Page 100 of Blood of the Fairest

He seems relieved. "Let us hope that time is still far off, for the princess is still quite young. And I must add that although Leland—excuse me, although our late king had all the best intentions during his wonderful rule, he did not have your decisive astuteness. You are every bit the queen Isenmere has sorely needed, Verena."

"Hear, hear," Eris murmurs from a nearby window. "It seems I am not the only one who thinks you are right where you ought to be."

I accidentally meet Wulf's eyes where he stands nearby, his arms folded. There's an intensity in his glacier-colored gaze that makes my stomach flip.

I drop the veil again, clearing my throat. "Thanks, Merrick. For everything. We'll be back soon, but I'm going to say a quick goodbye to Snow White before⁠—"

As if on cue, a nearby set of doors bursts open. The princess hurries toward us, followed quickly by Anika and Ingrid.

Snow White's black hair is twisted up into an intricate updo today. I'm guessing that's Ingrid's handiwork, because she's been having a blast dolling the princess up every day.

"Verena! Thank the goddess. When Anika said you planned to leave at first light, I worried I might miss you," Snow pants, blowing a strand of black hair out of her face.

A mischievous little gleam enters her blue eyes when they dart briefly to Wulf, so I know immediately where this is going as she grins up at me.

"So…is it just going to be you and the Huntsman on this mysterious excursion?"

I fight a smile. "Well, just the two of us, plus the sexy ghost who haunts me in every mirror."

Eris does a double-take at me as if I just sold him out. But Snow White just laughs, thinking I'm joking about myself.

"I suppose Wulf must have a steed that you two and the ghost shall share." She glances at Anika and Ingrid. "Riding double is so romantic, don't you think?"

Ingrid nods, clasping her hands together. "So, so romantic."

"Maybe too romantic. My mother warned me that's how babies get made," Anika jokes without missing a beat.

She and Ingrid both laugh when I look their way with a hand on my hip to silently ask whose side they're on here.

Meanwhile, Snow White tilts her head, looking back at me.

"Surely that's not actually how babies are made."

"Oh, fuck. Listen, you and I are going to have a little chat when I get back, okay?" I tell the princess, patting her shoulder.

I guess it's not surprising she never got the sex talk from the real evil queen, since that bitch neglected the princess in every way possible. At least I can give Snow White the kind of rundown I wish my parents could've bothered to give me.

"Will our little chat be about your language again? I think you might actually swear more than the stablehands," Snow sighs, tutting theatrically.

"What do I keep telling you?"

"On Wednesdays we wear pink," the princess recites dutifully.

I wave my hand. "The other thing."

"Um…swear words are just sentence seasonings?"

"That's the one. Okay, kiddo, we're out of here. I shouldn't be gone for more than a couple of days, but if I don't come back, just wear the crown and hop on the throne. You'll get the hang of it in no time."

Snow White can't seem to tell if I'm joking. She's interrupted by one of the new maids, who approaches with a large basket of food prepared for our trip.

Eris said the evil queen discreetly fed all her meals to her Favored to keep her diet a secret. It's why Rhinestone takes all her meals in her room—so for days now, Wulf has been eating every meal brought to me to keep up appearances.

The Huntsman accepts the basket from the maid without a word. I don't miss the way the woman eyes his impressive stature and fantastic ass.

If she starts drooling, I might join her.

Since we're still pretending I'm a cruel bitch who doesn't like her stepdaughter, I wait until the maid leaves to hug Snow White.