The Hunt for Snow Read online

  That was…disconcerting. I raised one hand in greeting, knowing I wasn’t getting away with anything. I was wearing my slacks from the night before and Max’s black T-shirt, so large it fell to my knees. I would never, never, never give it back.

  Cyndi waved and motioned to the coffee pot. “You’ve got thirty seconds to pour a cup and come over here and tell us all about it.”

  My mouth dropped open in surprise. “Maleficent told us when we couldn’t find you last night. Don’t worry, dirty girl,” Belle said, “your pervy little secret is safe with us.”

  I sighed, dropped my purse on the floor, and poured myself a cup of deep dark coffee. I added cream and sugar and let it sit for a moment while I rummaged through my suitcase for a pair of lounge shorts. I whipped off my slacks, slipped into my shorts and felt about a hundred percent better. I grabbed my cup, sat Indian-style on the bed facing my two best friends and told them as much detail as I could without being gross.

  “Wow,” Belle said with surprise. “Who knew Maleficent was such a humanitarian?”

  Cyndi chuckled. “She is an interesting one, that’s for sure. But she gave you two a phenomenal gift, Snow. I would be sure to thank her.”

  I nodded and sipped my coffee. “I plan to do more than that.” My thoughts roamed over my weapons armory back home and I grinned. I knew something that would be perfect for Maleficent. “Cyndi, I’d like to make a wish.”

  The first session didn’t begin until noon, thank goodness. Once we’d finished gossiping and drinking copious amounts of coffee, I showered, and all of us scrambled to get dressed and finalize our schedules. I was still on the fence about attending anything, especially after last night’s debacle, but Cyndi and Belle were surprisingly unafraid about things.

  If they weren’t scared of Naomi’s wrath, then I guess I shouldn’t be either. I pulled on a black pencil skirt, frowning the entire time, and noticed Cyndi’s sheepish look. “I promised your suitcase would be here today. I’ll make sure it is.”

  I nodded, sucked in my slight belly pooch and zipped up the skirt. I looked good, but carrying a gun was going to be hard. I’d have to put it in my waistband again and hope I could still sit down. I slipped on a green sleeveless shirt, buttoned it up, and then stared at the cardigan Cyndi had lying across the back of one of the room chairs.

  “Can I borrow that? I might get chilly in the conference.” I was lying. I wanted to slide my shoulder holster on and cover it up with the cardigan. That way I could carry my piece and not worry about getting the hairy eyeball from the hotel staff. Cyndi nodded, distracted in the mirror while twisting her hair into submission.

  I did a silent fist pump, discreetly got my deep conceal holster out of the luggage, slid it on, and then put the cardigan on over it. My Sig fit perfectly tight against the side of my waist, and the cardigan was roomy enough to conceal it. I took a quick glance in the mirror, swiped on some mascara and lip-gloss, and took the blow dryer to my hair to tame it into some semblance of style.

  Once everyone was ready, we headed out the door for a quick bite before our first class. I was scheduled for the Mythical Beings class, and as good as it would be to freshen up on my lore, the threat of Naomi’s deadline loomed over me and made it difficult to think of anything else. I now had less than sixty hours to find a portal back to the Enchanted Forest so I could reset the clock on the antiquated laws my father had in place. Once I was queen, those laws would be rewritten to prevent something like this in the future.

  After a quick brunch of omelets and steak, we all split up to head out to our classes. The hotel was crowded and noisy, which surprised me. Everyone was going on about their business as if the disturbing incident last night never happened. They were all either extremely brave or too used to Naomi to care anymore. I wasn’t used to her, so I was hyper-aware of my surroundings, making sure I paid attention to the signs of her magic, and although I didn’t want to admit it, also for signs of Max. As much as it pained me to think about, today he would not be the same man.

  I piled into the elevator with about twelve other people. Once the doors slipped closed, a short, pretty woman with wild brown hair and friendly green eyes spoke to me. “Princess Snow,” she said with reverence, “we hope to see you home very soon.” All the other people in the elevator nodded. “And,” she leaned toward me and in a conspiratorial whisper said, “the best person to open a portal around here is Maleficent, but her price might be too high. If you don’t want her, look out for Strega Sophia. She’s not as scary.”

