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“Run,”I whisper urgently in her mind.“I'll hold him back.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” she projects. “I can help.”

Raising her hands, sparks of green magic flicker across her palm before suddenly dissipating into wisps of smoke. “I—I don’t understand.” She shakes her head and tries again, but her magic fizzles and fades quickly. “I cannot access my powers.”

The Wolf cocks his head to one side. “Did you really think the witch would send me to capture you unprepared?” He glances at a glowing purple charm hanging around his neck. “This pendant binds your magic. You cannot use it here.”

Fierce protectiveness surges through my veins as the Wolf advances. Ears back, fur bristling, I bare my fangs. “Take one more step and I’ll end you.”

“We’re evenly matched, Fox,” he snarls. “But I doubt a Prince of Cambryn has seen as much battle as I have.”

Ice cold dread fills my veins. If he knows who I am, then Drusilla does as well. Which means, she knows where we’re going.

“Give me the girl,” he demands. “And I will let you live. If you fight me, you will die.”

He underestimates my abilities. As a second son, I have trained my entire life to be warrior—to command the armies of our people for my older brother when he assumes the throne.

Still, I’d prefer to avoid a direct conflict if I can. If I fall here, Rapunzel will be at his mercy.

“You don't have to do this,” I state firmly. “Whatever the witch promised you, it's not worth this.”

“You think I have a choice?” He snarls, bitterness flashing in his eyes. “I made a bargain, Fox. She called it in.”

Perhaps he’s not the villain I thought he was. Maybe he can be reasoned with. “What could she possibly offer to make you hunt down an innocent woman?”

A shadow of pain crosses his eyes, but it’s quickly masked by anger. “My tongue is bound by her spell. Just hand her over, and I won't have to kill you.”

“Is your bargain fulfilled once we fight?” I ask, just to be sure. Knowing he is under the influence of a dark enchantment, I don’t want to have to end him if it can be avoided. “Even if you are beaten?”

“Yes, but the spell will not allow me to concede nor simply allow you to best me. She will know and then—” His mouth snaps shut, and I realize it must be the witch’s dark magic at work, holding back his words. “Now, hand her over,” he demands.

“Never.” I will protect and defend her until my last breath. “As long as I draw breath, you will not touch her.”

“So be it,” he says darkly.

“Rapunzel, run!” I cry out as the Wolf launches forward in a blur of powerful muscle.

CHAPTER 23

REN

“Rapunzel, run!” The words tear from my throat as I charge at the Wolf.

We clash in the air, tumbling to the ground in a tangled mess of limbs and fangs. Sharp claws rake across my side, slicing through me like white-hot knives.

He howls as I sink my fangs deep into his shoulder, warm blood filling my mouth as he writhes beneath me, desperate to escape.

The bridge groans as the wooden planks begin to fracture and splinter under our combined weight, each of us fighting to gain the upper hand as the river roars below.

Searing agony rips through me as he swipes out, his sharp claws raking across my chest. My vision blurs, and blood soaks my fur as we remain locked in a deadly embrace, neither of us willing to surrender.

I cannot fall. I will not fail her.

A scream shatters through the violence. “Ren!”

I whip my head toward Rapunzel, and my heart stops as the boards give way beneath her.

“No!”