Page 32 of Snow White

I sigh softly and nod. Belle grabs my hand, but her warmth just isn’t the same. The two of us make our way to the dining room. As we eat, I keep an eye on the door, waiting for Azura to walk through.

Chapter Twenty-One

Azura

My gaze is drawn to Snow the moment I enter the dining room. The flavor of frosted apples teases my tongue as I lick my lips. I was distracted in the tearoom and focused on the forest, but surely I wouldn’t have forgotten my first taste of Snow.

“Your Majesty, a surprise,” I say, taking the seat next to Snow and smiling warmly at the king.

I catch his scent for the first time and realize this is the closest I’ve been to the king. His scent of pine and sea is a strange combination. The notes war with one another and are not pleasing to the nose, nothing like frost and apple.

He’s the target, not his daughter. I gain nothing by being with Snow, no magic, no power. Marry the king, and I will gain the powers of the kingdom. But first, I must stop thinking about Snow.

I bite my tongue to keep from licking my lips again and force my gaze to remain on the king. He is handsome, with no lines of age evident on his face. He retains the glow of youth that his daughter radiates. His eyes are a warm brown, welcoming and inviting but not captivating. With broad shoulders and narrow hips, he is clearly active and enjoys physical pursuits. I should be pushing my clear advantage. My friendship with Snow has already aided me, but I haven’t exploited it to its full extent. I could end this entire charade if I used Snow, but something is stopping me, my hackles rising at the thought.

The king bows his head, the single braid at his temple shifting with the movement. “I thought I would come and talk to you ladies in person.”

Snow scoots her chair closer to her father, concern filling her icy eyes. “What is it, Papa?”

My protective instincts go on alert, responding immediately to Snow’s discomfort. “Is something wrong?”

“My son will be arriving in a couple of hours,” he says, something close to dread lacing his tone. I had heard quiet rumors involving the prince, but by all accounts, the royals are a close-knit family. I slip into the king’s mind, gathering intel.

He said he would test the princesses’ loyalty, but can I convince him to stay? I hate that he’s alone in the seaside castle, but he refuses to be inside this castle for longer than a few days.The king’s thoughts, as always, focus on the welfare of his children.

I raise a brow, feigning ignorance. “Ah, the famous Prince Eric, but why are you so sad, my dear?”

The king sighs. “It means I’ll have to leave you all soon.”

“That is bad news. We have had such little time to get to know you,” I add, lacing my tone with a regret I don’t feel.

He forces a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “It will only be for a couple of days. Then I’ll be taking each of you out on a one-on-one activity.”

It was a thought I’d implanted into his mind last night. It would give me time to manipulate him further, out of sight of the other women. I raise a brow. “You make it sound like a chore, my dear.”

The king smiles. “It won’t be. I already have activities planned for each one of you.”

I smile wickedly and lean against the table, pushing my breasts against the wood. “Activities, hm?”

The king smiles, and to his credit, his eyes don’t drop to my chest. He opens his mouth to respond, but a call from the doorway pulls his attention from me.

“Father!”

The voice makes me grind my teeth. I know a predator when I hear one. Every nerve in my body ignites, preparing me to strike out against him. These aremyprey, no one else’s.

The shift in the room is not just in my imagination. All the king’s thoughts become clouded to me. His entire mind is nothing but a whirlwind of sea and salt.Eric.

As he approaches, his scent surrounds me. He smells like the ocean, bringing to mind crashing waves and whipping wind. Everything unstable and chaotic begins and ends with water. This man is the Vessel for one of the oldest Elementals.Water.

His power is so great that he’s masked his father to me even though his father is not a Vessel. I hadnotcounted on his presence being that strong. I despise surprises.

“Eric! You’re here early.” the king smiles, his eyes a little sharper. His chest is puffed out, and he nearly glows now.

Eric smirks, very much a younger version of his father. He has the same broad shoulders and narrow hips, just as attractive but infinitely more dangerous. Unlike his father, who inspires with his smile, Eric’s smile is full of lies.

I can see the similarities between him and Snow. They have the same dark skin, and though Eric’s hair is cut tight along his temples, it is wild at the top like hers. But that’s where the similarities end. Her eyes are ice, while his are a storm. I don’t even need to read his thoughts, not that I could, to know what is going through his head. He’s empty, just like me, going through the motions and feeling absolutely nothing.

He slides into the seat directly across from Snow. “Father, I heard there are numerous beautiful ladies here. How could I not come as soon as possible?”

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