Page 53 of Snow White

Why am I fighting the urge to go back and pull her from sleep with my mouth on her clit? I could make this work. I deserve to be happy, don’t I? Haven’t I given enough? Bled enough? Do I have to give up this too?

I can be good. I can work to deserve Snow. If she were mine, I could leave everything behind and never touch Dark Magic again.

My heart jumps into my throat at the flicker of a shadow above the trees, and those silly dreams of being good die. I can’t be good. I canneverbe good.

I was born evil, and I’ll die evil.

Snow is a weakness I cannot afford. I need to be queen. I need the power that comes from the throne.

Snow is good. I am evil. Those facts will never change.

I brush at something on my cheek, surprised to find it wet. I glance up at the sky, expecting rain. Something that feels like grief feels me as I wipe my hand off on my robe and focus back on the trees. No more dreams. Dreams are for children. I was never a child. I was a weapon, a witch.

I am evil, and I’ll never be anything more than that.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Snow

Darkness. Everything is dark, cold, and damp. This cold is something I have never felt before. It is sinister and wraps around me, pulling me deep into myself so I can’t escape. It penetrates my bones until I can’t feel myself anymore. I hate it. The feeling of my heart being frozen over scares me.

Light illuminates the small room, and in front of me is Azura. She is chained to the wall, blood dripping down her torso. Her skin is sickly pale, and her pink lips are drained of life. Tears pour down my face.

“Azura!” I scream. I run toward her but slam into an invisible wall before I can reach her. My heart pounds in my chest as I shoot my hands out, throwing ice shards at the wall, but it has no effect. My icicles shatter, falling to the ground, and my heart stops. How is this possible? Who did this?

I attempt to use my powers again, but I can’t. I feel nothing inside me other than my heart beating against my chest.

“Azura! Wake up! Please!” I scream.

“Oh, dear Snow,” a voice purrs from behind me.

I spin. “Who’s there?”

“Friends of the past,” two voices say in unison.

“What do you want?” I ask, my breathing harsh.

The voices laugh, fading into the distance.

“Wait!” I yell, chasing after them.

Azura’s scream echoes behind me, and I spin around, watching the love of my life writhe in pain as she pulls against the chains.

…

“Azura!” I scream, sitting up quickly. She isn’t lying beside me, and for a split second, I think the worse.

“Snow?” Azura says from the balcony, looking over her shoulder. I slip out of bed and run to her. Her body looks intact, and her hair sways freely. I wrap my arms around her stomach, burying my face against her back. The scent of orchids surrounds me, and some of my fear subsides. She is truly here.

“Are you alright?” she asks.

“You weren’t in bed,” I say, shaking my head. I can’t tell her about the dream, not after what I saw. I can’t worry her like that. “I got scared.”

She laughs softly and kisses my head. I feel the material of my hair wrap and realize she must have put it on me when I slept. “I couldn’t sleep. Go back and rest.”

“Not without you,” I say, shaking my head.

“Snow.” She sighs.

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