Snow's Lament (20 page)

Maleficent was on my shit list. Actually, anyone who had any ability to practice magic was on my shit list. I still lay on the bed, cold sweat pouring through my clothes and on the blankets beneath me, completely traumatized over what just occurred.

She hadn’t been kidding when she said it would be excruciating. Imagine feeling like someone is slowly pulling out your intestines through a tiny hole in your stomach like cartoon sausage links and then stopping every so often to admire their handiwork. That’s kind of how it felt, but worse—so much worse.

She declared the removal successful. I was plotting ways to pay her back as bloody and brutal as possible. My breathing was shallow and wet hair clung to my neck and forehead. Maleficent had wisely left the room after bravely asking me if I wanted a cup of water. She’d also taken anything sharp or heavy with her.

Robin, perhaps being warned away for a while, hadn’t popped back in, but as I lay there trying not to throw up, Belle poked her head in the doorway and held her hands up like she was in a hostage situation.

“I come in peace.”

I nodded, so she came in and pulled a chair up close to my bedside. “I won’t ask how you’re doing. I can tell from your traumatized look the answer is not so great.”

I swallowed hard to keep from whining.

Belle continued talking to fill the silence. “I went by and checked on Naomi. She’s…not the same.” She fidgeted in her chair and kept twisting the wide-band ring on her index finger. “But she doesn’t seem angry. Just resigned.”

I think that was worse than angry.

“She claims my mother swooped in and stole my father from her.”

Belle winced. “Ouch. And you were all that was left for her to destroy.”

I nodded. All those years of looking over my shoulder and thinking about peace when I should have just taken care of this a long time ago. There was never an option for peace, but I’d gone in blindly assuming Naomi was just a terrible person. Even though she’d found Max, it wasn’t enough to soothe her rage or jealousy.

“Have you seen Max?” Part of me wanted her to tell me he was sitting outside my door bravely waiting for me to recover so he could sweep me up on his white horse and take me away from this place. The other part wanted to hear she’d swept up his ashes and tossed them out the window.

She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “No sign of him.”

I told her about Rumple and what he’d done. She listened in shock, and, when I was finished, sat back in her chair with a dazed expression on her face. “How did he manage that?”

I chuckled ruefully. “I think he managed to switch the curse out for something harmless.” I had no idea when he’d managed to do it, but he was one of the trickiest sorcerers in the land. I’d be a fool to believe I was smarter than him—at least over that one.

“And then, somehow managed to grab Cyndi in the chaos and watch for the perfect moment to step in.” She shook her head, but her eyes sparkled. “Wily bastard.”

“Cyndi broke his contract, something few people have managed to do. He wants her. That’s undeniable. But from the look on her face right before she disappeared, she’s entirely unsure if she wants him.”

“He’s making a huge mistake. Cyndi is no damsel in distress.”

I laughed because of how true it was. Cyndi might have the look of a woman who needed rescuing, but she’d surprised me in numerous ways over the past several months. Rumple would have a serious run for his money if he wanted to tame her. “We still need to go in and get her. She’s defenseless.”

Belle frowned. “For the most part. Magically, yes. We shouldn’t discount her, though.”

“True. If he’s holding her magically, though, she’s going to need a little assistance.”

Our gazes met.

“Are we really ready to take on Rumple?” Belle asked, concern flashing over her face.

I blew a raspberry. “Are we ever really ready to take on anyone?”

“You always underestimate yourselves,” a dry voice chimed in from the doorway. Robin leaned against the jamb, looking far too handsome for his own good.

I bit my lip as I noticed Belle’s face flush. If I had the strength to get out of bed, I would have just to leave them alone in the same room together. I’d bet money those two would be trying to punch each other or making out against the wall within seconds of my departure.

“Is it safe to approach?” Robin asked.

I laughed and motioned him in. “As long as you aren’t Maleficent.”

“Ah yes, she did a fantastic job of disappearing as soon as the screaming stopped.” He walked in and sat on the opposite side of Belle. I scooted into a seated position so I could see both of them, wincing at bruises and bumps I didn’t realize I had.

Robin smelled delectable and was freshly shaven. A rare look on him. Gone was the ever present bow and arrow. The only weapon I could see was the dagger I’d given him before this mess started. His hair was still wild and shaggy, but Robin had always been able to pull that off. He looked relaxed.

