Page 27

RAPUNZEL

I wake up surrounded by warmth with Ren’s Fox form curled protectively around me. Finik is curled into a little ball on the hay beside us, his little nose twitching as he sleeps.

Lifting my head, I find Ren still asleep. His chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm as his warm scent of pine and earth surrounds me. Shifting slightly, I snuggle further into his side.

Lying here with him like this, I feel so warm, so safe… so cherished.

Closing my eyes, I remember how terrified I was when he fought the Wolf. Ren could have died saving me. I almost lost him, and the thought terrifies me to my core.

Drawing in a deep breath, I try to anchor myself in this moment, curled against him, reminding myself that he’s here. He’s alive and we’re safe. For now.

I’m pressed flush against his side, snuggled against his thick fur with his tail draped over me, sealing in his warmth and his delicious masculine scent.

I shift, and then freeze as I realize I’m in nothing but my undergarments, the wool blanket somehow discarded to the side instead of wrapped around my body. A vague memory of me pushing it away during the night so I could snuggle into Ren’s side, resurfaces.

A ripple of movement runs through Ren, and he changes in an instant. His fur is replaced by bare skin and the firm press of muscles at my back. His soft, warm breath ghosts across my cheek. “Are you awake?" he murmurs.

Unable to speak, I simply nod.

Slowly, I turn in his arm. His red hair is tousled from sleep, falling over his eyes. Heat curls low in my stomach as his lips curve up in a handsome smile. “Good morning, amira. Did you sleep well?”

He stands from the bed, and my heart hammers as my eyes travel over his bare torso, from his heavily muscled chest to the sculpted ridges of his abdomen, lean strength carved into every inch of his form. “Yes,” I reply, breathless.

Ren looks like he’s wearing trousers, but I know it’s an illusion—part of his shifter magic. Casually, he pulls out a spare change of clothes from our pack and holds them out to me.

My face feels like it’s on fire as I snatch it from his hands and drape it over myself. As if sensing my embarrassment, Ren lowers his gaze and turns his back to me.

As I pull the dress over my head, I can’t help but notice the finely chiseled muscles shifting in his broad shoulders and back as he moves to add more wood to the fire.

My gaze catches on the flex of his muscles as the firelight flickers over his bare skin, shadows dancing over the sharp planes of his arms and chest. There’s something mesmerizing about the effortless strength in his movements, the way he moves with such control and certainty.

I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry.

When I glance up, he’s watching me. He walks toward me, grace and power evident in each step. He stops and leans in close. I forget how to breathe as his amber eyes lock onto mine and his fingers brush against my temple, threading through my hair.

My lips part, and I’m wondering if he will kiss me again when he suddenly plucks a single piece of hay from the tangled strands.

“You had something there.”

An amused smirk twists his lips and I narrow my eyes. I’m sure he knows exactly what kind of effect he has on me.

This is dangerous. If I’m not careful, I’ll lose my heart to him completely.

Forcing myself to turn away from his mesmerizing gaze, I sit next to the fire and start the process of rebraiding my long hair, trying to focus on something besides the devastatingly handsome Fox nearby.

Ren crouches beside me and tilts his head. “Want some help?”

I should say no, but instead I find myself nodding. I regret my decision almost immediately when he moves behind me, positioning us so that I’m sitting between his legs, his thighs bracketing mine and my back to his chest.

I’ve slept next to him, but something about this feels so much more intimate as he guides me to lean back against him, the warmth of his body radiating to mine.

Closing my eyes, I surrender to his tender ministrations. “Your hair,” he murmurs, almost reverently. “It’s lovely—like starlight woven into silk.”

Softly, I bite my lower lip as heat flares through me. A shiver of pleasure moves down my spine when his fingers brush against the back of my neck.

“You’re good at this.”

“One of my many skills,” he teases, and I laugh. “It’s not all that different from braiding a length of rope,” he muses. “Same pattern and all that.”

I love the sound of his voice and could listen to him talk forever. It’s rich and smooth, wrapping around me like a soothing balm as he tells me more about his kingdom and his family.

When he mentions his brother—Rowan—again, something flickers in my mind. A face, just on the edge of memory—warm blue eyes, a lopsided grin. A man only a few years older than me.

“I just remembered something,” I whisper.

