Snow and the Seven Men: A Reverse Harem Fairy Tale Romance(2)

“Will you pop by on my mom over Thanksgiving?” I asked her. “She’s guilting the hell out of me.”

Alex chuckled and tossed her short bob easily.

“That’s what makes Ariel, Ariel,” she reminded me. “Of course I’ll check in on her. I’ll even bring her a plate. I’d invite her over but I know how she feels about Harlem.”

We snickered and Alex leaned across the table to grab my hands. I offered them to her and she squeezed them tightly.

“I’m not going to get all sappy and sentimental with you, Sash, because you know that’s not really my style but I’m going to miss you. I want you to be extra careful, all right?”

“I think you guys have the wrong impression of Iceland,” I chuckled. “It’s really not a block of ice, you know?”

Alex scowled at my flip response.

“I hate to be the one to tell you this, honey, but I’ve traveled more in my job than you have in yours.”

I grinned at her and tightened my grip around her hands.

“I know. You’re the next Barbara Walters,” I teased. “No one is going to know what hit them when you get your first exclusive.”

“Nice deflection, Sash,” Alex muttered, her eyes meeting mine earnestly. “You can’t make me forget my worries by flattering me.”

I shrugged.

“It was worth a shot.”

Alex’s lips parted as if she wanted to say something else but she seemed to think better of it.

“Just promise me you’ll be careful, all right?”

I exhaled heavily.

“I’ll do my best,” I grumbled. “I just hope that Queenie lays off me while we’re there.”

Alex’s eyes darkened.

“She’s still on you, huh? What is her problem?”

“Apparently I am,” I chimed.

“Hopefully this will be your ticket out from under her supervision,” Alex offered supportively. “I mean, if you don’t kill her first.”

“You know I wouldn’t kill anyone without you, Allie. You know where to hide all the bodies.”

Alex laughed and raised her glass in toast.

“Truer words have never been spoken, sister.”

At that time, I didn’t know how this trip was going to change my life…forever.





2





Sasha





The flight from LaGuardia to Reykjavik was almost fifteen hours with a five-hour layover in Boston. At least Mirror, Mirror had granted us business class accommodations so the flight was relatively seamless, even though I was seated alone near the front of the section.

In my mind, leading up to the trip, I had envisioned Hunter and I sitting somewhere private, maybe sipping on complimentary champagne and talking about how we both loved dogs. He’d lean in for a kiss and we’d gaze into each other’s eyes…

The reality was me spending the journey with my headphones in my ears, craning my neck on occasion to look behind me and see that Hunter and Queenie were seated together.

At least they aren’t interlocking arms and toasting one another with goblets of wine, I mused.

In fact, from what I could see, Hunter seemed enthralled in his laptop almost the whole time. I didn’t even see him sleeping.

By the time we landed, my body was aching from the pressure and I was looking forward to getting to our accommodations. I knew we weren’t staying in a hotel but I hoped wherever it was had a comfortable bed.

What I hadn’t anticipated was that it would be another five hours of driving before we got to Hof.

The van which took us through the long, winding roads was not built for such a long trip but despite my exhaustion, I couldn’t stop gasping at the landscape as we moved. I’d never seen anything so beautiful in all my life. It was like something out of a fairy tale, the snow-capped fields and towering mountains beyond as far as the eye could see.

It was dawn when we landed but the shortening of daylight was already apparent and the sky was still black until we found ourselves passing through Hof.

Our driver was a jovial man named Magnus who happily cited off Icelandic history in a heavy accent which made understanding nearly impossible. Still, no one stopped him and his voice was soothing, lulling me almost into a trance as we slipped through the rustic country.

I was wedged between Queenie and our suitcases in the back seat, the rest of our equipment piled high in the rear cab while Hunter rode in comfort in the passenger side with Magnus.

Queenie didn’t say much but I could tell she didn’t like being pressed up against me any more than I did her.

I prayed silently for the housing to appear but when it did, I gasped in shock.

