How do I access SQL Server from Windows 8 apps?

I realize that a local SQL Server instance is not accessible to my Windows 8 app. Instead, I have a SQL Server in Azure. In SQL Server Management Studio, I just change the querystring and interact with the Azure database like any other. How can I reference that database in my Windows 8 app?

Does SQL work on Windows 8?

SQL Server 2019 is not supported on Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2. You can install the release version of SQL Server 2017 on Windows or a later version.

This is what the Azure Mobile Services SDK is for. Scott Guthrie did a writeup on it a while back.

Undoubtedly you're aware that both ado.net and Entity Framework are missing from WinRT... Notice the glaring absence of support for System.Data.