Reaching for the satchel, I pull out my notebook and flip through the pages until I find one of a young man with features similar to mine. “This is my older brother.” The words leave my mouth full of conviction as the memory returns. “I remember him now.”

Ren’s brow furrows. “Are you certain?”

A smile lights my face as joy fills my chest. “Yes.”

Ren studies the image, his gaze flicking between the page and my face. “Thank the gods.” I frown in confusion and he flashes a devilish grin. “For a moment, I thought he was yet another rival for your affections.”

I bite back a smile at his teasing even as his words threaten to break my resolve. Part of me wishes I could ignore my search for the truth of my past, and give in to my heart, which tells me that I want him and only him.

He flips between the image of Prince Theron. “You know, I feel sorry for him actually.”

“Why?”

“I doubt he’s as charming or as funny as me.” He tilts his head, studying Theron’s image. “And he’s definitely not as handsome.” He sighs dramatically. “Really, I pity him, having to compete with all of this.” He gestures to himself. “There’s simply no contest.”

I laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

“It’s true,” he jokes. “All the males in my family are irresistible.”

My laughter fades, trailing off into silence as our eyes lock, and Ren's teasing smile slips away, replaced by something deeper, something infinitely more tender. The unspoken longing mirrored in the rapid pounding of my heart.

His gaze flicks down to my mouth and before I can second-guess myself, I lift my face and close the small gap between us. Fluttering warmth spreads through my chest as I press my lips to his, wrapping my arms around the back of his neck.

The kiss is sweet and achingly gentle. He cups my face, his thumb brushing along my cheekbone. Every gentle touch of his lips feels like a promise, tender and hesitant, filled with everything we can’t yet say aloud.

My fingers tremble as I run them through his silken hair.

He curls his arms around my back, holding me as though I’m something precious, his touch reverent, and his kiss a soft exploration that makes my heart squeeze with longing.

But suddenly, the image of Theron flashes vividly through my mind—his blue eyes haunted and desperate as he reaches for me. My breath catches, and I pull back, breaking the kiss as guilt slices through my chest like a blade.

“I—I can’t do this,” my voice comes out barely a whisper as I blink back tears. “I’m sorry. I need time. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Ren nods. “It’s all right,” he murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

His words break my heart. “It’s not fair of me to ask you to wait while I figure this out. I feel terrible because I—”

“Do you feel anything for me?” His eyes search mine. “I know I have no right to ask, but I—” He clenches his jaw as if what he wants to say is too painful before he continues. “I need to know.”

“I do.” Sadness tightens my chest at the hope that burns in his gaze. “But it’s not that simple.” I shake my head. “How can we have a future, if I don’t remember my past? What if I was betrothed to Prince Theron? What if I loved him, Ren?”

“But what if you didn’t?” he counters. “What if you’re not his lost betrothed?”

“Until we know for sure”—I look down at my hands—“I cannot give you my heart when I don’t know if I’ve already promised it to someone else.”

“But you want to.” His words are a statement, not a question as his gaze holds mine, full of yearning.

I want so much to say yes, but I cannot. I draw in a shaking breath as devastation floods my veins. “We cannot keep doing this,” I murmur. “Not until we know for sure.”

“You’re right. Forgive me.” He dips his chin.

“I vow that I will not kiss you again, unless you ask.” He offers me a faint smile that does not touch his eyes.

He starts to turn away, but instead looks back at me, arching a teasing brow.

“But as far as my natural charm, it’s not something I can simply turn off. ”

“Of course not.” My heart clenches as I follow his lead to lighten the mood, and joke in return. “You are a Fox after all.”

He flashes a devastatingly handsome grin as he winks. “And everyone knows that Foxes are naturally charismatic and charming.”

Despite my sadness, laughter bubbles up in my throat.

“Now,” he says. “Are you ready to continue with our adventure?”

“Yes.”

As he gathers up our supplies, he begins singing his silly song, making me laugh even more.

“Oh, a clever fox, dashing and bold,

His charm and wit worth more than gold…

His features so handsome that nary a maiden—”

And that’s what terrifies me most. How easily he breaks through all my defenses. Despite my attempts to guard my heart, I’m falling for him.

Guilt fills me as I think of Prince Theron. I send a silent prayer to the gods that I’m not the one he has been searching for all these years. Because if I am, I fear I will lose my heart to Ren by the time we find each other again.