think I'm not curious, but I don't do crazy." He released her hand. "I simply meant that we could make an arrangement…to get what we both desire."

Mirana's head snapped to him. "I would never stoop so low as to help such a disgraceful creature like you," she hissed.

Ilosovic smirked. "Oh, but you would if it meant you could have Tarrant."

The Queen eyed him warily, but her resolve was weakening. "How?" she asked.

"Quid pro quo. You help me to get Alice, it will get her out of the way and that will leave Tarrant free for your comforting embrace."

"She would never accept you," Mirana said snidely.

"With your help she would." He smirked. "Assign me to her as a guard, as part of my service, and appoint Tarrant to your council. Just ensure that she's alone and vulnerable to my charming influence…I'll make certain she forgets all about the Hatter, or at least taint her enough that he'll never want her again. Divide and conquer. You win either way."

"Treachery is not the trait of a White Queen," Mirana stated factually, crossing the room to sit at her desk, feigning distraction by glancing at the varying petitions piling up.

"Such a thing never stopped you before," Stayne purred, approaching her once more. "I was there, remember? I saw how you would look at him, touch him, speak to him when you were seducing the Red King." He smirked when he saw her stiffen at his words. "How he would always push you away, beg you to stop tormenting him, until that fateful afternoon when Iracebeth went riding—with me, if I recall correctly—and when we came back, there you were, creeping out of his room like a jilted lover." He smirked. "As I recall, he said it was a mistake he would never repeat again."

"What would you know? You know nothing," she snapped. "She didn't deserve any of it. Not his castle, not the crown, and most certainly not him," she hissed. "He was kind and gentle, and she was awful. She was not worthy of the love he gave her. She was oblivious to the devotion he had for her, his unwavering loyalty to only her, and the thanks he got was an axe to the neck, the ungrateful slag…she deserved banishment and more if I could give it to her. How would you know, anyway?"

"I was his right-hand man, remember? He entrusted me with his care, the care of his castle and army, even that of his wife. And he told me everything." He gave her a once-over. "If you'll recall, I also kept your secret, until he had no use for you, that is. You can't escape the past, little Queen. I do wonder how Tarrant would react if he knew…" He saw her form tense at the thought. "What he would think if he knew his precious Queen wasn't as pure as he believes…"

"He would never believe you," Mirana abruptly interjected, "and even if he did, that secret is the only reason I saved you from exile into the Outlands with my sister. You would do well to remember it."

Stayne stood behind her chair, gliding his hands along the armrests, and resting them finally atop the head, where he bent down to whisper hotly into her ear like the devil's advocate, "There is darkness inside of you Mirana, one that will reveal itself eventually. Let me guide you, and soon enough you may have everything you want. All I ask is that you trust me."

"I will never trust you," she hissed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe we're done here." She adjusted her seat, effectively cutting him off from view as she turned back to her paperwork.

"You still want him." He began to take long strides towards the doors.

As he approached the exit, Mirana looked longingly at the view once more. Alice had just managed to push Tarrant into the lake, and was laughing at him. He looked irate for but a moment before bursting into laughter himself. A moment later he sent the girl into squeals as he stood from the water and began to chase after her, managing to tackle her onto the ground where they lay panting and staring into each other's eyes. Her heart clenched at the sight.

"Wait," she called out. The Knave turned expectantly, his hand still resting on the doorknob. "Why? What's in it for you?"

"I want Alice, you want Tarrant," he said plainly.

"There has to be more to it than that." She was unwilling to give up the chance to bait him. "I want him for love, but what reason do you have? Is it simply lust you're after, revenge…or is it something else?" She raised a calculative eyebrow toward him.

He gazed off into the window, a pensive look upon his face before he turned back to her. "The reasons shouldn't matter. Now, do we have a deal or don't we? Perhaps you'd rather wait until they're married with children?" He said the words teasingly though his disgust was evident at the suggestion.

The Queen hesitated until she looked over at the happy couple. The sight of Tarrant as he began to kiss Alice, first placing kisses upon her neck, then moving to her cheek, her brows, her nose, and finally her mouth was all it took to convince her. "I'll do it…for a price."

Stayne's eyebrows rose. "What sort of price?"

"If you succeed I'll grant you your freedom, however…"

"If I fail," Stayne supplied.

"I'll either banish you, or you'll be indebted to me until you cease to draw breath. Either way, I win," Mirana said with her signature smile.

Stayne paused only a moment, considering this offer for a bit before giving her a single nod and uttering the word that would seal both their fates:

"Deal."

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