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I climbed out of the bath, no longer enjoying it, and wrapped myself in a towel. I had so many other plans for this evening and this was in none of them. How the fuck did she survive the poison? I put the damn bracelet on her myself!

I saw her body turn blue. Felt her skin grow cold!

Those fucking miners.

I screamed out again, running my forearm across the counter in the bathroom, sending all the bottles of lotions and perfumes crashing to the floor.

“I’m sorry my Queen.”

I stared at him in a heaving fury.

“Are you still loyal to me?”

He looked confused. “Of course, my Queen.”

“When I found you all those years ago living in the woods, I could have left you there. I could have killed you. I could have let those men continue to do horrible things to you. But I didn’t.”

I paced around him, letting my fingers glide across his taut back.

“No. I protected you. Defended you. I took care of you with the expectation you would return the favor one day.”

“I will, my Queen.”

His words felt empty.

“Until recently, I thought her name was Scarlet. I hadn’t talked with you in a while and was unaware of the situation.”

“But you’re aware now?”

“Yes. Snow must die.” His dark eyes shifted between mine.

“Yes.” I felt my eye twitch with a hint of excitement. “Tell me. If you know now, then why didn’t you kill her and bring me her heart and liver?”

“The others were there. I can’t defeat them all… and my brother. He has sworn to protect Snow.”

“I see. How did that Huntsman end up at your house? I didn’t think you two were close.”

“We’re not. He had killed one of your children and I joined up with him to stop him from killing anymore. The only way I knew how was to befriend him.”

“I see and what is the plan now?”

“We have no plan? Not yet.”

“So I don’t need to worry about a bunch of miners storming the castle?”

He laughed. “No. Snow has managed to use her looks to get the men to fall over themselves for her.”

“But not you?”

“Her looks do nothing for me.”

“She is very beautiful.” I tested.

“She is not ugly, my Queen, but she has nothing on your beauty. You, by far, are the most beautiful woman.”

I smiled. “My dear Gage…” I said, standing in front of him, letting my towel fall. “I’ve missed our… sessions. It’s been a long time…” I stared into his dark silver eyes, almost black, and saw my Gage, not the piss ant with the blue eyes. This is the one I had created and he was mine to do with, what I wanted.

He stepped forward and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into him. “How do you please a Queen that can have the world?”