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“He likes you.” She gives me a beaming smile.

I’ve never been one to appreciate fluffy-tailed rodents, but I must admit that this one is rather cute. Besides, he’s important to Rapunzel.

“Of course, he can come.”

Even as I promise this, I’m already wondering how I’m going to keep my cat from eating him. Sir Whiskers—as my sister affectionately named him—is an avid hunter, not to mention a bit of an attention hog.

I’ll need to find a High Elf to speak with Sir Whiskers, explaining that Finik is a friend and not food.

High Elves are one of the few races who can commune with animals, and I’m already thinking up a list of potential Elves I can recruit for the job when Rapunzel’s voice pulls me back from my thoughts. “Thank you, Ren.”

“For what?” I ask, confused.

“For telling me about your home and for offering to take me and Finik with you, if I choose.”

My heart stutters and stops as her lips curve into a stunningly gorgeous smile.

“Of—of course. It’s not any—I mean… it would be no trouble at all.” Seven hells, I’m so far gone I can barely string two words together. This female has already captured me: heart, mind, body, and soul. Now, I just have to convince her to leave this tower, accompany me to my kingdom, and become my mate.

I grin. “Does this mean you’ve decided to come with me?”

She considers for a moment before answering, “Can I have a few days to think about it?”

I bite back a smile. This is a good sign. “Of course.” It also means I have a couple of more days to spend getting to know her before we travel. I long to know everything about my fated one.

“What do you normally do during the day?” I ask.

“After I finish my chores, I usually read.” She walks to the bookshelf across the way. “Glinda often brings me new books when she visits.”

As I peruse the titles, I realize most of these are romance novels. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve even read a few ofthese myself. “This is a good one.” I pull the book from the shelf and hold it out to her.

“You’ve read it?”

“Twice.”

Her entire face lights up. “It’s one of my favorites. I think I’ve read it at least six times.” She reaches for another book. “If you like this one, I believe you’ll love this.”

I grab another one, and a small notebook I hadn’t noticed falls from on top of it. “What is this?”

Flipping the book open, I scroll through the pages. “A sketchbook,” I murmur, perusing the colored charcoal images. “Did you draw all of these?”

Rapunzel snatches it from my hands and clutches it protectively to her chest. Whatever these drawings are, they are important to her.

“Forgive me,” I murmur. “I did not mean to pry. I—”

“It’s all right.” Her skin tinges pink, and I realize she is embarrassed for some reason. “I just… don’t like anyone to look at them.”

“Of course.”

She sets the sketchbook back on the shelf and then pulls out another novel, changing the subject. “Have you read this one?” she asks. “It’s really good.”

When I shake my head, an idea occurs to me. “Would you read it to me?”

My request is rewarded with another one of her beautiful smiles. She takes a seat beside me on the sofa and begins to read aloud. I try to focus on the words but all I can think of is her. I hate that she has been locked away here all alone for so long.

Even if Glinda turns out to not be the villain I suspect her to be, I’ve already decided that I still do not like her simply for the fact that she has made Rapunzel so afraid of the outside world.

And I vow that when we leave here, I will do my best to show her the marvels and the beauty that exists beyond this tower. To experience the world for herself and understand that there is so much more than Glinda has shared with her.