Carved in Ice and Glass: A Snow White Fairy Tale Romance

1. The Hunter

The sun beat down on me like the brutal lashings of a whip. The heat was a relentless force that seemed to melt my very skin from its bones, making me yearn for the chilled wintry air of my home. The silent stillness of an icy forest. The whisper of frosty wind.

But no. I was bound to the Winter Queen, and, unfortunately for me, my current prey lived in the Summer Court.

Sweat beaded along my brow, stinging the corners of my eyes. My fae body was built for endurance, but I’d been crouching in the green foliage for hours. Not even my fae blood could withstand this damned heat.

He should arrive at any moment, I told myself. Soon you’ll trap him and be done with this assignment.

I tried not to let my thoughts roam to the forested landscape of my cottage, tucked away in the mountains of the Winter Court, isolated and undisturbed. The queen had promised I would be granted a lengthy holiday after this mission was fulfilled. And fae bargains were binding. She would have no choice but to let me take my leave.

Later, I thought. You can daydream later. For now, focus on the task at hand.

I clutched my crossbow, my hands slick with sweat. It was already loaded, the sharpened point of the iron-studded arrow ready to burrow into my target’s neck. Once he appeared, I didn’t want to waste time loading my weapon and potentially alerting him to my presence. My head throbbed from the strain of maintaining my glamour for this long. I was currently masked, the color of my skin a vibrant green that blended in perfectly with the leafy surroundings. But the energy required to keep myself camouflaged was wearing on me. If the bastard didn’t show up soon, I would have to leave and recharge my magic.

A twig snapped nearby, and my skin prickled with awareness. Someone—or something—was approaching. It was too large to be an animal, unless it was a large predator. With how bored I was, I almost would have welcomed the distraction of wrestling one of the dreaded fae beasts.

Almost.

I held perfectly still, waiting for the visitor to reveal itself.

There he was. My mark.

Sir Ethan Bloodwright of the Summer Court, heir apparent and next in line to the throne as soon as his uncle, the king, passed away. He’d made his disdain for the Winter Court quite clear in all his political dealings. The queen had no doubts that he would declare war on our court the instant he was crowned.

I believed it, too, though I was never one to follow politics. I only followed orders.

Ethan drew nearer, his steps slow and careful. He glanced over his shoulder as if nervous he would be spied upon. I smirked. Little did he know…

My blood chilled as a second figure appeared—a woman.

Oh, shit.

“I told you we had to stop meeting like this,” the woman whispered. She had long, curly brown hair that fell to her waist and doe-like caramel eyes that gazed pleadingly at Ethan.

But my attention was fixed on her ears. They were curved, not pointed.

She was human.

Well, son of a bitch,I thought. Not only was Ethan cavorting with a woman in secret, but a human woman, no less. The one thing most courts agreed on were that humans were the lesser species. Though fae allegedly lived peacefully with humans, there was still a clear division between the two, especially in the Winter Court.

I didn’t know much about it. Aside from my isolated cottage in the woods, my dealings were only with courtiers and those who worked within the palace—all fae. I’d only encountered humans in my travels.

“This is the only spot where Uncle Moorland won’t find me,” Ethan murmured, clutching the woman’s hands in his own and pressing soft kisses to her knuckles.

“These woods frighten me,” the woman whimpered. “What if a fae beast comes along?”

Ethan laughed. “Don’t believe all the stories they tell you about fae creatures.”

My eyebrows lifted. What a fool. The girl should believe in the stories, and fear them, too. I’d encountered my fair share of fae beasts, and they were just as horrifying as the stories made them seem. They were unseelie, which meant they were wild, feral, and unpredictable.

“Besides,” the woman said, lifting her chin, “I thought you said you would announce our engagement to your uncle this week.”

“Ah. Right.” Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, looking chagrined. “Uncle is overwhelmed with court dealings this week. It’s too chaotic. I would rather approach him with this when his mind isn’t as preoccupied.”

The woman frowned, now resembling a pouting toddler. “Ethan…”

“I swear, I will do it soon. I love you, Ryla.”

Ryla’s expression softened as Ethan leaned in to brush his lips to hers.

I raised my crossbow. Now would be the perfect time to strike.

But the woman wrapped her arms fully around him, drawing him closer so their bodies pressed together.

I hesitated. Ryla wasn’t my target. If I shot now, I would risk hitting her instead. Not only would that alert Ethan to the threat, but it would leave her blood on my hands as well.

Not that they weren’t bloody enough already.

But I tried my damndest to only kill my assignments. I was still a cold-blooded killer, but at least that much decency I could manage. Even if the woman was a lowly human, I still didn’t want to kill her if I could help it.