“You look good,” I remarked.

One of his eyebrows rose. “Are you flirting with me from your deathbed, lass?” He made a tsking noise. “I should murder Max just for leaving you unsatisfied. I can take care of that if you want.” He wrinkled his nose. “After you shower, of course.”

Crimson stained my cheeks. Robin grinned widely.

Belle stiffened beside me for a moment, then relaxed. “Incorrigible idiot,” she murmured, but not without a tinge of affection.

“I think I’m off the men train for a little while,” I said, and realized it was true. “When Max wasn’t trying to kill me, we were making out. And when we weren’t together, he was most likely doing unspeakable things with Naomi.”

Belle gagged in disgust. “I could kill him and none would be the wiser.” Her eyes lit. “One innocent reach to turn on a lamp and I could pump him so full of electricity, his heart would explode.”

I cracked out a laugh. “You’ve…thought this out, have you?”

Belle’s face hardened. “Every damn day.”

I squeezed her hand. “Your murderous tendencies are one of the biggest reasons why I love you.”

Robin pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. “Such a tender moment. We should scrapbook this.”

“I have some pink paper and scalloped scissors I can loan you,” she retorted. Belle stood and smoothed down the wrinkles in her slacks. “As much fun as this has been, I have a room to clean up. Again.” She pushed up her glasses and gave me a meaningful look.

I cringed. “Sorry. I’d help, but injuries.” I pointed at my bandaged feet and smiled innocently.

“Uh huh. It’s always something.” She patted me gently on the knee before she left.

I looked at the door longingly. I wanted nothing more than to head back to my bedroom and face plant. Robin, being the sort of gent who generally knew what the ladies were thinking, stood and scooped me up.

“You were looking at that door like it was a fresh baked brownie.”

I leaned my head against his chest and patted it. “Mmm, brownies.”

His chuckle reverberated against my ear as he carried me to my room. His nose wrinkled once I wiggled a little bit. I smelled. I knew it. “As much as I would love to see you naked, I am way too much of a gentleman to help you take off those bloody clothes. Plus, you smell, and that’s not terribly attractive.”

“Mmmhmm, and scared of Belle.”

“She’s bloody deadly, lass.” His voice was amused, but sobered as he said the next words. “Her powers grow. Perhaps, it is not a bad thing Merlin has chosen this time to insert himself into our affairs.”

Merlin. Handsome and deadly as sin. Several millenia older than me. He could easily kill me in my sleep. “He didn’t want me to kill Naomi.”

“Daddy regret?” His footsteps were quiet and sure on the stone floor.

“Not sure,” I murmured. “He’s a hard person to read.”

“I think it’s in the sorcerer handbook somewhere. Be aloof and manly.”

He stopped at my door, gently nudged it open with a toe, and stopped abruptly, smashing my face further into his chest. Against my heart, the slow
thud
of Robin’s heartbeat picked up as if his blood pressure had suddenly risen.

“Robin,” I mumbled against his chest, “just because you’re in my bedroom doesn’t mean you’re going to get lucky.”

Instead of firing back with some witty repartee, his heartbeat never slowed, and he asked, “Do you want me to kill him?”

My brows knit together in confusion. “Merlin? No, I find him quite aesthetically pleasing.”

An exasperated laugh broke from Robin’s chest. “No, love. Him.” He shifted me away from his chest and I turned.

Max stood by the window, his impressive height highlighted by the light of the moon streaming into the room. Based upon his rigid stance and the arms crossed against his chest, he was also plenty pissed off.

“Should I leave you two alone?” Max asked, his voice gruff and angry. “Or, better yet, I can find Belle’s father and this can be a party.”

Robin stepped into the room and laid me gently upon my bed. My bloody clothes stuck to my skin and I wasn’t smelling like roses either. Which, of course, meant it was the perfect time for my former lover to show up. Just when I was looking my best. Robin stood by my bed. His hands were loose at his waist, but poised to react if Max even moved a muscle.

“Snow,” Max barked, “ask him to leave.”

“I’m standing right here, chap. You can ask me yourself.” Robin’s tone was low and deadly. “But if Snow doesn’t want to speak to you, I wouldn’t mind tossing you out the window tonight.” He bared his teeth at Max, the sharp white bone glinting in the moonlight.

