to Jack that he could not kill her.
Snow ran ahead; she had seen a particularly lovely patch of blue flowers she wanted to add to the bouquet she was collecting for her mother. Jack called after her, “Snow, stop.”
She stopped and looked at him, curious.
“I’ve brought you here under false pretenses,” Jack said, not knowing any way to tell her other than directly.
“What false pretenses?” she asked, her brow furrowing.
“Your aunt gave me instructions to bring you out to the woods and to - well, to do away with you. She told me I could have my way with you as well,” he said, blushing a deep red.
Snow’s cheeks colored as well. “My aunt would not do such a thing,” she said.
“She would, my lady, and she did.”
“Why do you lie to me like this?” Snow said, her voice breaking a bit.
“I promise you it is not a lie. Here is the gold that she gave me for the deed when she hired me. There is another bag awaiting me when I return.” He showed her the heavy bag filled with gold coins from the royal vault.
Snow realized he was telling the truth and she felt her heart sink. “But why?” she cried. “She has nothing to gain from killing me. My parents stand between her and the throne.”
Jack felt a lump in her throat. She did not know. News of the king’s and queen’s deaths was all over the city, but Snow lived a sheltered life in the castle. He desperately did not want to be the one to tell her but she deserved the truth. “My lady, it grieves me to tell you this, but your parents are dead.”
Snow fell to her knees, scattering the flowers she had collected. It took a moment for what he was saying to make sense. Once she realized the full extent of what he had said, she let out a wordless cry of lament. The forest animals who heard her stopped what they were doing, as if to acknowledge the depth of her sorrow. Jack’s heart felt like it was breaking.
She looked back at him, tears in her eyes. “Was it her doing?”
“I do not know, my lady. I heard it was a flood.”
Snow had no knowledge of her aunt’s dealings in magic. “Aunt Morwenna could not have caused a flood. But she could certainly capitalize on it. She realized if something happened to me, she would be queen.”
“That’s why we’re here, my lady.”
Snow took a moment to let all of this sink in. In the course of just a few minutes her entire world had been destroyed. Then she realized what a great gift Jack had given her; if he had not been such a good person she would already be dead. “Dear Jack!” She managed a watery smile. “You chose to spare me when you did not have to. But will you not call her wrath down on you?”
“She has asked for your heart, Princess.” Snow shuddered at this. “I will kill a deer and bring her its heart. You can escape.”
“Still, you are taking a risk and I appreciate it. Perhaps I can reward you. You said my aunt told you that you could have your way with me?”
“It shames me, my lady, but yes.”
“Th e n you shall.”
“Princess! You do not know what you offer!”
“I do,” she said resolutely. “My mother explained it to me. I may yet die in this forest and I do not want to die never having experienced that pleasure. I would also like to reward you for your mercy and it appears that the only thing I have left to offer is my .
self .”
“Are you certain?”
“Jack, I’ve never been more certain. Please, will you make love to me?”
She was so lovely and kind he would have had difficulty denying her anything. But to deny her something he wanted so badly? Jack was powerless to resist. He took her hand and drew her close, tentatively pulling her into an embrace. She was pliable and followed his lead, embracing him back as chastely as if hugging a brother. Jack leaned forward and touched his lips to hers and she startled. When he kissed her, she felt a twinge of something between her legs. Was it desire? Was it what her mother had told her about? Snow