Page 53 of Rapunzel's Gambit (All That Glitters)

“Yes. Now, you can go back and be the kind of protector that your hoard needs.”

I touched his face. “You really need to start learning the human words for things.”

“You already use dragon terms. You claimed me for your hoard, too. As such, anything I have is at your disposal. I’ll get some things in order then come for you.” He stroked my hair. “We can make this work. You’ll be a wonderful queen.”

I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around Pollox’s neck. “You’re the best.”

Pollox returned the pressure. “I’ll never actually let you go.”

CHAPTER22

Pollox and I could barely look at each other the following morning as I bade him farewell and began the trek away from the forest where we’d met. Each step felt like I was pulling half of my heart away from the other, but I continued on, pack slung over my shoulder. Why did it feel so final? Pollox said he would be coming for me soon, and he’d never given me reason to think he would lie to me.

I reached the outskirts of the village closest to the castle just before midday and stopped in a grove of trees, glad for Pollox’s suggestion of having the table prepare travel foods so I didn’t have to stop and talk to anyone. I didn’t want to answer any questions about my supposed captivity, and I feared what would be done to me if the citizens had killed my father. Would they do the same when they discovered who I was? If Pollox and I had discovered the connection between our ancestors and lifted the curse earlier, could it have saved my father’s life? I never had a chance to reconnect with the father I’d known and loved.

I kept to the shadows, hoping to be almost as discreet when sneaking back to the castle as I had been when I’d left. But as I drew closer, a blast of trumpets let me know I’d been spotted.

“It’s Princess Rapunzel! She’s back! Open the gate!”

The drawbridge lowered and the portcullis raised. I lifted my chin and crossed, prepared to give a speech to the servants and soldiers to explain my sudden arrival.

“Rapunzel! Thank goodness you’re home!”

All of my rehearsed formal, somber words vanished as I saw Father, alive and well, running toward me with his arms outstretched. My bag dropped to the ground as he flung his arms around me, nearly knocking me over from the force of it.

“What?” Shock, even greater than when I’d seen Pollox transform for the first time, nearly made me black out. “You…you’re alive!”

“And so are you, thank the stars. I’ve been worried sick!”

“But…” Pollox may as well have been sitting on my brain. “But…”

“I told you she would come.” Griffin followed close behind Father and smiled at me. I looked wildly between the two. “Good afternoon, Princess.”

“Ah yes, Griffin!” Father flung his arm around the squire and jiggled his shoulder. “If it weren’t for him, who knows how long you’d still be trapped. Ingenious, how he planned for a decoy to ride with him into town so the dragon wouldn’t know that you were following after. And here you are, safe!” He released Griffin and hugged me again. “Now we can plan your official wedding.”

This time, I did stagger backward. Griffin leapt to my side to stop me from falling. His hand closed around my wrist, and I felt colder than I ever had before in my life. “Wha—what did you say? Mywhat?”

“Wedding,” Father answered patiently, tugging at my elbow to coax me into the castle’s interior. “Ididoffer your hand in marriage to whomever rescued you. Besides, I hear he’s quite the chess champion. You have lots in common with him, and I saw the letter you sent, agreeing. Don’t worry; his station won’t be a problem.”

Ice flooded through my veins. They expected me to marry Griffin? The letter I’d signed before I realized Pollox could shift…

“No, I can’t.” I looked at Griffin. “I’m sorry if I misled you, but you said…”

“We made promises, Rapunzel,” Father said, his brow furrowing in confusion. “It’s fortunate that Griffin here comes from a long line of dragon hunters. He knew things about dragons even our scholars didn’t.”

“This isn’t your future,” I shot back in clipped tones. “You have no right to tell me who I can and can’t marry.”

“Do you mind giving us a few minutes alone?” Griffin asked Father. “I’d love to discuss this privately with my wife.”

“I’m not your wife!”

Father and the guards retreated, and Griffin began to lead me to an empty chamber, but I whipped my arm out of his grasp, refusing to touch him. “I know this must be a shock to you,” he began in a placating tone.

“You lied to me!”

“As you did to me. So we’re even.”

“I never told you thatyourfather was dead! Why would you do that?”

---