Page 31

REN

R apunzel’s entire body is tense as we take a seat at the kitchen table, worry written on her features. I hate that she is so afraid. Taking her hand in mine, I squeeze it gently. No matter what happens, I will do all I can to protect her. No matter the cost to myself.

Thalric and Aurora are already seated as well, next to two other Fae females that I assume must be Flora’s sisters.

Although I trust them not to hurt Rapunzel, the protective part of me scans the cottage interior, my inner Fox insisting we should be familiar with every exit.

The interior of the cottage is rather cozy with a main living area with a sofa and chairs with plush, green cushions that sit before a fireplace with a roaring flame.

Across the room is a small kitchen with shelves full of wood and porcelain plates and cups.

Dried herbs and lavender hanging from the ceiling.

A blur of brown fluff rushes toward me. It’s Finik. He climbs up my leg to my shoulder, chittering excitedly as I stroke his fur. “You did well, my little friend,” I murmur, remembering how bravely he attacked one of the bandits. “You most certainly have the heart of a warrior.”

He makes a little chirruping purr and then leaps from me to Rapunzel, settling in the pocket of her dress. He peeks his head out, whiskers twitching and ears flicked forward in attention as Flora begins to speak.

“This is my sister, Lyra,” she says, gesturing to a Fae woman with translucent green wings, long brown hair, and lavender eyes. “And this is Maribelle.” She motions to a Fae with blue wings, black hair and gray eyes.

Worry prickles my skin as Flora and her sisters exchange a look, as if they know something they don’t want to say.

Something about Rapunzel.

Rapunzel tightens her grip on my hand while her free one crushes the fabric of her skirt in a nervous gesture.

I lean in and whisper in her ear. “Whatever may come, we will face it together.”

Her blue eyes meet mine as her lips curve up in a faint smile and she mouths back, “Thank you.”

“Your magic is”—Flora frowns as if searching for the right words before finally saying— “unusual… powerful. How did you come by it?”

Rapunzel explains that when Drusilla saved her mother from dying in childbirth, some of Goblin’s magic inadvertently passed to her as a result.

“Ah,” Flora says. “Now, it makes sense why the witch had you trapped in the tower.”

“What do you mean?” she asks.

The Fae sisters share another look. That same look that sets me on edge.

“Why do you keep looking at each other like that?” I narrow my eyes. “Tell us what you know.”

Lyra’s gaze flicks to me before shifting to Rapunzel. She extends her hands, palms up. “If you will allow me to assess you, I can determine more about your magic and your… connection to the Goblin witch.”

Rapunzel hesitates only briefly before nodding. She shifts forward, resting her hands in Lyra’s.

The air changes as a soft hum vibrates through the cottage as green wisps of magic wrap around Rapunzel’s fingers, spreading up her hands to her wrists and arms in a shimmering wave.

Lyra’s head is bowed in concentration as the glow intensifies for a moment before flickering and fading, leaving behind only the crackling of the fire and the frantic beat of my heart as we wait to hear what she has discovered.

“Your magic is unique, Rapunzel. It's not just growth or healing magic—it's deeper than that. It’s life itself. Vitality, youth. Renewal.”

My brows furrow in confusion. “What does that mean exactly?”

Instead of Lyra answering, Maribelle turns to us with a grim look. “It means that Drusilla’s magic is not all that was transferred to you when she saved you and your mother on the day you were born. You also took some of her life and youth. It is no wonder she is desperate to regain this.”

Flora looks at Rapunzel, worry shadowing her features.

“This also means the witch has a claim on you. She wasn’t just suppressing your memories, she was draining your life force to replenish her magic when she would comb your hair.

It’s the reason you are unable to cut it. It is spelled by her dark enchantment.”

Ice fills my veins. I’ve heard of a Goblin’s claim before. They are very dangerous things. “How do we break it?”

“The witch must release her willingly,” Lyra replies. “But it would mean sacrificing any chance Drusilla has to regain all that she lost to Rapunzel.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“Then, it can only be broken by death,” she says. “Hers or Rapunzel’s.”

Rapunzel flinches, a hand lifting to her throat.

“It’s how she is able to track you,” Maribelle adds.

“Your magic is the same. It calls to her. Although I know this will be of little comfort, given all the years you lost, you are fortunate she did not simply kill you already. Instead, she kept you locked away in the tower and hid your memories because she was trying to find a way to reclaim it without taking your life.”

Flora leans in. “But what Drusilla does not realize is that there is no other way to regain her life force and her magic. The spell she used on you to replenish her powers is only a temporary solution. It will eventually stop working and will never fully reverse what has been done. If she cannot continue to siphon your life force as she did in the tower, the only way to reclaim it is by your death.”

Flora gives Rapunzel a grave look. “And now that you’ve escaped, and she cannot control you… if she believes that recapturing you is no longer an option, she may become desperate enough to kill you rather than lose her powers forever.”

I curse under my breath. I should have killed the witch instead of leaving her in that tower.

“What about my memories?” Rapunzel asks. “Will they return now that I’m no longer her captive?”

“They are locked away in your mind,” Lyra says. “The witch has the power to release them but if she does not… unless she is killed, they will have to return on their own.”

Hope flits across Rapunzel’s face. “Then they can return?”

Lyra nods. “It is possible, but it is not guaranteed.” She sighs. “It could be days or years, or… never.”

My chest tightens at the look of devastation on Rapunzel’s face.

“What am I supposed to do?” Her voice quavers as she looks down at her hands. “How can I plan for a future when I don’t know my past? Where do I go? What do I—”

“The plan hasn’t changed.” Cupping her chin, I guide her face back to mine.

A tear escapes her lashes, but I brush it away with my thumb.

“I am here and I will not leave your side. We will travel to my home. You’ll be safe there.

And after that, we’ll figure out the rest. If you want to seek out Prince Theron, we will go together.

” I meet her gaze evenly. “We won’t stop searching until we find the truth of your past.”

“What about the witch?”

“I spared her life in the tower, when I should have killed her.” I growl low in my throat. “I will not make that mistake again.”

“You should be fully healed before tomorrow,” Flora says. “But you are welcome to stay with us as long as you wish.”

“Thank you for all that you’ve done. But I believe the sooner we leave, the better. My family’s castle is well protected.” I turn to Rapunzel. “You will be safer once we reach Cambryn. We’ll leave at first light.”