Page 31 of Snow White

Azura glides into the room, and my head instantly snaps up. It is as if I have a sixth sense where she is concerned. Her eyes are sunken, dark circles surrounding them. She looks exhausted. I smile warmly at her, trying to brighten her day.

“Good morning, Azura,” I say.

She nods at me before pouring herself a cup of coffee and moving to her usual spot at the window. Every day she sits there and stares out that window. Curiosity pinches me.

“May I ask you something?” I ask.

“Hm?” Azura looks at me, lost in thought.

“You look out the window every day. Is there something you are looking for?”

“The trees are whispering,” she says, returning her gaze to the forest.

Belle raises a brow and joins Azura at the window. “Whispering what?”

“I don’t know, but it makes me uneasy,” Azura says, scanning the trees.

“Well, we are safe in here. Yes?” I say, wrapping my arms across my stomach, feeling a bit sick. The way she says those words makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“Inside the walls, yes.”

“Then we will stay here,” I say with a nod.

“We have a lot to prepare for,” Belle adds.

Belle and Azura have been preparing for the showcase. I helped Belle and Lady Lock with their ideas. It is exciting to be a part of something, and I enjoy helping my friends.

“Yes. Prepare,” Azura murmurs, her mind still lost in her thoughts and her gaze still on the trees.

I gently take her hand, trying to pull her back to the present. “Do you know what you’re going to do tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” She blinks, looking down at my hands. She must not have been listening.

“Yes. For the showcase,” I say, tilting my head.

“Oh. Yes. I do.”

“Are you going to tell us or keep it a secret?” Belle asks, twirling a lock of her hair.

“A secret,” Azura says, looking back at the trees. “You?”

“A secret.” Belle smirks. It isn’t a complete truth since she’d told me bits and pieces of her plan.

“No fair! I want to know,” I whine. “I have been helping you here and there, and I deserve to know.”

“Too bad.” Belle laughs. “You’ll see the final product tomorrow.”

“Uh-huh,” Azura mumbles. She lifts my hand to her mouth, kissing my knuckles. I blink a couple of times in surprise as my heart beats faster and the heat rises in my body. It is a comfortable warmth that signals my mind to replay every inappropriate thought I have had about her.

Oh no.

“Well,” I clear my throat, making sure my smile stays in place, “I am excited to see what you both do.”

Belle looks between us, smiling softly. “Should we go get some lunch?”

Azura drops my hand. “I’ll catch up.”

The cold replaces the warmth of her touch. It is the first time in a couple of days that I have really felt it.

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