The Poisoned Prince: A Snow White Retelling by Kristin J Dawson

Author:Kristin J Dawson [Dawson, Kristin J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Midnight Star Press
Published: 2023-11-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20: Max

Year 9 of the Maiden Comet, late Autumn

The huntsman led Snow west, through the Wildwood. He had felt comfortable enough—or desperate enough—to ride his horse to the dwarves’ cave this trip, but not through the pitch-black night. After two hours of careful walking, the wood stopped at the King’s Road. He took a breath, knowing that, as soon as they stepped out of the Wildwood, they could be watched by an unscrupulous fae.

Maybe even Reinhold. The fae seemed to genuinely want the queen off the throne, and another fae could’ve given Agnes dark magic. Perhaps an unknown fae in her native kingdom. Even so, Max couldn’t rule out Reinhold completely. Fae were clever, having lived for hundreds of years. Despite his distrust, Max felt obligated to tell Snow what the fae had advised.

He grabbed Snow’s wrist, accidentally clasping the familiar amulet she now wore. It was the first time he’d touched her, and Snow instantly stopped. She looked at him, the moonlight streaming through the thinning trees highlighting the curve of her lips. Max focused on her eyes, but that was torture in and of itself.

“Wait,” he whispered, forcing himself to drop her wrist. “I spoke to Reinhold, and he asked me to give you a message.”

“This should be interesting,” Snow said, drawing her cloak around herself.

“He said for you to use your fae gifting to your advantage,” Max said.

“He rarely spoke to me when I lived at the castle,” Snow said. “And now he wants to advise me?”

“So, you do have a gifting?” Max asked, deflated. Part of him had hoped Snow didn’t know what he was talking about.

Snow bit her lip, her chin tilting like she did when she was deep in thought. He didn’t think she was conjuring up a lie, but she might be coming up with strategic wording to hide the truth. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“Never mind,” Max said. “You don’t have to tell me.” I’d rather not deal with more deception.

Max stepped toward the road, and this time, Snow grabbed his sleeve.

“I didn’t know that’s what it was. But it makes sense. I wish Reinhold had told me.” She dropped her hand away, her fingers slowly brushing the fabric in the process. “My mother should have told me.”

Max sighed. “If your mother had told you, you’d have asked why a fae had given you, a commoner, a gifting. You were a child, and if villagers found out, questions would have followed. At the very least, they’d try to leverage your gift.”

He could understand why Rosalind hadn’t told Snow, just like he understood Snow’s lies. But they still stung. And Max wasn’t a child—he’d lost his innocence the moment his father began training him in the Wildwood.

“Max,” Snow began. “I’m so sorry. About everything. I should have told you. I wish I could make it up to you, but I don’t know how.”

“Snow,” Max turned to look at her, longing to hold her and hating that he did. “You don’t owe me anything.

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