The Poisoned Princess: A Snow White Retelling (The Skazka Fairy Tales)
The Poisoned Princess: Chapter 23

DIMITRI

As we listen to Ivanka talk, my body is nearly vibrating with anger. Anger at the queen. Anger at all the people who couldn’t protect Ivanka when they had the chance. Anger at the world which was so unfair to good people.

“She was supposed to tie me to the tree and leave me to the wolves,” Ivanka says, taking a sip of the tea Pavel prepared for her. She’s answered all of our questions, even Maxim’s random ones, such as the rumor he had heard about the castle having monkeys in it. I can tell she’s exhausted, not just from staying by my side, but from the crazy emotional ride this evening has taken.

I also can’t stop staring at her. Her eyes, her hair, her glorious smile. And those lips. I want to kiss her again, and I want to kiss her often.

But even that doesn’t overshadow my desire to take a direct route straight to Queen Pelageya and physically remove her from the throne myself. Every protective inclination I’ve ever had is intensified until I can hardly see straight. When Ivanka excuses herself to wash up, I head outside. My body still feels exhausted, but my spirit is ready for a fight.

“Are you planning on single-handedly storming the castle?” Kostya asks, finding me pacing very slowly outside. I can hear the men still talking inside. At some point, we’ll have to have a discussion between the seven of us, but not right now.

Honestly, it amazes me all over again that this beautiful girl is the princess I’ve been looking for.

“I was hoping you’d come with me,” I reply. The other man chuckles.

“You know I will. Just not tonight.”

“I hate it when you’re logical.”

“No, you don’t.”

It’s true, Kostya’s wisdom and logic is what keeps me in check, and I appreciate him for it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to forget all of it, forget our plans, and go take care of the queen myself.

“I have a better idea than all this pacing,” Kostya continues and I stop, waiting for him to go on. “I suggest you take your girl on a date.”

“What?” That is the last thing I expected him to say.

“You know, it’s something people do where they spend time together because they like each other. Romantic style.”

I roll my eyes at him, images of her flushed face racing through my mind, and I turn away.

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

“Konstantin, you’re not being helpful.”

“I think I’m being plenty helpful.”

There’s a part of me that wants to do just that. Forget this whole thing and just be with her, the way every fiber of my being wants to be. I don’t even care that I’ve fallen straight off this cliff without a safety harness. I’m all in. But I also can’t just force her to move at my pace if she’s not ready. There’s a lot going on in that pretty head of hers right now.

“I’m not sure it’s that easy,” I say, and Kostya chuckles.

“Well, at least this takes care of the whole fiancé issue, don’t you think?”

My eyes snap over to his, and I know what he’s doing. He’s pushing me into territory I’m not ready to go in yet. There are still conversations to be had, and not only with her. Everything was put into motion long before she showed up on our doorstep. I can’t just disregard it all.

No matter how much I want to.

“Tell her the truth, Dimitri,” Kostya says before he heads back inside the cottage. It’s dark out here, and I should be heading inside as well, lest anything else steps out of those woods.

Just as I’m thinking that, the dog comes out of the cottage and sits in front of the door staring at me. I stare back.

I don’t feel the same way about him as I did in the beginning. I wonder if that’s just another thing I’ve picked up from Ivanka. The way she sees the world is very particular—precious and pure. She’s never afraid of the forest or her magic, even going as far as believing the sun and the moon will talk to her. But there’s remarkable beauty in her worldview. It may be a little closer to how I should see the world as well.

“Shall we name you, then?” I ask the dog. He immediately stands up, his tail wagging. Great, now I’m talking to a dog. No turning back, I suppose.

“How about—” Before I can come up with a list of names, one word appears in my mind very vividly. I wonder if this is how Ivanka felt when she named her bunny. It feels like a strong urge, so I say it.

“How about Sokolko?” I ask. The dog hops in place before rushing over to jump up and place his front paws on my stomach. He’s careful about it, as if he’s aware of my injury. His tail is wagging a kilometer a minute, and I can’t help the laugh that escapes. “I guess you approve.” I laugh again as he tries to lick my face.

A sokol is known to be a bringer of luck, the king of birds. By the way this dog has already brought us good fortune, it seems to fit. Even though I did get hurt, the outcome was a pleasant one. Look at me seeing the bright side of things. I guess Ivanka’s sunshine really is rubbing off on me. I’ll need more luck as the days go on.

“Come on, little falcon,” I say, scratching him behind the ears before he drops to all fours. “Let’s go introduce you properly to the rest of your family.”

IVANKA

When Dimitri comes to find me right before lunch the next day, I immediately think something is wrong.

“What? What is it?” I ask as he stops on the other side of the table, his gaze on me. His eyebrows crunch in confusion, and then he shakes his head.

“Nothing is wrong. Can I borrow you for a bit?” He glances at Pavel, and when I turn, the other man is hiding a smile. They’re up to something. To be honest, after yesterday, I have no idea what to expect from any of them.

I definitely have no idea what to expect from Dimitri. We’ve entered a whole new territory, but I would be a liar if I said I haven’t thought about kissing him again. I might’ve even dreamed about it last night. I slept up in the loft alone, with only Kroshka for company, and it felt lonely. I missed his presence near me.