“Ethan,” Ryla moaned as his mouth trailed down her throat.

Shivering bones, if I didn’t make my move soon, I would have to witness their lovemaking. Gritting my teeth, I took aim just as Ryla wrapped her legs around him. Ethan turned to grasp her ass more fully, and I had a perfect shot between his shoulder blades.

I would have to be quick. No time to ensure I hit my mark, because Ryla”s scream would no doubt alert anyone nearby of the murder.

But no matter. I never missed.

This time was no exception.

The bolt struck true, straight between his shoulder blades. Ethan stiffened as blood bubbled from the wound. For a moment, Ryla didn’t notice, still writhing against him and moaning with pleasure.

Then his body slumped, taking her with it.

“Ethan, what?—”

By the time she realized he was dead and her scream cut through the forest, I was already gone.

* * *

“I’m impressed, Theron,” Queen Calista said, her thin eyebrows lifted and her blood-red lips curling into the cruel smile I knew so well. “You’ve never completed an assignment this quickly before. You must be anxious to take your leave.”

I stood in the massive throne room of the Winter Court, shoulders squared and spine straight as I faced my queen, ever the obedient soldier. She sat atop her pale stone throne, which blended in with the silver carpet stretched across the white marble floors. Enormous glass panes from the ceiling illuminated the room. Light danced from the chandelier hanging on the ceiling, giving the throne room the appearance of a sparkling, crystalline field of snow.

Queen Calista often teased me, trying to get under my skin, but I never acquiesced. Years of hunting and killing had taught me how to brush off the pointed barbs of an opponent.

“But I must admit,” she went on when I made no response, “I’m a bit disappointed. You did not bring me the man’s heart, as I requested.”

“He was not alone, my queen. To stay and carve out his heart would have exposed me to witnesses and jeopardized the mission.”

Calista’s lips grew even thinner until they practically disappeared into her face. Her sharp, angular cheekbones gave her quite a skeletal look as she surveyed me. From her crimson eyes to her ghostly pale skin, she almost resembled a terrifying fae beast. But the pointed ears that supported her glistening silver crown marked her as a full-blooded seelie fae.

“I understand the risk,” she said coldly as she rose from her throne, her midnight blue skirts swishing behind her. Along the walls, several of her most trusted guards straightened as if sensing the lethal edge to her voice.

I sensed it, too. But I was not afraid. I had bested ten men at a time before. I could handle these soldiers.

But the queen’s magic? Could I defend myself against her deadly power?

I went perfectly still, treating the queen as the predator she was.

“If there were witnesses, they might have marked you as a member of my court,” Calista went on, drawing closer to me. I stood more than a head taller than her, but her powerful presence still made my skin quiver. “And we can’t have that. However…” Her sharp eyes drilled into me. “There is another solution that I’m shocked you didn’t consider.”

“You mean killing the witness,” I said impassively.

She smirked again. “Yes. You are, after all, a killer. And a good one at that. It’s why I have you in my employ.”

If she only knew that the witness had been a human. Humans were lesser than dirt, especially in the queen’s eyes. She would have been outraged to know I had let one live. “The witness was not my target,” I said. “If you wanted me to kill Sir Ethan and any surrounding civilians, you should have specified.”

The queen went rigid, her scarlet eyes flaring with rage.

Shit. Too late, I realized my mistake. I bowed my head in subservience, sinking to my knees before her.

But the damage had been done. Even the soldiers lining the walls shifted their weight in discomfort.

“Give me your hand, Theron,” the queen whispered, her voice soft and dangerous.

I extended my wrist obediently, my body stiff with apprehension. I clenched my teeth hard as one of her long fingernails struck the back of my hand, drawing blood. Pain burst within my skin as my blood boiled from the contact. My magic swelled, rising to my defense, but I pushed it down.

This was a fight I would not win.

Calista lifted her hand, surveying the drop of my blood coating her nail. “Such a small drop yields so much power,” she mused, bringing her finger to her mouth and sucking the droplet. She smacked her lips and shot me a feral grin.

Agony exploded within me, coursing mercilessly through my veins. I cried out, my limbs going stiff, my back bowing under the intensity of her power. Darkness filled my vision, and I groaned, my arms shaking. Her magic sliced through me, cutting into my bones, my organs, my very soul…

“I own you, Theron,” the queen hissed. “Your blood has always belonged to me. And it always will. Never forget that.”

With a wave of her hand, she released her hold on me, and I crumpled to the marble floor, panting and covered in sweat. I struggled to catch my breath as she resumed her perch on her throne.

“I apologize, my queen,” I rasped, slowly rising to my feet, my chest heaving. “I am at your complete disposal.”