  I stifled my laugh. Maleficent did cut a magnificently terrifying figure, but I thought it was exaggerated just to keep people from screwing with her. I thought I’d probably feel better about going to her. If Cyndi made good on her word today, I’d have something to take to her to thank her for what she did for Max last night. I nodded, making sure I kept a properly somber expression on my face, and told everyone I’d do my best.

  When the doors opened, I stepped out and hurried to my first class. If I could get through today, I’d visit Maleficent tonight and see if we could get to work on opening the portal. I stepped into a typical hotel conference room and found a seat at the back of the room, even though there were very few chairs filled. If Naomi came in and decided to start something, I’d be located in the perfect area to lure her away from the rest of the people in the room. The least I could do was try to reduce casualties until I could figure out a way to take her down.

  I set my briefcase down, adjusted the shoulder holster to prevent the Sig from digging into my waist, and looked around the room. There was a projector present, presumably for slides, and a long table filled with nametags of people I didn’t recognize. I leaned down to get my agenda out, and opened it to skim through the rest of the day’s activities. I had another class to get to fifteen minutes after this one ended. After that, the day was pretty much open for me. There was another social hour this evening, this time in the bar. Perhaps I could catch Maleficent down there and talk to her about my plans.

  My thoughts drifted for a while as the room began to fill up. At noon on the dot, the presentation began, and I tried as hard as I could to get through it without drifting off. Last night’s Olympics were beginning to catch up with me. I caught maybe three or four words the presenters said, but wasn’t interested enough to keep paying attention.

  Max’s dilemma presented a unique challenge. Naomi had him under thrall for years now. I’d seen him fight off the compulsion temporarily multiple times so I had a feeling he would be able to beat her at her own game if he wanted to. So why didn’t he? Whatever Naomi had of his was precious enough to keep him in willing bondage.

  I racked my brain trying to think of what it could be, but I’d never seen anything that Max cherished. The few times I had seen him, he was either fighting off the urge to kill me or he was *ahem* otherwise occupied. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at that thought, and heard the presenters thank everyone for attending.

  A quick glance at my watch revealed that an entire hour had passed. Daydreams were good for boring classes, I decided, and now understood my students a little better. Multiple times I’d caught them with glazed outlooks on their faces. I cringed as I thought what the look on my face must have been during this class.

  I hit the door before anyone else even made it out of their seat and hurried to make the next class. As I rounded the corner, I ran into a very strong, very male chest. I put my hands up to stop my momentum and I raised my head only to see a green gaze tinged with red flame.

  “Max,” I said in surprise.

  He put his hands around my arms to keep me from toppling over. “Snow,” he said, his voice gruff. “You’re looking delicious this morning.”

  My breath caught in my throat. “So are you,” I murmured.

  His grip tightened painfully, and I winced. We were beginning to attract stares from people milling about in the hallway. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “You need to stay away from me. I can smell the blood singi
ng in your veins. I want to spill it.”

  My heart thudded painfully in my chest as he released me. I gave him one long look, seeing only a smidge of the Max I knew last night, nodded as I stepped around him and walked away as fast as I could. I could feel him staring at me until I rounded the next corner and sagged against the wall, both heartbroken and relieved. This was familiar. This deadly dance between him and me. I had no doubt that one day the compulsion would be too strong for him to give advance warning. It was almost better than the horrible doubt I’d experienced as soon as I left his room this morning, hoping against hope we’d be able to somehow make us work. I patted the gun at my waist, straightened and clicked down the hallway to my next class.

  * * * *

  After class I headed back up to the room to slip on a pair of jeans and a blouse for the social hour. Cyndi texted me earlier and let me know my suitcase, packed with all my familiar things, and Maleficent’s gift, were next to my bed. I let myself in, and paused at the entrance when I heard the sound of someone inside the room. Cyndi and Belle were downstairs still, so who would be inside? I slid the door stop at the bottom of the door to keep it ajar just in case I needed to get the hell out.

