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RAPUNZEL

T heron’s striking blue eyes shine with something between concern and reverence, staring at me as though afraid I’ll vanish. “You’re really here.” He touches my face. “After all this time, I was so afraid I’d never find you.”

My heart aches at his tender words and expression.

“I was so worried—” His voice breaks, and he swallows hard. “What happened to you, Zel?”

Facing me, he takes my hands as we stand beneath an ivy-covered trellis. A fragment of the past flickers through my mind. I remember being here with him before. This is where we agreed we would marry.

The feelings attached to the memory are… complicated. Something more than friendship, but not quite as strong as romantic love.

And yet, the way he looks at me gives me pause. If we were not in love, I don’t understand why he stares at me as though I’m so precious to him.

“I was taken by a Goblin witch, named Drusilla,” I begin. “You probably remember her as Glinda—my former nanny and then handmaiden.” Theron inhales sharply as I continue, explaining to him about how I inherited some of her powers when she saved my mother’s life on the day I was born.

“She disguised herself to appear human. She lied to me, and I trusted her. She kept me in a tower and said it was for my safety.”

Theron’s jaw tightens as he listens to my story.

“She took my memories, but I started remembering things in flashes. Dreams, mostly. And you—” My voice quavers. “I remembered you. I dreamed of you reaching for me as I fell, a terrified look on your face.”

His lips part, his eyes full of pain as he nods slowly. “It was during the midsummer festival. You were walking along the path, near the cliff’s edge, overlooking the river. You’d always liked the view from there.”

His gaze drifts to the back garden wall with a faraway look, as if reliving the painful memory.

Reaching out, I rest my hand over his, squeezing it gently.

“You slipped.” His voice breaks as he looks down at our joined hands. “It happened so fast. One second you were smiling at me, and the next you were gone.” He shakes his head. “I jumped in after you, but the current was so fast. I nearly drowned.”

He inhales a trembling breath, devastation marring his handsome features. “You were gone, and my devastation was beyond words.”

Tears gather in the corners of my eyes, and I cover my mouth.

“My younger brother—Falen—pulled me out.” He shakes his head. “They said the river must’ve swept you into the gorge… that there was no hope. But there was no body. I told them that meant you were still alive. I felt it. I knew it.”

“Drusilla must have found me shortly after that.”

Theron nods.

“I wonder if she caused my accident, or if she simply took advantage of it to make me her captive.” Perhaps, I’ll never know.

“You’ve been looking for me all this time?”

“Me and your brother.” Theron pulls me into a tight embrace, one hand cupping the back of my head, the other around my waist as he whispers, “We never stopped.”

“Theron?” Guilt is a heavy stone in my chest as he pulls back to look at me.

“I have not yet recovered all pieces of my past. I know that we were betrothed when I was taken, but… the feelings I have for you—” I swallow hard, uncertain how to continue before I finally say—“the memory of our relationship… it’s—”

“It’s all right if you can’t remember everything, Zel.” He cups my chin. “I’ll be right by your side. We’ll get through this together. I promise.”

I don’t want to hurt him, but I must tell the truth before things go too far. My heart belongs to Ren, and I cannot pretend otherwise. “Theron.” I swallow hard. “I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“I’m in love with someone else.” The words leave my mouth in a panicked rush. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did. And I wanted you to know the truth before things spiral out of hand.”

“You?” he asks in disbelief. “You’re in love?”

I blink at his reaction. “Yes.”

“Well.” He arches a brow. “This definitely puts a damper on the wedding planning.”

I gape at him. “You’re… not upset?”

“I’m not thrilled,” he says a bit too casually for a man whose heart has presumably been broken. “I mean… I was looking forward to marrying my best friend.”

Now I’m confused. “We weren’t in love?”

Dropping to one knee before me, he takes both my hands in his. “Make no mistake: I have loved you fiercely since we were children because you’re my best friend. But romantically ? No. But you and I agreed that we were a good match, and we figured we’d grow into it eventually.”

My lips part in surprise, but I press them together again as he continues. “I didn’t want what my parents had—an arranged marriage filled with bitterness and silence. I thought if I married you, someone I actually liked, maybe we’d be the exception.”

“You weren’t in love with me at all,” I murmur, more to myself than to him as myriad memories flood my mind. “I remember now,” I whisper. “You are my best friend.”

He nods.

Relief fills me. “And here I was, terrified I’d break your heart.”

He slaps his hand dramatically to his chest, directly over his heart. “Broken? No.” he chuckles, “But I cannot deny that my ego is a little bruised, perhaps.”

A snort of laughter escapes me, and he laughs as well. “So, who’s the lucky male that has won your affection, Rapunzel?”

“Prince Ren.”

“The Fox Prince?” His brows shoot up toward his forehead. “Are you serious?”

I nod, cheeks warming. “Yes.”

“And to think, you could’ve had this. ” He gestures grandly to himself, striking a dramatic pose.

Laughter bursts from me. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’ve always liked that about me,” he says, pulling me into another hug. This time he lifts me off the ground and spins me in a circle. “It’s so good to have you back, Zel.”

The use of my old nickname makes my throat tighten as images resurface from when we were younger—long summer days full of laughter and happiness.

A guard rounds the corner and walks toward us, bowing deeply. “Forgive the interruption, but a raven has come with a message from Sylvalis,” he says to Theron.

Theron turns to me. “It’s probably my family. I’m sure they’re worried. The moment I received the message from Cambryn about you, I left immediately.” He smiles warmly at me. “I wanted to get here as fast as I could to see you.”

“I’m glad you came,” I tell him, and I mean it. I’ve missed him.

He steps back, then takes my hand in his. “You’re happy? Truly?”

“I am.”

“Then that’s enough for me.”

Before I can respond, he pulls me into one last bear hug, practically squeezing the air out of my lungs.

“Theron!” I laugh.

“Just making sure you’re real, my darling Rapunzel,” he whispers into my hair. “My oldest and dearest friend.”

When he pulls back, he flashes a handsome smile. He raises his hand and a wisp of green magic swirls around his palm like smoke before he conjures a rose out of thin air. I smile as he tucks it behind my ear and then bows dramatically. “I shall return shortly.”

He starts to leave but turns back and takes my hand, pressing a kiss to the back of my knuckles with a mischievous wink. “Try not to miss me too much while I’m gone,” he teases.

Warmth fills my heart as I watch him leave with the guard. Thank the gods that went as well as it did. I was so worried about breaking his heart.

Happiness sparks deep within. I need to find Ren. I have to tell him I forgive him. That I love him, fully and truly. And even though he hurt me, I believe that love can mend our broken trust. There is nothing I want more than to have him by my side once again.

As I start back for the castle, a hand clamps over my mouth from behind. Panic seizes my chest as a strong arm wraps tight around my waist. “Shhh,” a man whispers in my ear. “It’s me.”

I stiffen, awareness prickling through me as I recognize the voice. Ren?