Page 17 of Snows Sinful Seven

“What were they doing?” She doesn’t sound like she thinks I’m crazy, so that’s good, right?

“They were talking. The King seemed pissed. I guess there was something left behind by your mother that pretty much left everything to you—including the throne.”

“W-what?” I didn’t think her eyes could get any wider.

“Yeah, and he said that it all becomes yours when you turn twenty-one in a few weeks.”

“Wow,” she says in a daze moving to sit on the end of the bed. “This is big. I’m going to be Queen? Regina, do you know what this means?” She smiles so brightly that I know it’s going to hurt to be the one to make it disappear. “We could change everything back to how it used to be when my mama ruled.”

The way she worded what she just said makes me pause. “Wait, what do you mean by we?”

Her smile turns soft. “You don’t think I would forget about you? I’d be honored to have you by my side, helping me change everything for the better.”

Fuck. Damn it! I’m not supposed to be falling for this girl, and here she goes and says shit that makes me fall harder.

Swallowing hard, I’m left speechless. At least on that topic. “It’s not that easy. Your dad isn’t just going to hand over the throne to you.”

“You're right.” She nods and stands again. “We need to get that paper, bring it to the courts, and show them. They have the power to enforce it.”

“Again, not going to be easy. Your father has it. He made the guy he was talking to promise he would find anyone who knew about the agreement, will, whatever it was, and force them to keep quiet. Even if it means by death.”

“He wouldn’t!” she whispers in horror.

“He would. He said as much himself. But Snow...” I take a step forward, true terror for her life hitting me like a bag of bricks. “He doesn't want to take any chances. He wants to get rid of you so that there’s no risk of you taking his place.”

“He wouldn’t hurt me,” she counters, but the way she sounds, even she doesn’t believe it. She looks towards her window, biting her lower lip.

“He would.” Every word of this conversion is killing me on the inside. “So, you have to go.”

“What?” She whirls around. “I can’t. I’m not ready. I don’t have everything in place yet.”

“You have to,” I urge, striding over to her. “If you don’t leave now, hell, even tonight, you risk getting hurt. And I can’t let that happen. Please, Snow. You have to go. You have to save yourself.”

“What about you?” her voice cracks. “I can’t leave you behind.”

My eyes sting as emotion clogs my throat. The thought of leaving Snow, the possibility of never seeing her again, it feels like something inside me is being twisted.

“You have to. If we both leave, it will draw too much attention. I have to stay behind to find out what he has planned and make sure you have enough time to get as far away from here as you can.”

“Regina.” She’s crying now, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I don’t want to leave you. Please, just come with me. We can run, we can go anywhere. I have money.”

“I know,” I whisper, pulling her into my arms. She clings to me, and I squeeze my eyes shut, demanding the tears not to fall. “I’ll find you. When I know you’re safe, I’ll join you.”

“Promise?” she sobs into my dress.

“I promise.” I die a little inside because it’s a promise I’m not sure I can keep.

“Thank you, Regina.” She sniffs, wiping at her eyes. I hate seeing her upset. I hate every fucking thing about this. If I could, I’d kill the King myself. “Thank you for being the friend I needed, the friend I didn’t think I’d ever find. I want you to know howmuch you mean to me. Leaving you here isn’t going to be easy.” She searches my face. “Are you sure you won’t come with me?”

I shake my head. “No, I can’t, not yet.”

“But soon?” I can’t answer; I can’t lie to her again. So I don’t.

“Come on.” I pull away from her, unable to meet her eyes in fear I might break. “Let’s get you packed.”

I feel numb the whole time we shove clothes into a bag for Snow. I feel numb as I sneak down to the kitchen like a thief in the night to grab food for her journey.

With a bag full of fruits and crackers, a few bottles of water, and a first aid kit I snatched from above the stove, I meet Snow at the tunnel entrance.

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