Page 62 of Rapunzel's Gambit (All That Glitters)

Both Griffin and Father drew their swords, and Pollox shunted me backward to keep himself between me and the weapons.

“Papa!” I screamed at my father, using my childhood name for him. “If you ever loved me at all, at any point in your life, listen to me!”

Father paused, and I saw a flicker of the man I used to know.

“I refuse to marry Griffin. I ran away before, and I’ll do it again. I need you to listen.”

“Don’t pay attention to her!” Griffin shouted in rage. “Just think, Your Majesty, we will have everything we ever dreamed of if we kill the dragon.”

“I was never kidnapped,” I told Father. “I escaped so I wouldn’t have to marry someone I didn’t choose, and I found Pollox. I love him.”

Father’s sword lowered slightly, a pained expression crossing his face. “You ran away from me? You’d rather stay with a dragon than your own father?”

“Pollox helps those in need, as I’ve wanted to do. All the ransoms we’ve collected? We’ve been redistributing it to the people who need it most.”

“It’s true,” Pollox added. “We’ve been leaving gold on the offering altars around the kingdom.”

“Dragons don’t share their hoards,” Father said, doubt in every syllable.

“No, dragons protect their hoards,” Pollox corrected. “And if Rapunzel’s hoard includes all of Rookwyn, then I will defend her right to it.”

Father’s sword point dropped to the ground.

“Don’t listen to them!” Griffin bellowed, his grip tensing on the sword. “They’re lying!”

Father fixed him with a glowering stare. “I am still king, and no one orders me around.”

Griffin locked his jaw. “Fine,” he hissed. “Fine. If you don’t want a dragon’s heart, you don’t have to have it. But I won’t give up invincibility.”

I sensed what he was about to do a split second before it happened. Griffin whirled about and thrust his sword at Pollox’s middle.

“No!” I screamed, shoving Pollox out of the way. He fell, but I was left open, completely vulnerable to the descending blade.

I watched, as if in slow motion, as the sword sliced through the air toward me. Father paled and Pollox fought to transform, but there was no time for either to save me. There wasn’t even enough time for me to save myself. I closed my eyes, knowing that my life had reached an end. I wasn’t invincible like dragons were. The enormity of my human frailty struck terror into the very depths of my soul and I scrunched my eyes closed, prepared for what I knew was to come.

A jarring blow crashed against my ribs so I was thrown back several paces, and a scream automatically tore through my throat. I prepared myself for the waves of pain that would consume me and lead me into death’s waiting arms…but they never came. My eyes flew open. Pollox had finished transforming, and I stared down at where my dress was ripped, but the blade hadn’t penetrated my skin at all.

“What?” Griffin muttered, drawing the sword back in confusion, but then he leapt as a jet of flame licked at his feet.

“She’s invincible. She already earned my heart some time ago.” Pollox’s eyes flamed bright orange as he placed his massive body between me and Griffin. “But you, squire, are entirely vulnerable.”

“And just attempted to murder the heir to the throne,” Father added, stepping forward, prepared to intercept any additional attempt the squire might have made to repeat the action. “It’s over, Griffin.”

A clatter came from across the meadow as Father’s backup soldiers came crashing into view, all breathing heavily as they ran, weighed down by their armor.

“The dragon!” they shouted in alarm, all drawing their weapons.

“The dragon is no longer a threat. Apprehend this man immediately,” Father boomed, nodding at Griffin, “for high treason and attempted murder.”

The men immediately obeyed, casting anxious glances at Pollox as they did so. His tail flicked slightly from side to side, but he gave no sign of aggression.

“Let go of me!” Griffin screamed. “It’s them, they’re the ones?—”

“He has dragon fever,” I said sadly, shaking my head sympathetically. “It’s quite unfortunate, really.”

“He said that you…” one of the men began hesitantly, never taking his eyes off Pollox.

“A misunderstanding. You see, I’ve tamed this dragon. Watch.” I turned to Pollox. “Sit.”

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