“Water, cloth, salve, sustenance…now!”Vor barked when no one moved.
Suddenly, the alphas moved like whirlwinds around them. A basin of clean, boiled water was brought, along with layers of white muslin and a small set of silver tools Snow was unfamiliar with. After thoroughly washing his hands in the water with a small nugget of lye soap, Vor grasped one of the tools and began the arduous task of picking the barbs from Snow’s feet and calves.
Snow whimpered as Vor pulled a large thorn from his toe.
“Forgive me,” Vor whispered, so faint Snow could barely hear it against the crackling of the fire.
His gaze lifted for the briefest moment, and Snow thought he saw sorrow in the brute’s eyes.
“It cannot be helped,” Snow murmured.
Even though Vor had been gentle in removing the thorn, he seemed to be show more caution with the next. Snow fought a smile through the pain, grateful for such unexpectedly tender care.
His feet looked tiny in Vor’s giant hands. He watched as the alpha tended to him, Vor as attentive as any lover. Maybe he acted that way because he hoped to be one by the end of the night. Snow got a better look at the brute in the firelight and decided he might be willing to allow it.
A long, black ponytail pooled over his shoulder and swayed with every movement. Snow had noticed the leather tie at the back of Vor’s neck as he’d hung unceremoniously over that same shoulder. He wondered what it would look like without the bind and flowing freely. In the light of the fire, it shone like silk. Snow’s fingers itched to slide through the strands to see if they were as smooth. Before the end of the night, he just might have a chance of it.
A mug of ale and a small plate with a chunk of oatcake was set beside him on another stool. Before he could lift his gaze and offer thanks, whomever had brought it was gone. Snow reached for the mug, thankful for something to quench his thirst. The ale tasted of apples and made him smile with how refreshing it was. Before he could stop himself, he guzzled the whole of it down, sighing with sweet relief when he was done.
The bronze man chuckled before appearing at his side with a pitcher to refill it.
“Thank you,” Snow whispered.
“You’re more than welcome,” he said as set the pitcher on a nearby table.
Snow nibbled on a corner of the oatcake, and while a bit firmer than expected, the taste was delicious, too—especially eaten with a drink of the ale to soften it.
“It will take you hours to do this alone,” the bronze alpha murmured as he stood watching over Vor’s shoulder.
Vor grunted without any other reply.
The bronze alpha’s gaze drifted to Snow’s, a warm smile on his handsome face.
Snow really took in his appearance in the light of the fire, searching for some clues to the alpha’s origin. He’d seen distant, foreign visitors arrive in his father’s court over the years and thought himself worldly, but he’d never seen anyone that lookedsounique. His shoulder-length, thick, wavy hair shone black as well, like raven’s wings. He had an interestingly-shaped mustache—thick and curling in a large circle at each end—and a tiny beard only covering his chin. His smiling eyes sparkled like the topaz gemstone ring his papa had been buried wearing.
His garments were even more unusual. He wore what first appeared to be a sapphire-colored, silken skirt, but upon further inspection, it seemed to be a flowy pair of pants of folded silk. A vest in the same color was paired with them, and it was studded all over with silver beads in an intricate design. He wore no shirt, bearing his muscled arms and chest that had almost no hair.
“Whereare you from?” Snow asked, confounded. As soon as the question was past his lips, his cheeks warmed and he cringed in embarrassment. “I’msosorry. That was rude of me.”
The bronze alpha pulled over a wooden stool and sat beside Vor. He offered his hand to Snow. “My name is Shen Singh, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
He slid his hand into Shen’s, shame still gripping him. “I’m Snow White.”
Vor’s gaze leapt to Snow’s for a second. His silver eyes glowed golden in the firelight. Vor looked as if he wanted to speak, but he returned to his work instead. However, Snow hadn’t missed the hunger he’d seen in Vor’s gaze.
“An interesting name, that,” Shen said. “Snow White…” He smiled. “As fair as you are, I dare say it fits you.”
“My papa claimed he wished for a son as pale as the snow, with hair of ebony, and lips blood red,” Snow said. “I suppose his wish was granted.”
Vor peeked at him again, his gaze appearing pointed on Snow’s lips before returning to his task. Snow’s lips tightened, feeling as full as if he’d been kissed by that gaze. The kiss he’d longed for earlier. A tremor rolled through him along with the desire to know how Vor’s kisses truly felt.
“It islovelyto meet you, Snow White,” Shen murmured, shaking Snow’s hand gently.
“As lovely as it is to meet you,” Snow replied.
Shen released his hand to gather another small tool. He lifted the foot Vor wasn’t working on and began to remove the briars and splinters from Snow’s other calf.
“To answer your question, I was born and raised in Bharat,” Shen said as he gently pulled a thorn out. “Your people call it Hindustan.”
