The Hunt for Snow Page 3

  Cyndi ignored her and did her best to shove the massive amount of luggage into the trunk. The taxi driver gave her a dubious glance, but didn’t say anything about it. “I’ll be in the front waiting for you ladies to figure this out.” He smiled at me, exposing long yellow teeth. “The meter’s running. Take your time.”

  “This is on your dime, Cyndi,” I muttered under my breath.

  Belle shoved a hand through her hair. “This is madness. How are we going to get everything in here without making someone sit on a lap?”

  The driver was making his way back to the driver’s seat when he stopped. “One of you ladies can sit up front with me.” He gestured toward Cyndi. “Since this is your fault, you sit with me. It’s not often I have pretty blonde customers.” He gave us all a creepy smile and winked. From the corner of my eye I noticed Belle shudder.

  I hid a smile behind my hand. Cyndi blanched and appeared to be weighing her luggage tactic against being forced to sit beside the driver. Self-preservation won. With curse words worthy of a pirate, Cyndi rushed one of her suitcases back into the house, locked the door, and then rushed over to us just as Belle and I were getting adjusted in the back seat.

  She shoved me over unceremoniously and plopped beside me. “The Mystic Falls Towers, please,” she said.

  Our driver grunted in acknowledgment. In the decade we’d been away from the Enchanted Forest, none of us had acclimated to driving yet. Although I did have a car to drive to work, normally if I couldn’t walk, bike or get a cab there, as far as I was concerned, I didn’t need to go there. Earth frowned on horse and carriages, so that was out too. As we pulled away from the curb, I couldn’t help but think our lives were about to get much more interesting before this whole thing was over. To most of the Leaguers, the conference represented a time for us all to catch up, hang out, swap war stories, and return home refreshed and invigorated. The stakes were much, much higher for me. My home and lands were ripped away from me by Naomi. I wasn’t naïve enough to think she wouldn’t try to take me out for good if she were able to.

  The Huntsman’s warnings rang in my head. I would have to be very, very careful this week if I were to survive the days ahead. Everyone knew Naomi was crafty, but not everyone realized the depths of her depravity. Some people believed there was still goodness in her. I knew there wasn’t.

  As the car ride went on, my thoughts drifted back to my father and the actions that landed me in this mess. He was always a sucker for a pretty face. After my mother’s death, Father slipped into a depression the likes of which I’d never seen before. His handsome façade withered. His hair turned gray, and the once lively conversations between us dulled and eventually disappeared. Until Naomi came along, that is. At first, she was beautiful and kind. The townspeople adored her…and so did I.

  For a while, that is. I might have been of a tender age, but I wasn’t raised to be anyone’s fool. I noticed quickly what Naomi was doing. Win their hearts and minds…and then destroy everyone. She wanted the kingdom and she wanted me and my father out of the way. My thoughts about her were confirmed when I overheard her in a conversation with that damned mirror of hers.

  My father died soon after. Alive and vibrant one day, gray and cold the next. But there was no time for mourning. Naomi put on a united front with me. She was going to be Queen of the Enchanted Forest soon. Until she had an iron fist of rule around the land, she would pretend to be the doting stepmother she’d been before my beloved father’s death. And eventually her tender ministrations turned to cruel rebuke. Her hands stroking my hair turned to slaps across my fair skin.

  I learned to hide. And hide well. The stableboy taught me about weapons, horse riding, and warfare. I was nobody’s fool. But I would no longer be a doormat. The days came when the beauty of the Enchanted Forest dimmed, as if it knew the cruelty of its new ruler. Visitors stopped coming to the castle. People no longer looked Naomi in the eye. Certainly not me. I avoided her as much as humanly possible. The sound of her voice like tinkling glass, although beautiful, made me realize just how sharp it really was. She justified her actions by telling us she knew what was good for the land.

  But the land didn’t agree.

  Darkness soon fell across the Enchanted Forest, the sun a distant reminder of the love my father once showered upon our kingdom. At first, the sun would peek out from behind the clouds for about half the day. And you could see the townspeople square their shoulders and the flicker of hope in their eyes. Until eventually the sun appeared less and less, the dark fog of Naomi’s evil choking off any happiness the land had left. By the time I was forced out of the kingdom, the only sun in the Enchanted Forest came at the end of the day in a small crack in the clouds.

