Page 10 of Snows Sinful Seven

“Helping you out.” She laughs as she helps push me out of the way.

“Oh.” A wave of embarrassment fills me. What is going on with me? Why did my body react that way simply from her touch?

“It’s dark down here. How are we going to find our way around?” she asks.

Digging my hands into my pockets, I grab two flashlights and flick them on. “With these.” I smile, handing her one.

“You're a prepared one, I see. I like that in a woman.” She grins.

Another flutter in my belly has me pulling my attention away from her and quickly starting down the path.

At first, I thought Regina was a quiet person, a little broody. She would have every right to be so with how her life has been going. But, after only a few days of spending time with her, I learned that she has more of a playful personality.

I don’t think I’ve smiled and laughed as much as I have around her.

“Where do these lead, anyway?” she asks, her voice echoing off the walls.

“There are tunnels that lead all around the property. It’s very easy to get lost. So make sure you stick close to me,” I tell her, pausing as we reach a break-off in the path.

“I don’t think that’s going to be a hard thing to do.” I jump when she whispers so close to my ear. She laughs as I spin around and shoot her a glare. “So jumpy, Princess. Relax. No one is going to hurt you.”

“I know.” I lick my lips.

We hold each other's gaze for a moment, a moment too long. My eyes dart back over to the tunnel. “This way.”

Get a hold of yourself, Snow.Why am I so reactive to every little thing she does today? Is she more playful than normal? She doesn’t seem to be. I must be reading far too much into it.

It almost comes off as if she’s flirting with me. But that can’t be, she’s my stepmother. She’s just being friendly.

Regina talks about how creepy the tunnels are and how much she loves it. I’m unable to keep the smile off my face the whole time she speaks. I’m glad she’s already enjoying herself.

I could tell she was going stir-crazy being trapped within the palace walls. Even with all the places we went on the property, she was still trapped behind four walls.

When we get to the door that leads to the edge of the woods, I pause and turn to her. “When we get outside, we will no longer be within the palace walls. But just to be sure, we need to get far away from this exit so we don’t draw attention to it. If my father finds out about the tunnels, he will board them up.”

“Okay.” She nods. “If he doesn’t know about them, how do you?”

“My mama.” I smile. “This palace was originally hers; before her, my grandparents, and before them, theirs.”

“Wait. So your father is only king because of your mother? How did I not know this?”

“It’s not something he likes to talk about much. That man is so power hungry, the simple fact that he’s only who he is because of my mother, a woman, agreeing to marry him into this position is a major hit to his ego.” I roll my eyes.

“Misogynistic asshole,” she sneers. “Is it bad of me to wish bad things on my parents for putting me in this position? Forcing me into marrying him. I hate them. I hate this place. I hate him.”

I’m taken aback by the sudden shift in her mood. “Do you hate me?” I whisper, the question slipping free before I can think better of it.

Her face softens and my heart stops beating as she lifts her hand to tuck a piece of my raven hair behind my ear. “No, Snow. I don’t hate you. I could never hate you.”

The air around us grows thick. My head spins as a slow, warm feeling fills my body. As if Regina can feel it too, her brows furrow as she looks at the hand that is still holding onto my hair.

She pulls it away and clears her throat.

What was that? It almost felt like... magic?

That can’t be, can it? She’s not a witch or any other magical being. She’s told me so herself in a past conversation. She’s human.

So am I... no. It can’t be.

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