Page 5

I shrug. “I’m not entirely sure.”

She eyes me skeptically, clearly debating whether to believe me.

I tug lightly against the vines, testing their strength. They're sturdy enough, certainly, but not unbreakable—not to a Shifter like me. One quick burst of my Fox’s strength and I’d be free in seconds.

But then my lovely human mate would be terrified, and the last thing I want is for her to fear me. Better she believes herself in control. For now.

“Would you mind freeing me?” I ask lightly, adding a charming smile for good measure. “This has all been a big misunderstanding. I am most assuredly not a bandit.”

She narrows those beautiful eyes, suspicion sharpening her expression. “And I’m just supposed to take your word for it, after you broke into my home?”

“It was dark, and I was simply trying to find a dry place to wait out the storm.” I frown. “There were cobwebs in the stairwell. I thought this place was abandoned.” Another memory resurfaces, and I flash her an accusing look. “And Iknocked. I distinctly remember knocking and calling out, asking if anyone was here, butyoudidn’t answer.”

“Because I thought you were a bandit,” she counters.

I arch a brow. “What sort of thief would bother to knock before they broke in?”

“I—” She hesitates, obviously flustered as doubt clouds her features. “All right. Fine. You may have a point. But you were naked. Why aren’t you wearing any clothes?”

“I’m a Fox Shifter. When you knocked me unconscious, I was unable to maintain the shifted illusion of clothing.”

I tilt my head to regard her. A pink blush spreads across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, her pupils widening as her eyes wander over my figure.

Despite her concerns, it seems that she likes what she sees.

My inner Fox snarls with fierce desire and longing. Perhaps the fated bond is beginning to affect her as it does me. Raw need pulses through me. If she were a female Fox Shifter, we would already be sealing our bond with a first mating. The primal urge to claim and mark her as my mate is difficult to ignore.

“Well,” she says, a bit flustered. “If you can create the illusion of clothing, why are you still nude?”

My nostrils flare as a hint of arousal threads through her sweet berry scent. “Because I think you may prefer me unclothed.” A playful grin curls my lips. “I can smell your interest.”

“You can smell that?” she splutters. “I—I mean, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she denies, even as her scent sharpens deliciously despite her embarrassment.

I arch a brow. Perhaps I am going about this in the wrong way. I flex my wrists against my bindings, trying to put her at ease by reassuring her I am still her captive. “If you’d prefer me to remain bound like this, I won’t object. But before we go any further, I’d love to know your name.”

She studies me a moment before answering, “My name is Rapunzel.”

“Rapunzel,” I repeat, my voice full of reverence as everything clicks into place.

My gaze travels around the room. This is exactly where I am meant to be.This is definitely the tower from my dreams.

Closing my eyes, I remember the seer’s cryptic words when she came to the royal court a few months ago.“In a hidden tower, protected by magic and shadow, you’ll find your greatest treasure, Prince Renard of Cambryn.”

I always assumed the prophecy referred to riches or artifacts. But as I look upon Rapunzel, her delicate features and her moonlight silver hair, a deeper certainty settles in my chest.Sheis the treasure. The reason I was led here by fate.

Now, I must convince Rapunzel that I am worthy of being her mate.

Every Fox female expects her mate to prove himself with the mating chase. During a full moon, the male will chase the female. Once he catches her, she will challenge him. If he is able to best her, proving that he is strong enough to protect her and any kits they may have, she will then accept him, and they will seal their bond with the first mating.

“I’d like to prove myself worthy of you,” I declare confidently. “When the full moon comes, I’ll chase you.”

She blinks, bewildered. “Chase me?”

“Yes. The mating chase. Do humans not have this?”

“Uh, no?” she sputters.

Ah. “Allow me to explain.” I meet her gaze evenly. “I wish to take you as my mate. Tell me what I must do to prove myself worthy of you, beautiful Rapunzel.”