  The hope, however, was gone.

  The cab stopped at the curb and jolted us all out of our thoughts. I clenched my jaw and tried to rid myself of the darkness of my thoughts. It would be fine, I told myself. Get in, smile, nod, learn a bit, then get the hell out of there.

  But my heart told me the battle I faced against Naomi was far from over. One thing a princess always knew was to listen to her heart.

  The hotel didn’t look like it was hosting the heart of evil. The glass and brick looked serene, giving no hint as to the types of people bustling around behind those walls. I nervously brushed my short hair behind my ears and licked my lips. It was now or never.

  Belle was the first to exit the cab, hurrying to pay our driver. I winced as she counted out the bills. This was an expensive ride. He didn’t say anything on the way over, but the way he looked at us made me glad we traveled in threes. Nor did he help any of us with our luggage.

  Just as well. I’d rather do it myself and limit the lustful stares. Cyndi pulled out her last suitcase and dusted her hands off as she stared at our cabbie pulling away from the curb.

  “Is it just me or did that dude give you the major heebers?”

  I snorted at her expression. “It’s not just you. And if you happen to need a cab ride again and see that dude pull up, don’t get in by yourself. You’d probably be better off walking.”

  Belle nodded, her face scrunched in an expression of concentration. “Have we ever met him before?”

  I grinned. “Don’t you think we’d remember the Cryptkeeper if we’d ever seen him before?”

  “I’m serious,” she said, even though she couldn’t hide the smile that crept onto her face. “Something about his eyes,” she murmured.

  I put on a straight face. “Do you want me to grab his number for you? Maybe you could catch up over Chianti and fava beans.”

  Cyndi hid her face, but not before I heard her giggle. Belle spared me a glance and shrugged. “Fine. But if he shows up in your hotel room claiming you’re the future mother of his children, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  I stared at the innocuous-looking hotel. “There’s no time for impregnation, Belle. I have wicked queens to avoid and Huntsman to kick in the balls.”

  Belle clapped a hand on my shoulder. “That’s my girl. Now, pull your jacket closer. Your holster is showing and we don’t want to scare the women and children.”

  We rolled our luggage over to the entrance, my heart pounding at what we’d find inside. I knew I was being ridiculous. It wasn’t like we were going to walk in and there be a circus freak show of fairytale characters milling through the lobby. We’d lived under the radar for this long. No one would blow their cover for a mere conference. However, you could bet your firstborn the conference rooms would be warded to the gills with Lookaway and glamour spells, once everyone felt comfortable enough to let their freak flags fly.

  The glass doors swooshed open and the scented, cool air hit me in the face. Lilies. My favorite flower. Naomi’s too. I tried so hard to hate those flowers once I learned how much she loved them. But it wasn’t the flower’s fault she was such a coldhearted shrew. I still couldn’t look at them without picturing her face the last time I saw her.

  I shuddered, but tried to hide it before Cyndi a
nd Belle caught me. I snuck a glance over to Belle and saw her mouth tighten.

  Too late. We strolled in, heads held high, looking every inch the sophisticated (okay, not me, but Belle and Cyndi) lady expected to be renting a room from such a high-class establishment. The sounds of a waterfall caught my attention and I looked to my left.

  My breath caught. He sat casually on the edge of the fountain, lean and graceful. And handsome as sin. He was staring right at me, a smile playing upon his lips.

  I couldn’t help it. A grin broke out on my face and I dropped my suitcase to launch myself at him.

  Masculine laughter rang out through the lobby and a few shouts of “get a room” followed my ears, but I couldn’t help it. I flung my legs around his waist and my arms around my neck and squeezed him for all I was worth.

  “Easy darling,” came the smooth, clipped tones of what mortals would call a British man. “People are starting to stare.”

  I leaned back to peer at him, and we grinned at each other like lunatics. “Robin Hood,” I said. “As I live and breathe.”

  He leaned in closer to my ear. “Ah, that’s why I’m here, darling. To keep you breathing. In case you haven’t heard, you have an admirer here. A few of them.”