  I walked around the corner as if I hadn’t heard a thing, drawing my Sig and holding it at arm’s length. Once I rounded the corner, I cocked the hammer. Robin was lying in my bed reading a copy of Cyndi’s old Cosmo magazine. I lowered the weapon, clicked the cocker back on and stared at him. “Breaking into hotel rooms now, Robin?”

  He grinned at me and lowered the magazine. “Always. You can put your gun away, dearie. If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it years ago.”

  I slide the gun back into my holster, and noted with relief that my other suitcase was lying right where Cyndi said it would be. “Talk while I get dressed.”

  Surprise flicked over his face. “Are we at that point in our relationship now? Well, as long as you’re wearing pretty underwear, I suppose.”

  I couldn’t help my laugh. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a soft cotton blouse, shook them at him and said, “I’ll be in the bathroom, ass. Now spill.”

  “A woman like you is pure torture, Snow. Very well.”

  I rushed into the bathroom, thankful it was blocked off from his viewing area, and kept the door ajar so I could hear him talk.

  “Well done last night, by the way. The conference is all atwitter with your display of cajones.”

  “Thanks,” I mumbled. “Not that I had a choice.”

  “I disagree. There is always a choice. Anyhow, the obvious next step for you if you mean to reclaim your kingdom, and I do hope that you do mean to do so, is for you to open a portal. There are only a few of us who can do so, but if we think that, then Naomi knows it as well, and she will be watching your every move.”

  I slid out of my skirt, almost groaning out loud with relief, and pulled on the jeans. “I already know all this, Robin. You know me better than that. Spill why you’re really here.”

  “Can’t a man tell a story these days?” He sighed dramatically. “Fine. I spoke to Maleficent this morning. You have less than two days to get that portal open, so we thought it would be best to try tonight, just in case she fails.”

  I paused fluffing my hair in the mirror. “Fails?”

  “You’ve been gone too long. The magic of the Enchanted Forest has suffered under Naomi’s rule. Maleficent is one of the most powerful sorceresses around, but even her magic is no longer foolproof. Naomi is sucking the magic from the land.”

  I straightened my blouse and stepped out of the bathroom and around the corner to see him still lying in the same place. His eyebrows rose appreciatively. “More your style,” he said. “The skirt was weird. I assume that was Cyndi’s doing?”

  I nodded. “I made her bring my clothes back.”

  “That’s my girl,” he said as he swung his legs around the side of the bed and sat up. He rummaged through one of his pockets and pulled out a sheet of rumpled parchment. “Be here tonight at nine. I will be there, and I plan on bringing some of the dwarves with me to watch out for anyone who would try to stop Maleficent from opening the portal.”

  “The dwarves?” I felt a sense of surprise, especially if Grumpy was involved.

  “Yes,” he said with patience. “Even though you frustrate the hell out of people, you’re still a far better choice than Naomi.”

  I blinked. “Wow. That’s a warm and fuzzy vote of confidence.”

  Robin rolled his eyes in impatience. “Don’t fish for compliments from me. Take the bloody map and make sure you’re there tonight.”

  I took it from him and opened it. The location was several miles away in a heavy thicket of forest. We’d have to take a cab and hike about half a mile before we made it. Cyndi and Belle were going to be thrilled. I pocketed the map. “I’d planned on talking to her about it tonight at the social, but it seems she’s way ahead of me.”

  Robin chuckled. “Maleficent is way ahead of everyone. You have dangerous friends.” He strode in my direction and kissed the top of my head. “I admire that. Just take care not to piss her off. Maleficent is not an enemy you want following you around.”

  “Got it,” I said. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  As he opened the door to walk out, I shouted, “Wear something sexy!”

  His bark of laughter on his way out warmed my heart. “I’ll show up naked!”

  He’d give the bulk of the female population a heart attack if he did that. And, Belle…I didn’t even want to think about her reaction. The door was almost shut when I yelled out, “Ummm…no!”