I sat on the bed, numb and paralyzed. Max was standing in front of me. My emotions were in a tight ball of paralysis. On one hand, I
was
glad to see him. On the other, I wouldn’t have minded seeing Robin toss him out.

I gathered my spinning thoughts and held a hand out to Robin. “It’s okay.”

Robin leaned down, and, never taking his eyes off Max, whispered, “You are unarmed. At least take my dagger.” He unstrapped it and handed it to me.

Max shifted in annoyance. “Entirely unnecessary,” he muttered.

“You’re a good friend,” I said, ignoring Max.

Robin popped a kiss on the top of my head. “Put in a good word for me to Belle, would you?” He left me there with his dagger, but before he stepped out, he turned back to Max. “Touch one hair on her fair head and I’ll scatter your bones to the wind. Are we clear?”

A long look passed between the two, but Max offered a grudging nod after a moment.

“Right,” Robin said and left. If I knew him, he would stay far enough not to eavesdrop, but close enough to interfere if things went sideways.

I wanted to do nothing more than to get out of these disgusting clothes, but Max wanted or needed something. It was high past time we talked anyway. I shifted in an effort to get more comfortable, but everything hurt so much, I settled for a bad postured slump.

“What do you want?” I asked abruptly.

Max didn’t move from the window. “Just to talk. We have some things to clear up.”

“Naomi is down the hall if you wish to speak with her. I’m sure after sacrificing what she did for you, she’d love to talk.”

“You shot me in the head. With my back turned. If it weren’t for you—”

“You’d what? Continue killing innocent people? Still be performing Naomi’s will? Finding new and inventive ways to betray me?” I crossed my arms over my chest, but knew I looked anything but authoritative.

“Naomi was lying to you, Snow. You of all people know you cannot trust her.” He stepped out of the moonlight and bent to light the lamps in my room. I watched as he moved gracefully. When he finished, he sat down on the edge of my bed, but made no move to touch me. I could see his face clearly—the face I’d dreamed about for so long. There was no marker of Naomi. No redness in his eyes. No haze of magic. Max was well and truly free of her.

“I’ve been a lot of things—a bastard, a liar, a cheat. But never once did I lay a hand on Naomi after I’d been with you.”

It was little consolation. “But you still did her bidding.” It was a relief to know they hadn’t been together since me, but the fact that they’d ever been together made me shudder internally. Plus, he’d hidden it from me, instead of being honest up front.

He rubbed an agitated hand across his face. “Naomi had me under thrall for ten fucking years, Snow! Things happen over a decade.”

I raised one eyebrow. “Are you going to give me the ‘I have needs too’ speech?”

He threw his hands up. “Gods, you are impossible!”

I was being an asshole and I knew it. “Max, look. I admire you for what you did for Lana. It takes incredible will to do that. And I admire how you were able to fight Naomi for so long. But can’t you just admit to me, be honest with me for once, and admit that maybe it wasn’t always a fight?” I wasn’t a stupid person—naïve, sometimes, but rarely stupid.

The stricken look on his face told me what I needed to know. He opened his mouth to speak, but shut it again. “It’s so very complicated.” He rubbed his fingers over his eyes. “The only thing I can say is I’m sorry.”

I smiled softly. “Yes, I know.” This whole thing had taken me down a rabbit hole of emotions I wasn’t sure I’d recover from any time soon. I’d always dreamed of a pure sort of love, uncomplicated and true. But the fates delivered Max to me. A handsome warrior possessed of bravery and intelligence, but doomed to serve the evil queen. It was every princess’ dream to save someone like that. Unfortunately for me, it had turned into a nightmare—one I couldn’t seem to wake up from. “I’m sorry, too.”

He stood abruptly. “Is there anything I can do to repair this?” Despair racked his face.

What was the answer to that question? Right now, saying no would be the easiest thing to do. He’d walk out and I’d begin to repair my broken heart. I’d heal and hopefully one day move on with someone a little less messed up. But saying no to him would be unforgiving, and so much of this had been beyond his control. Who was I to judge him for the decisions he’d made? I couldn’t live with the things he’d done, though. Not right now. I was too green to this world. Too innocent to fully understand the pressures he’d been under. I hadn’t been there, hadn’t been exposed to her cruelty as long as he had. I knew she could make stronger people than me break, and maybe that’s what happened.