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My parents are still tied to their thrones, their eyes wide as they watch the violence unfolding around them.

Drusilla screams in frustration, commanding thick, thorny vines to erupt through the polished marble. My heart seizes as they lash out, twisting hungrily toward Ren.

Effortlessly, he snaps the vines between his sharp fangs, their severed ends falling lifelessly at his paws.

Desperation fills me as I strain against my bindings, the rough vines scraping my skin. Finik scampers toward me and begins frantically gnawing at the thick vegetation. “Please, hurry,” I tell him as I watch Theron and Tristan, each of them fighting to gain the upper hand.

My brother swings out at Theron, but he twists away at the last moment. With a menacing growl, Theron charges Tristan, slamming him back against the stone column.

The impact echoes like a thunderclap, and I scream as my brother crumples to the ground, motionless. “Tristan!”

Theron's form ripples as he shifts into a massive Stag, his sharp antlers glinting dangerously as he swings his head toward Ren. Glowing purple magic swirls in his eyes, replacing their normal vibrant blue color.

Horror fills me as he lowers his head, and charges at Ren with a deadly intent, hooves thundering against marble, vibrating the floor beneath us.

Ren spins to face him, and then leaps out of the way, narrowly avoiding Theron's antlers. Instead of attacking, he calls out. “Theron, stop! I don't want to hurt you!”

“Please, Theron!” I cry out. “You must fight her control!”

Theron stills and looks back at me. The purple glow fades from his eyes as they return to blue. He blinks in confusion. “Rapunzel?”

Drusilla snarls, sending a fresh surge of dark magic into him. It hits his shoulder, and his eyes turn eerie violet a moment before he spins back to Ren.

“Theron, no!” I yell as he stomps his hooves, readying to attack. Lowering his head, he rushes toward Ren.

In a blur of red fur, Ren dodges his attack and slams into Theron’s side. He knocks the Stag Prince off balance, but he quickly recovers.

Finik’s frantic chewing finally severs the last strand of my bindings. The vines fall away from my wrist just as Theron charges again toward Ren.

Power surges through my veins as I raise my hands. My palms heat as magic crackles between my fingers like lightning. I thrust my hands forward, commanding vines to burst from beneath the marble floor.

They surge upward, thick and relentless, wrapping around Drusilla, cutting off her startled scream as she drops to the ground, writhing as they continue to tighten, covering her. After a moment, she finally goes still.

Fear stops my heart, and I watch in horror as Theron’s antlers spear into Ren’s side.

An agonized howl rips from Ren’s throat as he collapses onto the marble floor.

“Ren!”

Ren and Theron both shift back into their human forms. Panting heavily, Theron stares down at him stunned, confusion etched in his features.

Pushing past him, I drop to my knees beside Ren. Dark blood seeps steadily from his torso, pooling beneath him. It’s warm and slick as I press my trembling hands to his wounds, desperately trying to stop the bleeding.

His eyes flutter weakly, as he struggles to remain conscious. The throne room doors burst open, royal guards surging inside, weapons drawn. “Find a healer!” I yell.

Several of them rush back out into the hallway, while a few of the others free my parents. Out of the corner of my eye, I see my brother sit up, groaning as the guards help him stand.

“Ren, please.” Panic claws at my chest as I gaze down at my beloved. “Help is coming. Please, my charming Fox Prince. You need to stay awake.”

“You think I’m charming?” he rasps, a faint teasing grin on his mouth.

“And handsome,” I add, sniffling as I fight back tears.

His amber eyes spark with amusement, and he smiles a moment before it falls away into a grimace of pain.

“Just hold on, Ren,” I barely manage. “A healer is coming.”

Slowly, he reaches a trembling hand up to touch my face. “Rapunzel,” he whispers, pain shadowing his features. “I wish we’d had more time. I don’t want to leave you.”