“Would ye buy some apples from me, love?”
There was a hamper full of never-ending apples in the root cellar, but the poor old man looked in need. Sadly, Snow had no gold to give, though. “I fear I have nothing to offer you for apples,” Snow said. “Although, I’d be happy to provide a meal and some ale. Come in,please.”
The old man ambled in, lowering his basket by the door. “Tis kind of you. I haven’t had naught but apples in days. Have you any meat?”
“I have smoked pork and cheese. Will that do?”
“Aye, love,” the old man said before sinking onto the bench of the trestle table. “I’d love some ale, too.”
Snow poured the man a mug and laid it on the table. “Here you are. Come rest. Give me just two moments and I’ll fix you a trencher.”
“So sweet of you,” the old man said before taking a gulp. “Ah, so delicious. Greer has outdone himself with this batch.”
A cold chill swept down Snow’s back at the mention of Greer. “You know Greer?”
“Aye. I know some of the men who live here. I’ve knocked on this door before. They’vealwaysbought my apples, they have.”
Snow carefully cut the pork, keeping one eye on the older man and the knife clenched tight. “This cottage is so far from any town that I know of. Where do you live?”
“Near the castle in Burgh,” the man said. “I got lost in the wood here a long time ago, and Vor and Greer came to my aid.”
“And you come to sell them apples now?”
“Every so often. I know they use them in their ale.” The man eyed him. “Been here long, love?”
“Just a few weeks,” Snow replied. “I, too, was lost in the woods. Greer and Vor helped me, as well.”
“And Shen… and Hwa… and of course, Owan,” the old man murmured. “Lazlo… and who could forget Klaus, though he’s likely too grumpy to have liked you being here, I’d wager.”
Snow laid the trencher in front of the old man, hoping his hand wasn’t shaking too badly. “Seems you know them all very well.”
“I do,” the old man said before popping a bit of ham between his wrinkled lips. He pulled his other hand out of his robes and laid one of his apples on the table. “For you. As thanks for this meal.”
Snow had access to many apples—so why did his mouth water at the sight of this one? Words whispered in his mind, calling him to take a bite.
The old man nudged him. “Have a bite, love.”
Snow lifted it to his mouth, voracious hunger filling him. Somehow, he fought the need and lowered it back to the table. “I can’t be selfish. I’ll save this to share with my cottage mates later. Thank you.”
“Fool boy,” the old man cried before purple smoke swallowed him whole.
When he reappeared, he was no longer quite as elderly. An older, beautiful omega in a long silk robe stood before him, his face somewhat familiar. Snow was sure he’d never met the man before, though.
“You’re too smart for your own good, Snow White.”
“You’re… the wizard. Aren’t you?”
“What asmartfool you are,” the wizard snapped before snagging Snow by the hair. “Too bad I have to kill someone with potential.”
The wizard dragged Snow out into the meadow, his strength too much for Snow to escape from. He was tossed to the ground amid a circle of wildflowers. When he looked up, Snow found his step-papa wide-eyed and aghast.
“Here,” the wizard spat.“Proofhe still lives. As if I would lie to you.”
Snow stared between them, confused.
“You’ve lied before,” the Prince Consort replied to the wizard. “And I was assured he was dead.”
“I told you I’d seen the prince with my own eyes, being fucked against a tree right over there. He might even now carry another princeling within his womb. Another to get in your way on sitting the throne.” The wizard scoffed.“Neverleave a job that important to another. You deplore getting your hands dirty, and it’s now proven to be your biggest weakness. That weakness might cost me all seven of my alphas. Seven alphasyouwill be tasked to replace.”
