Chapter 2 #2
His garments were even more unusual. He wore what first appeared to be a sapphire-colored, silken skirt, but upon further inspection, it seemed to be a flowy pair of pants of folded silk.
A vest in the same color was paired with them, and it was studded all over with silver beads in an intricate design.
He wore no shirt, bearing his muscled arms and chest that had almost no hair.
“Where are you from?” Snow asked, confounded. As soon as the question was past his lips, his cheeks warmed and he cringed in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry. That was rude of me.”
The bronze alpha pulled over a wooden stool and sat beside Vor. He offered his hand to Snow. “My name is Shen Singh, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
He slid his hand into Shen’s, shame still gripping him. “I’m Snow White.”
Vor’s gaze leapt to Snow’s for a second. His silver eyes glowed golden in the firelight. Vor looked as if he wanted to speak, but he returned to his work instead. However, Snow hadn’t missed the hunger he’d seen in Vor’s gaze.
“An interesting name, that,” Shen said. “Snow White…” He smiled. “As fair as you are, I dare say it fits you.”
“My papa claimed he wished for a son as pale as the snow, with hair of ebony, and lips blood red,” Snow said. “I suppose his wish was granted.”
Vor peeked at him again, his gaze appearing pointed on Snow’s lips before returning to his task. Snow’s lips tightened, feeling as full as if he’d been kissed by that gaze. The kiss he’d longed for earlier. A tremor rolled through him along with the desire to know how Vor’s kisses truly felt.
“It is lovely to meet you, Snow White,” Shen murmured, shaking Snow’s hand gently.
“As lovely as it is to meet you,” Snow replied.
Shen released his hand to gather another small tool. He lifted the foot Vor wasn’t working on and began to remove the briars and splinters from Snow’s other calf.
“To answer your question, I was born and raised in Bharat,” Shen said as he gently pulled a thorn out. “Your people call it Hindustan.”
“I’ve heard of Hindustan,” Snow said, excited to know of it. “Far to the southeast on my father’s map of the world. Near where Parco Molo explored Cathay.”
The other foreign-looking man scoffed and muttered “Parco Molo” under his breath. Snow winced and worried he’d said something wrong.
“Yes,” Shen replied, smiling. “Parco Molo did spend many years in Cathay, but he also toured my homeland, as well. Not that those tales are spoken of as often.”
“And the ones which are spoken of are full of fallacies,” the alpha with the angular eyes snapped. “Molo took many liberties and embellished his stories.”
“That said,” Shen continued. “Few here have even heard of Hindustan at all, so I’m pleased you know of it.”
“Not as much as I’d like,” Snow admitted. “Does everyone there look as unique as you?”
“Somewhat. But they can only wish to look as glorious as me,” Shen replied with a grin.
Snow couldn’t help but smile. For some reason, it grew wider when Vor grumbled under his breath.
“My opinionated friend behind me is Aeng-Hwa. He’s from a place not too far from my homeland called Chosǒn.
Between Bharat and Cathay,” Shen said. “We met when he traveled through my village in search of adventure. I wanted a bit of that for myself, so I accompanied him westward.” His bright smile faded. “And we ended up here.”
“You may call me Hwa,” Aeng-Hwa said, his face a mask of annoyance. “Why were you out in the woods all alone, omega? Where is your alpha?”
Snow’s eyes widened at the man’s tone, his smile disappearing. “I have no alpha.”
“Your father, then?” Hwa demanded.
“Hwa…” Vor warned.
“My father is gone,” Snow answered.
“I can see from your clothes, even shredded and torn, that you come from wealth,” Hwa said before turning to the others. “Someone is out there looking for him. We don’t need to draw more men here. There’s enough cursed souls inside this cottage as it is.”
“No one is looking for me,” Snow said. “I ran—and I assume I’m thought to be dead.”
Hwa’s gaze whipped to his. “A runaway? Just what we need.”
“I’m not a runaway,” Snow argued.
“You ran,” Hwa said, his eyes appearing red, reflecting the firelight within the dark orbs. “You said it yourself, Snow White.”
“The huntsman took me out to the wood near our home—to teach me survival skills, I was told. It was a lie. My step-papa had ordered him to kill me. Before you ask, I don’t know why,” Snow replied, tears burning the backs of his eyes.
