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His intense gaze holds mine a moment before he releases a heavy sigh and scrubs a hand through his tousled red hair. “All right.” He glances around the room. “Let’s gather some food and supplies. We should leave here before she awakens.”

CHAPTER 11

RAPUNZEL

The cool night breeze caresses my skin as I gaze out the tower window to the ground far below. My long, silver braid is looped securely over the iron hook near the ledge.

I thought about using my magic to have the vines help us down, but using my powers always takes so much out of me. I don’t want to be tired at the start of our journey.

Glinda has climbed this way many times before, but I’ve only ever taken the stairs.

I wish we could use them now, but Ren is right. It’s better to hide the door with the bookcase. Even if the memory spell only works on her for a few hours, it will give us more time to get away from here before she remembers how to escape the tower.

“Are you ready?” Ren's voice is low and soothing, pulling my attention back to him.

Nervously, I nod. This is what I’ve always wanted. Freedom. But now that it’s here, I can’t help but feel a bit of trepidation. I don’t remember anything about living in the outside world.

Ren braces himself against the window ledge, his sharp claws digging into the weathered surface. He glances at the iron hook embedded in the wall, where my braid is looped and knotted securely. He tugs it once, then twice, testing the strength.

Ren presses his full weight on the iron hook. “Seems sturdy enough,” he murmurs before turning to me and arching a brow. “Now for the fun part.”

“I've never done this before,” I swallow thickly as I pat my pocket, making sure Finik is still securely tucked away inside. “I've always used the stairs.”

Ren steps closer, erasing any space between us. My pulse quickens as his powerful hands settle on my waist and he scoops me up into his arms as if I weigh nothing.

My hands press lightly against his bare shoulders. As I gaze up at him, my heart races, not from fear, but from something else entirely.

“Wrap your arms around my neck,” he instructs. “And your legs around my waist.”

Heat rises in my cheeks as I do as he says. His heart beats a strong and steady rhythm against the cage of his chest, a stark contrast to the wild thundering of my own, at the feel of his body pressed against mine.

He glances down at me, amber gold eyes gleaming, and I’m almost certain he’s enjoying this far too much. “Are you ready?”

“No.” The word escapes me before I can stop it.

He chuckles before catching himself, a playful smirk tugging his lips.

Worry tightens my chest as I meet his gaze evenly. “You won’t let me fall, will you?”

“Never,” he says confidently. “My vow.”

Carefully, he drops us over the side, his strong hands holding tightly to my braid. His muscles flex and bunch beneath me as we begin our descent. Halfway there, I make the mistake oflooking down, and emit a small squeak of distress. My heart taps a frantic beat as I tighten my arms and legs around him.

He looks at me, his face inches from mine, and his expression softens. “It’s all right, Rapunzel. I promise,” he says solemnly. “I won’t let you fall.”

Closing my eyes, I bury my head in his chest, the scent of rain and forest enveloping me, and he continues to descend.

It’s strange how much I already trust him even though we’ve only recently met. There is just something about him that feels right… that puts me at ease.

“Are you okay?” his voice is a low rumble beneath my ear.

I nod, although my heart feels as if it will beat out of my chest at any moment.

Ren begins humming. The melody is somewhat playful and jaunty, and he catches me off guard as he starts to sing aloud.

“Oh, a clever fox, dashing and bold,

His charm and wit worth more than gold…