“That’s right,” she said smugly. “For your insolence, I require one last assignment from you before you take your leave.”

My nostrils flared. She wouldn’t—she couldn’t?—

“Ah, I see that look of defiance on that handsome face,” she crooned, the delight in her eyes revealing just how much she enjoyed my torment. “You think I mean to break my bargain with you. But the truth is, you broke the bargain first, by refusing to bring me Sir Ethan’s heart.”

I stilled, digging through my memories to recall the exact terms of our bargain.

Shivering bones, she was right. I had sworn to bring her his heart. How could I have been so foolish?

Calista laughed, her smile widening to reveal her perfectly white teeth. I was half surprised she didn’t reveal fangs glistening with my blood.

“Who is the target?” I asked tightly.

“Princess Eira. My stepdaughter.”

My eyes widened. “The Snow Princess?” I’d never met the princess, as she had been banished years ago, but there were whispers of how she had been cast out for wreaking havoc among the court after King Judas had died. The people still spoke of the Snow Princess and how she lived in the frost itself, always vanishing before anyone could find her.

Calista’s smile vanished, her eyes full of fury. “Yes. The exiled princess. She continues to cause disturbances in the lower towns, rounding up human rebels for her cause. Riots, brawls, thievery… Her latest exploits left the village of Raya burned to the ground. But she’s crafty and has managed to evade even my most skilled soldiers.” She shot a glare toward the guards lining the wall, as if they were directly to blame for this.

“This has gone on long enough,” she went on. “You must find and eliminate her before her crimes escalate and she starts a civil war among my people.” She leaned forward, bracing her arms on the gilded edges of her throne. “And do not fail me, Theron. I must have her heart. Agree to this bargain, and you will be permanently released from my service.”

My mouth fell open in blatant surprise, my calm facade shattering. We had originally agreed on just the storm season. Holed up in the mountains, I would have been undisturbed, as it was dangerous to travel during a snowstorm, and the queen would have been limited in her dealings, as well.

But permanently? Could she truly continue without my services?

“You mean I will be released from my contract?” I clarified. I needed her to say the exact words.

“Yes. You will no longer be in my employ. I trust the generous funds you have received from me over the years will be enough for you to live comfortably for quite a while.” The knowing gleam in her eyes indicated she knew just how enticing this reward was for me. She knew how much I hated being her weapon.

And she was right. I did have enough funds saved to live comfortably for the rest of my life.

“I will not be labeled a traitor to the crown?” I asked, my eyes narrowed. It seemed like something she would do, to free me from my debts to her only to turn around and hunt me to the ends of the earth.

Calista laughed. “You are clever, my fearsome hunter. I swear on my life and my crown that when you are released from my service, you will have no obligations to me or this court, and you will be labeled a free and respected citizen, provided you continue to abide by my laws.”

“And my blood?”

The smile vanished from her face. “What about your blood?”

I knew she had a vial of it stored away for emergencies, in case I decided to betray her. This time, it was my turn to smirk at her. Did she really think I would agree to a bargain that only teased me with the illusion of freedom? No, if I was to be truly free of her, she could no longer hold on to my blood. “I’ll be wanting that back.”

Her nostrils flared. “Once blood goes into my vault, it does not come out.”

“I will never be truly free as long as you have it,” I countered. That was how her magic worked—all she needed was a single drop to control someone. The pain was more potent if the blood was fresh, but even a supply of my old blood would be powerful enough to cause severe damage.

Calista’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment. “Very well. Upon your release, I will also relinquish all of your blood to you.”

Shivering bones, she’d actually agreed to it. I didn’t think she would. Her hold on me was iron-clad as long as she had that vial. This bargain told me just how much she needed this assignment done—and done quickly.

She was desperate. Desperate enough to let go of her most skilled assassin. My brain worked furiously to come up with some kind of loophole in her terms, but I couldn’t find one. Still, I said nothing. This felt too easy.

Her eyebrows lifted at my hesitation. Before she could revoke the terms of our bargain, I blurted, “I accept. I will bring you Princess Eira”s heart in exchange for freedom from my duties to you and the crown as well as any amount of my blood that you still possess.”

“Very good.” Calista waved an idle hand. “Now, be on your way. I’m certain you’ll want to get started right away. After all, Princess Eira will be a difficult target to locate.” Her mouth widened in a satisfied smile. “Probably your most challenging assignment yet.”

I sketched a quick bow before departing the throne room. Each step sent a quiver of pain up my legs, an echo of the torture the queen had inflicted on me.

But it didn’t matter. That would be the last time she would ever hurt me.

Because challenging or not, I would kill the Snow Princess.