“I’ve only wanted his love. I’d lost one papa, and now I’ve lost another. ”
All of the alphas eyed him, most with sorrow in their eyes. For several seconds, only the sound of the crackling embers filled the room.
Snow dabbed under one eye, collecting the wetness that had escaped.
“The huntsman didn’t have the heart to do it and told me to run away.
Never to return.” Snow fought a sob. “He said I couldn’t go back home, ever—or we’ll both end up dead.
So I ran in the opposite direction. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I needed to save myself. ”
Hwa walked closer and knelt beside the chair.
“Your step-papa should be taught some respect,” Hwa snapped, his face softened. “Perhaps I will get the chance to mete out a bit of vengeance in your name.”
“Peace, brother,” Shen said.
Hwa scowled.
Shen scoffed. “Why don’t you introduce our other house mates to Snow.”
Hwa stood, folded at the waist, and bowed to Snow. He angled himself towards the redhead shaping dough into an iron frypan. “This is Owan, from ériu in the Northern Islands. Watch yourself around him. He’s a bit too hot under the collar, as his fiery hair implies.”
“Pot, sir,” Owan said to Hwa, grinning broadly and rolling that final r to an inch of its life. “My kettle is not as black as ye.” He winked at Snow. “My heat is much more fun than his anger, trust me, gille dathúil.”
Snow’s cheeks flushed, but he wasn’t sure why. “What does that mean?”
Owan’s smile widened. “Pretty young man.”
Snow’s face grew ever warmer.
“Keep your cock in your pants,” Hwa said to Owan before turning to the blond stirring the cauldron in the hearth behind Vor. “This is Lazlo the Lazy.”
Lazlo lifted his spoon, eyeing Snow. “He says as I make everyone sustenance.”
“Only because you were forced,” Shen murmured. “Under threat of death.”
“I’m doing it, aren’t I?” Lazlo spat, dunking his spoon back in the cauldron and glaring at the side of Shen’s head.
“He hasn’t cooked a meal in months,” Shen told Snow.
“I provide services in exchange for those who do my cooking for me,” Laszlo corrected, offering a toothy grin. “And I don’t see the problem with that.”
“Lazy boy hails from Alpenheim, where he spent his days herding sheep along the mountain sides, he claims,” Hwa said, grinning. “And lost them all when he fell asleep in the grasses one summer afternoon.”
“They’re wily beasts, quick to roam,” Lazlo said, grinning impishly. “And I’d been up too late the night before. Couldn’t be helped.”
“Up doing what?” Hwa asked.
The grin Lazlo offered told enough of a tale.
“You’ve already met Greer, and there’s not much to say about the highwayman, so all that’s left is Klaus, I suppose,” Hwa said, pulling Snow’s attention back to the introductions.
Snow searched around and finally noticed a man sitting in the corner, deep in shadow, sharpening his silver axe. A shiver raced down Snow’s spine at the sight of him and his angry scowl.
“Say hello, Klaus,” Vor demanded. “You’re scaring him with your bitter nonsense.”
“My nonsense? I’m not the one who invited a stranger into our home without asking any here if they wished to share it or their dinner,” Klaus snapped.
“You’d have him freeze to death outside?” Vor asked without looking up.
“No, but I tire of you always telling us what to do,” Klaus said. “None here are any better than the other, Vor.”
“I was here first, and it landed on my shoulders. You’ve had little time here, but if you wish to lead this merry band of blackhearts, all you need do is challenge me, Klaus.”
“You’d like that,” Klaus spat and returned to sharpening his axe. “Wouldn’t you?”
“Nay. I wouldn’t,” Vor replied, never looking up to meet Klaus’s hard stare. “I’d prefer my days spent in relative peace.”
“Peace? There is no peace, especially with you around,” Klaus roared.
“Your anger isn’t with me, Klaus, and we both well know it. If you must take it out on me, so be it,” Vor said. “One day you just might be free of me, and we’ll never have to speak another word again. Until that day, you will do your part, just as we all must.”
“As if we’ll ever be free,” Klaus snapped.
The silence that followed Klaus’s declaration weighed heavily on Snow. As he gazed around the room, he noticed expressions that matched the sudden change in mood.
“You all speak as if you’re trapped here,” Snow murmured.
The alphas froze. No one uttered a word. Their gazes drifted between one another’s, silently conveying messages to one another.
“Are you?” Snow asked, eyes widening as the realization he might have struck on a truth with his question.