Page 10

RAPUNZEL

“ I f you dare come any closer, I will rip you to shreds,” Ren snarls.

Goblin. The word echoes in my mind as I study the woman I thought I knew.

Even her name was a lie. All this time, I feared Drusilla—the Goblin witch who murdered my family.

And now, I know that Glinda is her. She always was.

Her glamour has dissolved, and silver reptilian eyes blaze with anger as she glares at Ren.

“I don’t understand,” I take a small step back, shaking my head. “Why did you lie to me?”

Her eyes flick to mine, her expression softening just enough to make me doubt myself. My stomach churns as I recall every bedtime story, every kiss on the forehead. “Did you ever truly care for me?”

“Of course, I did. But do you have any idea what you hold, Rapunzel?” Drusilla’s voice shakes, desperation leaking through her cold composure.

“Your magic is mine—taken from me when I used it to save your life. I could have killed you to reclaim it, but I didn’t.

Instead, I took your memories, keeping you blissfully ignorant and safe while I’ve been trying to find a way to reverse the spell that gave you my power. What I did was a kindness.”

“You claim it was kindness?” Ren challenges.

“When you murdered her family, stole her memories, and have held her captive all this time?” He shakes his head.

“No. The truth is that you feared if you killed her, your magic might be lost to you forever. And you weren’t willing to take that chance.

” He growls low in his throat. “Isn’t that right, Drusilla ? ”

“Such a clever Fox,” she says mockingly. “But you are wrong.” Her sharp gaze sweeps to me. “Whatever you think of me, know this: I am not a murderer. Your family is alive.”

I inhale sharply. My family is alive.

“I knew that if I told you this, you would demand to be returned to them,” she continues. “And I needed you to be compliant while I have searched for a way to reclaim my magic.”

She pauses. “I disguised myself and became your nanny—a servant in your family’s household.” She gives me a pleading look. “Have I not cared for you? Kept you safe? Brushed your hair lovingly, like a mother would her own child?”

“You didn’t do this out of love. I watched you,” Ren grits through his fangs. “You were speaking words of Darksyl —shadow speech. Why?”

Her expression darkens. “It is the only incantation I’ve found that can return bits of my magic back to me. And with enough time, it may even allow me to reclaim it all.”

“But at what cost?” I ask, sick to my stomach as I stare at the woman I once thought of as a mother figure. “Tell me,” I demand.

Drusilla clenches her jaw. “Your memories.”

Sorrow tightens my chest. Her explanations always felt hollow. Now I know why. Her protection and care were always laced with lies.

She gives Ren a dark look. “You think you’ve ruined everything, Fox, but you haven’t. A quick spell, and she’ll forget this foolish rebellion. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to deal with this.”

Her words hit me like a physical blow. The room spins as I realize what she’s saying.

How much of my memory has she stolen from me?

“You won’t touch her,” Ren snarls, his fox ears flattened against his head and his tail bristling with anger. He glances back, and his amber eyes meet mine, an unspoken vow to protect me blazing in their depths. “Not this time.”

Drusilla smirks. “Oh, you foolish Fox,” she croons mockingly. “You think you can stop me?”

She raises her arms, sparks of magic arcing across her fingers. The fire in the hearth shrinks, its golden glow snuffed out as shadows ripple across the walls. “I believe you’ve forgotten who it is you have threatened.”

“Get behind me!” Ren cries out.

The air explodes around us as a blast of violet energy surges from Drusilla’s hands, crackling like lightning. Fear rips through me as it strikes Ren, curling around his body in powerful flames.

My jaw drops as he stands before me, unfazed. The magic washes over him before dissipating into the air like mist.

He straightens to his full height, tipping up his chin in defiance. “Did you forget something, Goblin?” His voice is low and lethal, his fox-fire eyes glinting like sharpened steel. “My kind are immune to magic.”

A shiver moves down my spine as her gaze shifts to me, cold and calculating.

“Don’t even think about it, witch,” Ren snarls. “She is mine, and I will end you before I allow you to harm her.”

My mouth drifts open at his statement, but it quickly snaps shut as Drusilla laughs darkly. “Oh, my poor Fox,” she tsks. “You think you are safe, but you’re not.”

Lightning fast, she flicks her wrist, sending out an arc of magic. It wraps around the bookshelf, lifting it effortlessly and throwing it across the room, straight toward Ren.

Without hesitation, he spins and pushes me out of harm’s way, narrowly avoiding the heavy object before it slams to the floor, sending books and parchment scattering.

Drusilla laughs with wicked delight. “Your magic may protect you from a direct attack, but it doesn’t protect you from the indirect effects.”

She lashes out with her power, directing it toward a heavy chair, sending it barreling toward Ren. He spins out of the way, barely missing the wooden chair as it smashes against the opposite wall.

“Stop it!” I yell. “Leave Ren alone!”

Drusilla’s head whips toward me, her eyes narrowing. “Enough!” she snaps. She raises one hand, a ball of purple magic hovering above her palm. “One spell and you won’t even remember his name. And things can be as they were.”

“No!” I cry out in panic, realizing her intent as her dark magic hurtles toward me.

In a blur of movement, Ren snatches a silver platter from the table, and leaps in front of me. Drusilla’s magic hits the polished surface with a thunderous boom.

Ren flies backward, slamming against the wall with a sickening crack at the same time the dark magic ricochets back at her in a brilliant arc, knocking her off her feet.

She crumples to the floor, her body limp as the spell’s energy crackles faintly around her.

Panicked, I rush to Ren and fall to my knees beside him. My hands tremble as I touch his face. “Ren.” His entire form is still. Too still. “Please, wake up.”

He groans, and relief moves through me as he opens his eyes.

“Rapunzel,” he rasps, wincing as I help him sit up. “Did she hurt you?”

My heart squeezes in my chest. Even despite his obvious pain, he’s more concerned about my welfare than his own.

“I’m fine. You saved me.” I brush the hair back from his face. “I thought you were dead.”

His lips curve up in a faint grin. “You’ll be pleased to know that Foxes are very resilient… not easily killed.” He arches a playful brow. “And obviously quite brave.”

I laugh at his teasing even as relief floods my chest that he feels well enough to joke with me.

“Do you think you can stand?”

He nods and then groans low in his throat as I help him get to his feet.

Ren walks over to Drusilla. Her eyes are closed, but the slight rise and fall of her chest means she’s alive.

“Still breathing,” he mutters. His expression hardens. “Perhaps we should change that.”

“No!” I move to his side. “Please, Ren. Don’t kill her.”

His jaw tightens. “Even after everything she’s done to you? After what she planned to do… you would spare her life?”

“I… know she’s not a good person, but—” Emotions war deep within as I stare down at her.

Anger. Betrayal. Sadness. Part of me hates her, but another part cannot let go of who I thought she was—a woman who cared for me like a daughter.

“I just want to leave,” my voice shakes as I blink back tears. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Swallowing against the lump in my throat, I turn back to him. “Besides, her spell backfired on her. When she awakens, she won’t even remember anything of what she’s done… of all her lies.”

The firelight flickers between us, painting sharp shadows across his face.

“She is a Goblin, Rapunzel. Even in her weakened state, without full use of her magic, she is still powerful. I doubt the dark enchantment will erase her memory. If we’re lucky, it will buy us half a day at most before she recovers. ”

I understand what he’s saying, and I know it’s foolish, but I don’t want to see her killed. “Please, Ren. Let’s just go.”

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.”