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The weight of my secret is almost more than I can bear. I have to tell Rapunzel the truth, but I don’t know how. Worry twists my stomach. How can I explain that I’ve kept something so important from her instead of telling her right away?

I need to speak with my brother. Rowan and I have always been close, and I value his counsel. We are bound not only by blood and duty, but also by the quiet understanding that we can tell each other anything. No matter what.

When I reach his chambers, I push open the doors to Rowan is standing by the hearth with a goblet in his hand, watching the flames. His smile is immediate when he sees me, but it slips just as fast when he takes in my expression.

“Ren.” He sets down his drink. “What’s wrong?”

I rake a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. “I need your advice.”

Rowan frowns and gestures for me to sit, but I don’t. My muscles are tense and my stomach is twisted in a knot. “Is this about Rapunzel?”

I nod, staring down at my hands before I force myself to meet his gaze. “As we mentioned earlier, the Goblin witch stole her memories. But I think”—I swallow hard—“I believe I’ve figured out who she really is… the truth of her past.”

Rowan straightens. “Who?”

I brace myself. “She’s the lost betrothed of Prince Theron of Sylvalis.”

“The Stag Prince?” Rowan’s brows draw together in disbelief. “Are you certain?”

“I found this.” I hand him the faded poster with Rapunzel’s face and the promise of a reward from Prince Theron for her safe return. “I discovered it in a tavern in Lumaria last evening. The lettering is faded”—I gesture to the writing on the bottom—“but it mentions a reward and a prince. And the image looks exactly like Rapunzel.”

“But she’s your fated one.”

“Yes.”

“Does she know?”

“I… haven’t told her yet.”

“What?” Rowan’s expression morphs into alarm. “Ren. Please, tell me you’re not serious.”

“I didn’t know how to tell her.” I shake my head. “I mean… what if I’m wrong? What if it’s not her? What if I tell her about this poster and then it turns out that it’s not even her?” I swallow hard. “She’s happy.We’rehappy,” I emphasize. “She already agreed to become my mate a few days ago and I… I’m so afraid to lose her.”

“So you just decided to lie to her instead?” His voice sharpens. “Ren—”

Before he can finish, bright laughter echoes down the hall. A moment later, Rielle walks into the room, her arm looped through Rapunzel’s, as my younger sister grins, tugging my amira along.

“There you are, Ren,” Rielle says. “You’re a terrible mate, keeping Rapunzel waiting while she’s starving,” she teases. “You’re supposed to be feeding her, not catching up with Rowan.”

Rapunzel laughs. “I’m not that hungry—” But then, as if to contradict her words, her stomach growls.

Rowan and I exchange a look, but I force a smile and step toward her. “Forgive me. My sister is right. I should take better care of you,” I murmur, my hands curling around her waist as I pull her to me. Guilt, sharp and unrelenting, coils in my gut.

My heart shatters as she smiles at me. She trusts me and I am so undeserving of her.

Dinner is loud and full of laughter. My family dotes on Rapunzel and my sister is already spoiling Finik. The squirrel already has his own bowl of food and water on the nearby ledge, just above the one for our cat—Sir Whiskers.

As conversation flows around the table, I catch a blur of white and brown out of the corner of my eye. Rielle gasps when she sees Sir Whiskers chasing Finik. “Sir Whiskers, no!” she cries out, leaping from her chair to intervene. “Leave him alone!”

Rapunzel rushes toward them as well, and Finik scrambles up her dress to her shoulder just as my sister grabs the cat.

“You cannot eat him,” Rielle lightly taps Whisker’s nose. “He’s family now.”

Finik chitters angrily while Sir Whiskers practically glares at him, his fluffy white tail swishing back and forth behind him in agitation.

“She’s right,” I add. “You must behave yourself. Where are your manners, Whiskers?”

His ears flatten and he narrows his eyes. I’m sure if I could converse with him, he’d have a few choice words about what a traitor I am for bringing said squirrel into the family.