Page 35 of Blood of the Fairest

But first, I look at another guard still standing nearby. He's as bewildered as everyone else in the aftermath.

"Hey, you."

He startles and drops to one knee in a bow. "Y-yes, my queen?"

"If there's a castle doctor, send them to bandage Schultz's arm. And please get that out of here," I add, flapping my hand vaguely at the ground where I think the arm fell. I'm not about to look down at the damn thing to know for sure.

He obeys at once.

The Huntsman is still standing near me, ignoring the awed and terrified stares of everyone here. If I didn't know better, I'd say his gaze is concerned as he looks me over, as if ensuring I came to no harm in his absence.

Before I can begrudgingly thank him for defending me, a couple of the nobles approach.

"Wonderfully handled, Your Majesty," a noblewoman praises, curtsying.

"I've never liked that Big Mouth," agrees the man, winking like it's our inside joke when that reference doesn't even exist in this world. He dabs at his forehead with a handkerchief as if he's extremely nervous, but the woman elbows him, so he goes on. "We're glad enough to see Schultz go, but…well, what do you think? We're quite anxious for our nephew's potential position, you see."

He gestures at the group of lined-up men nearby, who quickly go back to staring at the ground.

Oh, fuck. I almost completely forgot that they're here to be perused by the semi-literal man-eating queen.

"Your nephew won't have a position here," I break it to the nobles as nicely as I can.

Their faces fall, but another nobleman is in front of me at once, bowing low.

"If I may, Your Majesty? My young cousin over there in the second row, Kalt, sings quite well, and his friend beside him juggles. Both are entertaining and handsome, and they know how to mind themselves. They would make excellent lovers for you."

"Lovers?" the Huntsman repeats beside me.

His cold gaze narrows on all the nearby men as if he's just barely registering them for the first time.

Are all these nobles seriously here to hawk their male relatives like wares at a flea market, just hoping that will give them a little sway with the monarch? God, I feel so bad for women in my world in the past who were in those guys' same position.

As someone who knows what it's like to be treated as a prize to be acquired and a will to be conquered, this kind of shit makes me sick.

"Starting now, there will be no more Favored," I tell the nobles, looking between each of them. "Zero. Kaput. I'm not looking for lovers to entertain me or new dicks to play with. Spread the word."

They look at me like I just told them the sky is neon green, but I can't take the pomegranate smell lingering in the air anymore. Turning, I walk back up the stairs, eager to get away from the gawking and whispers.

The Huntsman follows, silent and imposing. As soon as we reach the top of the stairs and turn the corner to be out of view, I gag, take off the crown, and toss the stained veil to the ground.

"Okay, never, ever cut off someone's arm right in front of my face like that again. In fact, don't spill blood around me at all. Please. Ugh."

He studies my expression. "Blood bothers you?"

"Very much. Only it's gotten…complicated," I grimace, trying to swallow away the burn in my throat. "I fucking hate gore. Normally, that move you pulled back there would have ruined my appetite, but now I think I might pass out if I don't eat something soon."

His brow furrows, and he reaches toward me. I don't mean to flinch away from him so hard—it's just instinctive after the nightmare that was yesterday.

The Huntsman freezes. Something between guilt and misery crosses his handsome features before he takes a mindful step away to give me space.

His quiet voice is rough. "I will not dare ask forgiveness for the ways I harmed you. My shame is eternal."

He sounds so regretful, I almost believe it.

At least he's not trying to apologize. I don't forgive easily—let alone for something that's dredged all my old trauma back up to the surface for me to slog through all over again.

But even if a part of me is scared shitless of this guy, sending him away might not be the best thing when I clearly need all the people in my corner that I can get. Now that this guy isn't trying to kill me, I may as well ask him about Snow White.