Page 7

REN

M y eyes snap to the bed, and I tip up my chin, scenting the air. I don’t detect the smell of another male and yet… My hands curl into fists at my sides as jealousy rages within. I’ll track him down and—

“There he is!” she exclaims happily.

I jerk my head toward the window, expecting to see my rival, ready to challenge him for her affections. Instead, a blur of brown fur and floofy tail bounds toward us. A heavy sigh of relief escapes me as I recognize the small squirrel.

He leaps into her lap, leaning into her palm as she strokes his soft fur. “This is Finik.” She smiles.

Finik turns to me, his tiny whiskers twitching with curiosity.

Squirrels, by nature, are wary of foxes, but as I reach out and pet him, he rubs his head against my hand.

“He likes you.” She gives me a beaming smile.

I’ve never been one to appreciate fluffy-tailed rodents, but I must admit that this one is rather cute. Besides, he’s important to Rapunzel.

“Of course, he can come.”

Even as I promise this, I’m already wondering how I’m going to keep my cat from eating him. Sir Whiskers—as my sister affectionately named him—is an avid hunter, not to mention a bit of an attention hog.

I’ll need to find a High Elf to speak with Sir Whiskers, explaining that Finik is a friend and not food.

High Elves are one of the few races who can commune with animals, and I’m already thinking up a list of potential Elves I can recruit for the job when Rapunzel’s voice pulls me back from my thoughts. “Thank you, Ren.”

“For what?” I ask, confused.

“For telling me about your home and for offering to take me and Finik with you, if I choose.”

My heart stutters and stops as her lips curve into a stunningly gorgeous smile.

“Of—of course. It’s not any—I mean… it would be no trouble at all.

” Seven hells, I’m so far gone I can barely string two words together.

This female has already captured me: heart, mind, body, and soul.

Now, I just have to convince her to leave this tower, accompany me to my kingdom, and become my mate.

I grin. “Does this mean you’ve decided to come with me?”

She considers for a moment before answering, “Can I have a few days to think about it?”

I bite back a smile. This is a good sign. “Of course.” It also means I have a couple of more days to spend getting to know her before we travel. I long to know everything about my fated one.

“What do you normally do during the day?” I ask.

“After I finish my chores, I usually read.” She walks to the bookshelf across the way. “Glinda often brings me new books when she visits.”

As I peruse the titles, I realize most of these are romance novels. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve even read a few of these myself. “This is a good one.” I pull the book from the shelf and hold it out to her.

“You’ve read it?”

“Twice.”

Her entire face lights up. “It’s one of my favorites. I think I’ve read it at least six times.” She reaches for another book. “If you like this one, I believe you’ll love this.”

I grab another one, and a small notebook I hadn’t noticed falls from on top of it. “What is this?”

Flipping the book open, I scroll through the pages. “A sketchbook,” I murmur, perusing the colored charcoal images. “Did you draw all of these?”

Rapunzel snatches it from my hands and clutches it protectively to her chest. Whatever these drawings are, they are important to her.

“Forgive me,” I murmur. “I did not mean to pry. I—”

“It’s all right.” Her skin tinges pink, and I realize she is embarrassed for some reason. “I just… don’t like anyone to look at them.”

“Of course.”

She sets the sketchbook back on the shelf and then pulls out another novel, changing the subject. “Have you read this one?” she asks. “It’s really good.”

When I shake my head, an idea occurs to me. “Would you read it to me?”

My request is rewarded with another one of her beautiful smiles. She takes a seat beside me on the sofa and begins to read aloud. I try to focus on the words but all I can think of is her. I hate that she has been locked away here all alone for so long.

Even if Glinda turns out to not be the villain I suspect her to be, I’ve already decided that I still do not like her simply for the fact that she has made Rapunzel so afraid of the outside world.

And I vow that when we leave here, I will do my best to show her the marvels and the beauty that exists beyond this tower. To experience the world for herself and understand that there is so much more than Glinda has shared with her.

When the sun begins to sink below the horizon, it isn’t long before Rapunzel begins to nod off. She offers me the bed, but I refuse to take it. When she finally drifts to sleep, I carefully slip one arm behind her back and another under her knees, lifting her from the sofa.

Finik is asleep in her lap, and I take great care not to disturb him as I deposit them both on the bed. I arrange her hair as best I can so that it hangs off the side of the mattress and out of her way.

Her eyelids flutter open, and my heart stutters as she gives me a sleepy smile before closing her eyes again.

Finik yawns and moves to a nest of blankets near her pillow. A smile tugs at my mouth as he crawls beneath them, only the tip of his fluffy tail sticking out.

I tuck the comforter up under Rapunzel’s chin and around her shoulders to make sure she remains warm throughout the night. Now that she’s asleep, I take a moment to truly study her.

Her long hair shimmers in the firelight like fine strands of silver. She is the most beautiful female I’ve ever seen, and I am already completely taken with her.

The seer’s words return to me, sharper now, weighted with meaning I hadn’t fully grasped before. She is the one who told me I must search for an enchanted tower. She said it would contain my destiny, and a great treasure that would save my kingdom.

And now, not only have I found my fate one, but the moment I witnessed Rapunzel using her magic, I knew. It isn’t just a gift, it’s a lifeline.

Last winter was brutal. Fields that had thrived for centuries withered beneath the unusually heavy frost, leaving our food stores half empty. We’ve planted extra crops this season, but my father fears it may not be enough.

North of our kingdom lies the Troll territories. And it seems their harvests suffered as well. They’ve increased their attacks upon our borders, stealing food from our granaries.

Rapunzel’s magic could be the answer. If it is, however, that presents an entirely different set of problems. If word of her powers were to reach the Trolls, they would want her. They might even try to steal her away. Especially if she were a member of the royal family of Cambryn.

The Trolls hate our people. They rejected the last offer of peace my father made last year.

My hands curl into fists. I will die before I let them touch her.

Sitting on the edge of the sofa, I run a hand roughly through my short hair. Such worries are for later. For now, I need to work on convincing Rapunzel to leave with me. And the sooner I can get her to my kingdom, the better.

Once we reach Cambryn, I can ensure she is safe from any who may seek to harm or control her.