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“You used dark magic on her,” I say accusingly, refusing to let her poison my mate against me. “I saw you. You were weaving a spell as you combed her hair.” I bare my fangs. “It was you, wasn’t it? You’re Drusilla. And you stole her memories so she wouldn’t remember it was you all along.”

“Lies,” she grinds out. “Don’t listen to him. He’s lying to you. He’s a Fox Shifter. They are not to be trusted.” She extends her clawed hand to my mate, beckoning. “I will protect you from—”

“You. Will. Not. Touch. Her,” I growl.

CHAPTER 10

RAPUNZEL

“If you dare come any closer, I will rip you to shreds,” Ren snarls.

Goblin.The word echoes in my mind as I study the woman I thought I knew. Even her name was a lie. All this time, I feared Drusilla—the Goblin witch who murdered my family. And now, I know that Glinda is her. She always was. Her glamour has dissolved, and silver reptilian eyes blaze with anger as she glares at Ren.

“I don’t understand,” I take a small step back, shaking my head. “Why did you lie to me?”

Her eyes flick to mine, her expression softening just enough to make me doubt myself. My stomach churns as I recall every bedtime story, every kiss on the forehead. “Did you ever truly care for me?”

“Of course, I did. But do you have any idea what you hold, Rapunzel?” Drusilla’s voice shakes, desperation leaking through her cold composure. “Your magic is mine—taken from me when I used it to save your life. I could have killed you to reclaim it, butI didn’t. Instead, I took your memories, keeping you blissfully ignorant and safe while I’ve been trying to find a way to reverse the spell that gave you my power. What I did was a kindness.”

“You claim it was kindness?” Ren challenges. “When you murdered her family, stole her memories, and have held her captive all this time?” He shakes his head. “No. The truth is that you feared if you killed her, your magic might be lost to you forever. And you weren’t willing to take that chance.” He growls low in his throat. “Isn’t that right,Drusilla?”

“Such a clever Fox,” she says mockingly. “But you are wrong.” Her sharp gaze sweeps to me. “Whatever you think of me, know this: I am not a murderer. Your family is alive.”

I inhale sharply.My family is alive.

“I knew that if I told you this, you would demand to be returned to them,” she continues. “And I needed you to be compliant while I have searched for a way to reclaim my magic.”

She pauses. “I disguised myself and became your nanny—a servant in your family’s household.” She gives me a pleading look. “Have I not cared for you? Kept you safe? Brushed your hair lovingly, like a mother would her own child?”

“You didn’t do this out of love. I watched you,” Ren grits through his fangs. “You were speaking words ofDarksyl—shadow speech. Why?”

Her expression darkens. “It is the only incantation I’ve found that can return bits of my magic back to me. And with enough time, it may even allow me to reclaim it all.”

“But at what cost?” I ask, sick to my stomach as I stare at the woman I once thought of as a mother figure. “Tell me,” I demand.

Drusilla clenches her jaw. “Your memories.”

Sorrow tightens my chest. Her explanations always felt hollow. Now I know why. Her protection and care were always laced with lies.

She gives Ren a dark look. “You think you’ve ruined everything, Fox, but you haven’t. A quick spell, and she’ll forget this foolish rebellion. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to deal with this.”

Her words hit me like a physical blow. The room spins as I realize what she’s saying.

How much of my memory has she stolen from me?

“You won’t touch her,” Ren snarls, his fox ears flattened against his head and his tail bristling with anger. He glances back, and his amber eyes meet mine, an unspoken vow to protect me blazing in their depths. “Not this time.”

Drusilla smirks. “Oh, you foolish Fox,” she croons mockingly. “You think you can stop me?”

She raises her arms, sparks of magic arcing across her fingers. The fire in the hearth shrinks, its golden glow snuffed out as shadows ripple across the walls. “I believe you’ve forgotten who it is you have threatened.”

“Get behind me!” Ren cries out.

The air explodes around us as a blast of violet energy surges from Drusilla’s hands, crackling like lightning. Fear rips through me as it strikes Ren, curling around his body in powerful flames.

My jaw drops as he stands before me, unfazed. The magic washes over him before dissipating into the air like mist.

He straightens to his full height, tipping up his chin in defiance. “Did you forget something, Goblin?” His voice is low and lethal, his fox-fire eyes glinting like sharpened steel. “My kind are immune to magic.”