  I realized I was still wrapped around him like a common hussy, so I slid off, adjusted my clothing, and frowned at him. “I’ve heard,” I said dryly. “But what does that have to do with you?”

  He gave me an easy grin. “Now we both know you are my favorite princess in all the land.”

  I crossed my arms and waited. He sat back down and patted the area next to him. I sat, but continued to stare at him, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  “Oh, don’t look so put out. You know I’m always up for a spot of fun.” He slung a casual arm around me and pulled me close.

  “Spot of fun?” I echoed and then laughed when I saw the eager expression on his face. “I’d forgotten your idea of fun and mine weren’t exactly on the same planet.”

  “What can I say? The Enchanted Forest has been a bit boring since you left. Everyone’s too scared of Naomi to get into mischief.”

  “So that’s where I come in?”

  He ruffled my hair. “Exactly.”

  I couldn’t help it. I laughed. Robin Hood…my early teen crush and later one of my best male friends. He was easy to look at and the women loved him. But he was frustrating beyond belief. I loved him anyway and knew that one day love was going to come crashing down upon him so hard he wouldn’t be able to see straight for weeks.

  Sandy-blond hair competed with the lightest brown eyes I’d ever seen. He reminded me of a lion…proud, noble and wicked. His morals were decidedly gray. His taste in women? Even more questionable. Ever since the death of Marian, Robin seemed to be on a lifelong quest to love and leave as many women as he could.

  But darn me if I didn’t see him giving Belle the once-over. My eyebrows rose as I caught the flash of temper on Belle’s face as she stared at him and quickly turned away, the flash of distaste on her face competing with her proud beauty.

  Now that was a story I’d like to get to the bottom of.

  3

  Robin’s gaze drifted away from Belle. He looked at me, and I cleared my throat and grinned. “Well, now. That’s unexpected.”

  Robin had the grace to blush, but quickly schooled his face into the normal smooth arrogance I was used to. “You know I can’t resist a pretty face,” he said, but I noticed he stared at Belle as she dragged her suitcase down the lobby and made her way to the elevators.

  “She’s more than just a pretty face.” I bumped his shoulder. “And I’m pretty sure you already know that.”

  He watched Belle until the doors closed behind her.

  “Robin?”

  He startled. “Aye, Snow. I’m aware. If you mention this to anyone, I’ll shave the rest of that pretty black hair off while you’re sleeping”

  “You wouldn’t dare,” I said good-naturedly.

  He gave me a wicked grin. “Wouldn’t I?”

  I mimed a zipper against my lips. “It won’t come from me. Just make sure no one else sees you giving her the basset hound eyes, okay?”

  “You’ve always been too perceptive for your own good, lass.” He stood and held an outstretched hand to me. “Let me help you up to your room.”

  I grinned and looked at my suitcase. “I’m sure I don’t need the help.” I knew the real reason he was being so solicitous and it had to do with a certain computer programmer who dressed well but couldn’t remember to brush her hair about eighty percent of the time.

  Those wicked brown stared into mine. “Hand over the suitcase, woman,” he muttered. “Before I beat you with it.”

  I handed it over without a word and motioned for him to follow me to the elevators. “Lead on, lover boy.”

  Robin swung my suitcase around and cursed under his breath. “Say one word, Snow, and my arrow will ring true.”

  I chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. I think you and Belle are a match made in heaven. Or hell. Both of you are ridiculous.”

  Robin said nothing, and we made our way up to our room without further teasing or incident. I slid the keycard in and opened the door, yelling out, “Everyone decent?”

  Cindi poked her head around from the living area. “Depends. Who’s here?” Her face lit up when she saw Robin. She flung herself into his arms and hugged him fiercely. “It’s been years!” She grabbed his face and stepped back to study him. “My my, you’re still a handsome devil, aren’t you?” She turned and bent back toward the living room. “Belle! Come say hello to Robin!”

  At Robin’s stricken look, I choked on a laugh. He probably just wanted to get a glimpse of a pillow fight or something.

  “I’m busy!” There was no mistaking the crabbiness in her tone. Belle wanted nothing to do with Robin of Locksley. Curious indeed.

