“Papa, I’m sorry,” the Prince Consort said.
“Papa?”Snow asked, eyes wide. He climbed to his feet and looked between the omegas, landing on his step-papa last. “I thought you were a prince when you married my father? Or was that a lie I can now add to the crime of attempted murder?”
“Shut up, you sniveling little driveller,” the wizard snapped. “If my son wasn’t completely worthless, it wouldn’t be attempted but fulfilled.”
The Prince Consort shoved up his long tunic sleeves. “I’ll correct that mistake now.”
“Will you now?” the wizard said. “Or will I have to intervene as I always have before? You’reuseless,Aegis.”
“Useless? How do you think you’ve gone unnoticed in this wood for near two decades, Papa? I’ve kept the king on a short leash and allowed you to drain the alphas’ lifeforce all these years. Do I get a thank you? No.”
Drain the alphas’ lifeforce? All the men seemed strong and vital.
“Why should I thank you?” the wizard demanded. “After all I’ve done for you, it’s the least you could do for me.”
“You steal their strength for your own?” Snow asked the wizard.
“They haveplentyto spare,” the wizard snapped. “All that chopping away has made them all stronger than oxen and as powerful as the mighty bear. They barely notice the small bits I take from them now.”
“You plan to keep them forever,don’t you?”
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head.” The wizard tugged at Snow’s hair and faced his son. “I told you to end this one when he was a wee one. Children are easier to kill.” He moaned. “And they’re so tender under the age of ten. Cooked properly, the meat fallsright offthe bone.”
“I couldn’t kill a child,” the Prince Consort said through clenched teeth.
“How I raised a son with such a weak will and even weaker stomach, I’ll never know,” the wizard said. “I’ve told you since the beginning that this one will take this kingdom as his own when your king dies and where will that leave you?”
“I can banish him. I have the power to sway the court, Papa.”
“You do not,” the wizard said. “You arenothingwithout me, Aegis. Your power only stems from mine. Without me, you couldn’t conjure a breeze on a windy day—and don’t you forget that.” He turned to eye Snow. “Prove me wrong. Kill this little fool.”
Panic gripped Snow. He screamed for Vor and the others, not knowing what else to do.
“They’re far, far away, dearie. Theywon’thear you scream,” the wizard said, tugging Snow’s hair again, harder that time.
Snow hissed in pain and fell to his knees. Tears caused his vision to blur.
“Kill him,Aegis,” the wizard commanded his son. “Prove you’re not the worthless pile of shite I’ve always known you to be.”
“Please, step-papa,” Snow pleaded. “I don’t know what I did to make you hate me so much.”
“Youexisted,”the Prince Consort said, a lone tear running down his cheek. “And you made it harder to control your father. His love for you has made it harder for me to keep him enchanted.”
“All I ever wanted wasyourlove,” Snow replied. “I wanted us to be a real family.”
Snow’s step-papa’s face softened for a split second, but something that looked like pain crossed it next. Snow pressed on, hoping he’d found a crack in his step-papa’s ice-cold veneer.
“I tried and tried, but you pushed me away. Over and over, you pushed me away. I tried to make you happy and be a good son, but I was never enough.”
“Just like you,” the wizard taunted the Prince Consort. “A worthless, pretty thing of no value.”
Snow ignored the wizard. “I just wanted your love. And I wanted to give you mine. Maybe it’s not too late.” It was, but he’d use any tool he could to save himself.
“Don’t listen to the brat!”the wizard screamed.
“I’m so sorry,” Snow said. “I just wanted to make you proud… and to love me. Can’t you find it in your heart? Am I so unlovable?”
“Stop dawdling, you infernal idiot! You know what you have to do, Aegis.Kill him!”