“Is this it?” I asked dubiously when the caravan pulled up to something that reminded me of a storage container. We hadn’t seen a house for miles and I couldn’t gauge how far we were from civilization. I really hadn’t been paying attention to be honest.

“What were you expecting? A day spa?” Queenie spat. “This is a research and development trip, princess.”

I bristled but I held my tongue as we piled out of the van and began to unload the van.

“It’s really isolated,” I breathed, mostly to myself and suddenly both my mom’s and Alex’s warnings came flooding back to me in a torrent.

“It’s cozy,” Hunter chirped and I looked at him. I hadn’t realized he was at my side but I was glad he was there. It was nice to have an ally against the evil witch.

“Come on,” he urged, nodding toward the long, rectangular building in the empty, snow-dusted field. “Let’s see what’s inside.”

His excitement was contagious and I reluctantly followed him, my heart racing slightly as I took in the sparse surroundings.

We needed to collect moss samples for testing and I knew that we weren’t going to find what we needed in the city but this wasn’t what I’d pictured. At all.

“Do you expect us to do all the work, princess or are you going to do something too?”

I chewed on the insides of my cheeks and reached for a piece of baggage, careful to avoid Queenie’s gaze.

I couldn’t believe she was starting with me after all that travel. Then again, she was probably extra bitchy because she was hungry and tired too.

Not that it made her sympathetic in any way.

I hurried toward the open door and paused at the threshold, taking in the compact space which we would call home for the next four weeks.

To my chagrin, I realized there were only two bedrooms, each with two beds. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I was going to be stuck sharing with my dreaded boss.

This keeps getting better and better, I thought grimly, shuffling into the living area to set down my bag. The main room was an open concept with a kitchenette, equipped with a stove and fridge. There were a set of worn corduroy couches and a scarred wooden coffee table but beyond the kitchen was a section for our research. It wasn’t sterile but there were all the makings of a proper lab.

“We’re going to have to do something about that,” I commented. “Quadrant it off so there’s no cross-contamination.”

“You think I didn’t think of that?” Queenie asked sarcastically. “Geez, thank God we have you here, Sasha. We’d be lost otherwise.”

I gritted my teeth and ignored her, making my way to one of the bedrooms to investigate.

“There’s still more stuff to be brought in. Don’t even think about having a nap!”

I whirled and glared at her before I could stop myself, my black tresses fanning around my face in defiance.

“I was just looking around!” I hissed.

“We’re coming, Amanda,” Hunter told her, stepping between us as if he sensed a brawl about to erupt and she scoffed, storming back out into the snow.

“Jesus,” I muttered, shaking my head. “What is her problem?”

“Everyone’s just tired,” Hunter told me and I snorted. That was a good excuse now but what about the other three hundred and sixty-four days a year?

“Why don’t you help Amanda and I’ll see what we can scrounge up to eat,” Hunter suggested, flashing me a warm smile. Instantly, I felt my heart melt and I nodded, my anger dissipating.

“Sounds good,” I agreed, awed that he was offering to cook. I returned outside where Queenie was talking with Magnus, the load apparently forgotten.

“…a week with supplies, as agreed,” Magnus was saying as I neared. “You have radio here, ja? You call if there is problems.”

“We’ll be fine,” Queenie told him sweetly and I marveled at how she could turn it on and off so easily. Listening to her speak with Magnus, you’d have no idea what a witch she was.

“I help with bags and I go. There is storm coming,” Magnus continued. “They be saying for days about it.”

Queenie waved her hands magnanimously.

“No need, Magnus. You can go. Sasha and I have got this.”

It didn’t surprise me that she didn’t ask my thoughts on the matter. Some of the equipment was heavy and with Hunter inside, that meant I’d be doing the brunt of the work.

To his credit, Magnus turned to me and waited for me to agree. What choice did I have but to nod and smile?

“Thank you, Magnus. We’re good.”

He beamed at me and turned toward the vehicle, leaving me alone with the manager of my nightmares.

“I return next week, ja?”