  Cyndi looked taken aback. “Dang,” she mumbled. “Must be her lady time.”

  The blush crept up Robin’s neck, and I bit my lip to keep from laughing out loud. “And on that note,” he said, “I must depart.” He turned to me and bowed with grace. “Your luggage, madam.”

  I rolled my eyes as I stood on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “She’ll come around,” I whispered.

  His mouth tightened. “I’m not so sure of that,” he said. With a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he left Cyndi and me staring at him as he left the room.

  “What in the world was that about?” Cyndi wondered aloud.

  I shrugged. “I think he’s unhappy with some computer repair Belle did. You know how long Robin can hold a grudge.”

  From the raised eyebrow she gave me, I had a feeling she wasn’t buying what I was selling.

  I was smart enough not to mention Robin to Belle. From the mutinous look on her face, it was the right decision. I pulled my suitcase the rest of the way into the room and collapsed face-first onto the bed. As good as it was to see him and be on a pseudo vacation with my best girls, there was a haze of negativity around me. Something was going to happen. I knew it with a bone-deep certainty. I might not be possessed of magic, but I did have keen instincts and a sharp mind. Two things many girls in the Enchanted Forest didn’t have due to concerns over arranged marriages and keeping the thrones in the line of the male. It wasn’t often a queen rose to take the throne—Naomi was the exception, but her rule was thrust into the spotlight through violence and coercion, not because of a pesky thing like natural order.

  If I returned to my home, the land would be mine. The kingdom would be mine, and I’d be responsible for thousands of subjects. Scratch that. It would be mine if I managed to best Naomi. For good. I closed my eyes, listening to the drone of some terrible reality show Belle was watching, and thought about it…really thought about going home. I loved living on Earth. I loved the simplistic life, the ability to blend in, the amount of choices I had. But going home—I hadn’t seriously thought about it for some time.

  I could smell the fresh pine of the tre
es, see the vivid azure blue of the sky, and the genuine smiles of the villagers back home. Yes, I was established here. I had a career, a life, a house and financial stability, but the only friends I had to speak of came from the Enchanted Forest. That spoke volumes.

  I cracked an eye open and saw Belle and Cyndi lying next to each other giggling. We were all so very different. Cinderella escaped a terrible life. She was an orphan, and when she managed to find a family it was even worse than being abandoned. She was gorgeous, and witty and fun to be around—all things with her background she shouldn’t be. I watched as she threw back her head in laughter at something Belle said to her.

  Her laughter was infectious and I felt myself smiling in spite of my black mood. Belle lounged back on the bed, arms crossed over her head, and chuckled. Feeling me glance at her, she turned to me with a curious look. I shook my head once and smiled. This thing with her and Robin was bugging me. I’d been gone from the Enchanted Forest for a long time, so it was possible she and Robin had dated or had been even more involved, but Belle wasn’t the type to hold grudges for long. Whatever it was that Robin did to her must have been serious. So far she didn’t want anything to do with him. I studied her face in profile, proud and fiercely intelligent. She was both beauty queen and nerd—and unashamed to admit it.

  Robin would be lucky to have her. He just needed to set some things right. And I needed to figure out what that was and help her. Of course, as long as Naomi or the Huntsman weren’t waiting to jump out and kill me around every corner. I groaned into my pillow.

  The bed depressed next to me, and I felt a cool hand press against the back of my hair. “It will be fine,” Belle said. “I promise.”

  I chuckled. “You’re always so positive. You weren’t there, Belle.”

  She sighed. “I know I wasn’t, but I do know you. When the time comes for an ass-kicking to happen, it will be you doing the kicking. Right?”

  I nodded. “Right.” Of course, I’d rather not do any ass-kicking. I was here because it would be a huge insult not to be. If I could, I’d be curled up on my couch right now watching bad TV and drinking too much wine. Instead I was here, and God forbid, there was a dress with my name written all over it. A dress I hadn’t seen yet, or tried on. As much as Cyndi harassed me about it before we left, I kept stalling and telling her I’d get to it before we left. I didn’t. So whatever she’d brought, I was stuck with. I could only hope the bedazzlement had been kept to a minimum and that she’d kept her word about the no heels rule.