It also made me realize that I have a hard choice to make when I get back to the castle. There is no way I can go through with my arranged marriage; it simply wouldn’t be fair to the prince. True, we never promised each other love, but now that I know what the possibility of love feels like, I can’t take that away from him. I’m not ready to think how that will affect our relations with Tsarstvo Vesniy, but I hope that my honesty will be rewarded. Even if it’s not, it feels like the right thing to do. Isn’t it?

“Ivanka is all done here, so you’re free to go.” Pavel motions toward the front door, and I glance between them again as I’m pulled out of my thoughts. They’re definitely up to something.

“Come on, I want to show you something.”

When I still don’t move, he comes around the table, takes my hand, and pulls me with him. The moment our skin touches, I’m helpless to do anything but follow. I glance back at Kroshka and think I see the bunny smiling at me.

The men have spread out around the cottage and surrounding area, all performing various jobs, but no one tries to stop us as Dimitri guides us past the front yard and into the woods.

“I thought you didn’t like the woods.”

“I love the woods, I just don’t trust them. There’s a difference.”

“Ah, yes, how could I make such a mistake?” I mumble and hide my smile when he looks my way. Before we walk far, the dog shows up, his tail wagging.

I couldn’t help but feel warmth spread through my heart last night upon hearing that Dimitri named him. Dimitri really is a softy under all that hard exterior.

“Not today, Sokolko,” Dimitri says, looking at the dog. “This one is between me and Ivanka.”

I’m positive the dog pouts a little before he turns back toward the cottage—we have really expressive animals around here—but that’s all I have time to think about before Dimitri gently tugs me behind him again.

The forest seems brighter today, even though autumn has come and the leaves are starting to turn to darker colors. Or maybe it’s me who’s feeling brighter somehow, because I’m focusing on the sensation of Dimitri’s hand holding mine.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask, breaking the silence. Not that I needed to, because just being in his presence is comfortable. I was so used to bickering with him that I never realized it, but I think it’s always been like this.

“We’re almost there. Don’t worry.”

“Who said anything about worrying?”

He glances at me, and I flash him a smile. Not having this big secret hanging over us has freed me. Now I can share that part of me with him and not feel like I’m going to ruin everything by being me.

I’ve never been in this part of the forest, since the men are always keeping me near home, so I can’t begin to guess where we’re going. But being together is all that matters anyway. I am completely smitten with this man, and I don’t know how to properly tell him.

“Careful here,” Dimitri says.

I focus my attention back on him as he points to a log in front of us. I step over it, and then he guides me through a row of trees and into a small clearing. It’s big enough that I can look past the tops of the trees and see the sky. It’s blue and full of the fluffiest white clouds, almost like someone threw cotton up there and it stuck.

But it’s the clearing itself that makes me catch my breath. It’s like time has stopped in the middle of summer. The green grass is covered with small white and yellow flowers.

“Are these chamomile?” I ask in a whisper, as if I’m afraid they might disappear if I speak too loud.

“They are.”

A sea of chamomile.

I walk forward, running my fingers over the small flowers, as their scent fills my senses.

“But how?”

Chamomile bloom in spring and summer—everyone knows that. This small meadow should be void of flowers by now, not bursting with them.

“I can’t answer that,” Dimitri says. “Just another miracle we can attribute to Skazka.”

I turn away, staring at the flowers so I can take it all in. It must be Skazka’s doing. Whoever says they don’t believe in magic has clearly never taken a walk outside.

As I let my eyes roam over the flowers, I notice something in the midst of them, right in front of us. I walk slowly forward, and a blanket comes into view, a basket beside it. Glancing back at Dimitri, I find his eyes on me, a full-blown smile on his face.

“What is this?” I ask, not quite believing my eyes.

“I believe people call it a picnic,” Dimitri replies, walking right past me toward the blanket. I narrow my eyes and follow close behind. This is where he must’ve disappeared to after breakfast.

He gets on his knees on the blanket and pulls the towel off the top of the basket. I notice some bread and cake Pavel made last night, as well as some apples and bottles of water. Dimitri reaches for a flower closest to him, plucking it and handing it to me.

“Take a seat, Zvyozdachka,” he says, and I am helpless to do anything else.

“Dimitri, is this what I think this is?” I ask, as I get down on my knees beside him.

“That depends. What do you think it is?”

“Are you really going to make me say it?”

“Say what?”

I can’t help it, I reach over and slap him on his shoulder, after first making sure it’s not the side that was injured earlier. His laugh, deep and rich, travels over my skin as he catches my hand.

“Yes, Zvyozdachka, this is a date.”

“Aren’t you supposed to ask me first, before kidnapping me?” I raise an eyebrow, giving him a look. He moves before I can take another breath, leaning right into my space as he pushes himself on all fours. His face is right in front of mine, and for once we’re on the same level.

“Ivanka, would you please do me the honor of going on a date with me?” He whispers the words, so only the two of us can hear. The intensity in his gaze holds me captive, and I watch the corner of his mouth lift in a tiny smirk that I want to kiss right off his face.

I move toward him just a tad, so close that our noses nearly brush, and then I smile.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

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