  9

  We looked like the fairytale version of Charlie’s Angels. I wore flexible black leggings and a black tunic top. My shoulder holster was in full view, and I had a thigh holster strapped high on my leg. There was a large hunting knife in my boot and two canisters of pepper spray tucked into secret bra compartments. I’d have to wear a jacket to make it out of the hotel, but I felt secure in what I was carrying tonight. My short hair was pulled back using an elastic and a black ribbon tied haphazardly on the side of my head, and I wasn’t wearing a lick of jewelry.

  Belle, on the other hand, looked like a tech nerd. She, too, wore black leggings, but she topped it off with high, black leather lace-up boots and a long black Yoda T-shirt. Her chestnut hair was tied up in a messy bun on the top of her head, and the black spectacles perched on her nose gave her an owlish appearance. I tried not to giggle, but couldn’t quite stop myself.

  Cyndi looked like a sexy cat burglar. Tight black jeans with a black bodysuit tucked in and black tennis shoes completed her ensemble. Her blonde hair was also tied up with a ribbon, but whereas mine looked messy, Cyndi’s looked strategically placed—like Rizzo from Grease. Robin was going to get a kick out of this.

  I handed them both a canister of pepper spray and a small Swiss Army tool. This was the most self-defense gear I’d ever been able to get them to carry, but I thought any added layer of protection would be good for what we were heading into tonight. Not that I knew exactly what we were heading into, just that it had the potential to go to hell in a handbasket, and fast.

  We had plans to scale down the balcony wall and make our way down without being seen by anyone. Walking through the lobby wearing these clothes was bound to attract attention. Considering we were only on the second floor, we were in good shape to climb down without too much danger of breaking our pretty ivory necks.

  “Ready, ladies?” I chirped.

  Belle grinned. “Dunno, I kind of feel like greasepaint would complete my badass look. We don’t have any of that, do we?”

  “We’re not commandos, we’re displaced princesses. Greasepaint might scare the natives,” I joked.

  “Displaced princesses,” Cyndi murmured. “I like the sound of that. Although, I’m nobody’s princess. Just an orphan.”

  Belle snagged Cyndi around the neck and pulled her in for a hug. “Me too. Not an orphan, but I don’t have two nickels to clink toget
her back home. Snow is just being polite, I think. But I plan to take advantage of it and move into the castle so we can continue to capitalize on her good heart.”

  “Good idea,” Cyndi said, her eyes twinkling. “But I am not cleaning your house.” She shuddered.

  I laughed and pulled out the length of rope I had hidden in the side panel of my suitcase. “Duly noted,” I said as I strode outside to the balcony and began tying a double knot securely against the railings. They were wrought iron and appeared to be sturdy, but I stepped over to the outside of the railings and tested its strength by grabbing hold of the rope and pulling as hard as I could with my body weight. Not even a groan. Perfect.

  We grabbed our jackets, shrugged them on, and I threw the rope over the side, satisfied to see the length of it fall only a foot above the ground. We were in perfect shape to get out of here as quick as possible, without attracting the notice of anyone else, as long as no one did a one and a half gainer off the balcony. I took a deep breath. “Any volunteers to go first?”

  Belle shrugged and slipped on a pair of rough leather gloves. I blinked. Forgot about that. My hands were going to be seriously rope burned by the time I made it down. Noticing my look, she grinned and slipped two more pair of gloves out of her pocket and tossed them to us. “Rookies.”

  There was a reason she had the highest IQ. “Thanks, Belle. Now get your skinny ass down the rope so we can get a move on.”

  Belle complied, her Pilates-strengthened legs gripping the rope with ease. Within seconds she was down, jumping off gracefully. I motioned to Cyndi next. “Ready?”

  She swallowed with a loud click. “Nope.” Cyndi slid her gloves on, grabbed the rope, stepped over the side and…stopped.

  I waited for a good minute and watched her. Cyndi’s eyes were screwed closed, and she’d broken out into a cold sweat.

  “It’s less than fifty feet. The odds of you breaking anything if you fall are like sixty/forty.”