Page 27 of Rapunzel Unchained
In an ideal world, I wouldn’t be here hiding away with Rebecca. I’d be curled up laughing with everyone over the latest drama or eating dinner. Or, better yet, curled up between the twins after our love making session.
I knew it was for the best and yet, I felt lonely. Lonely in the way that I felt when my mother died. My father had already been taken from me, so after she was taken, I had felt like nothing and no one in that world cared about me.
Thankfully, my mother had helped me learn what I could from one of the better mages who didn’t look down on me for being half human, Katana, the elderly mage who lived down the street from us. She used to watch me while Mother went to work in the market shop stall.
When my powers began to manifest, Katana helped me. I learned potions and spells at a young age that most grown mages couldn’t even fathom.
I was sure that Katana was once a great mage. Every time I’d asked her about it, she’d laugh and pat my head. “Oh, little bird, I’m just an old woman now. All my great days are behind me. But I see many great days in your future.”
When my mother died, it was Katana that took me in. We moved away from my little village deep into the forest where she continued to teach me every spell and potion she knew until, one day, I was a grown woman and could make my own way in the world.
Katana died about the time that I had gained the king’s attention. By then, I’d let my rage at the mages consume me. I closed myself off to Katana’s warnings about letting my vengeance consume me.
“The path to revenge is a lonely one. One day, you'll wake up and have gotten exactly what you wanted, only to realize it didn’t change anything at all.”
My eyes closed as I bathed in the memory of her words. Katana was right. In the end, I’d been alone and nothing had changed. I hadn’t gotten justice for my mother and the mages now ruled the world.
My heart sank and briefly I wondered if there really was nothing I could do but put my trust in Adam.
My mind settled at the thought of him, my magic sweeping me up and out of my body. It passed through Rebecca’s house and out the window and then I was flying across the woods and town until I found myself inside Adam’s office.
My heart swelled at the sight of Zane, leaning back against the window sill. His eyes down on one of those black squares, his fingers moving across the surface.
He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and squinted his eyes. There were still dark circles under his eyes, but he looked better than before.
Curiously, Luke and Blake were missing from this meeting. Only Adam and Gage stood next to the desk, pouring over some paperwork I’d need to be closer to see.
I was hesitant to get closer to Adam right now. He represented everything I hated and, to top it off, he was stillengaged to Rebecca. I wanted to yell and throw things at him. Demand he tell me why she was better than me.
Was it because I was part human? Did that hurt his Arch Mage image to be seen with me?
If that had been the case, wouldn’t it have hurt him when I’d first shown up with him? Everyone knew I was staying with him. So, it was okay for him to take care of me, but not okay for him to be with me?
I shook my head, clearing my head of the rampage my thoughts had taken. I couldn’t answer those questions now, and thinking about them would only make me mad.
My mind took me here for a reason. I should use this time to see what I can find out. Maybe I could learn what Adam planned to do after my ultimatum.
“We need to up our security magic,” Adam directed his words toward Zane. “I don’t want to get any more surprise visits from Eva.”
Zane lifted his head, his brows pinched together. “You want to keep Eva out?”
Adam shifted slightly from the desk to look at Zane. “I want Eva here as much as the rest of you.”
Gage snorted.
Though he couldn’t see me, I shot him a glare.
Adam continued as if he hadn’t heard the Sentinel. “But you have to admit she’s unpredictable right now. She showed up in my office today and threatened me.”
“She threatened you?” Zane’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? She seemed fine when she came by to talk to me.”
I wanted to talk to him to tell him my side of things. Unfortunately, incorporeal as I was, I wasn’t able to do anything but to listen in.
“She talked to you, too?” Gage shot an accusatory look at Zane that made my insides boil. “Did she visit everyone but me?”
“What do you mean?” Adam frowned. “She’s only visited Zane and me.”
Gage gestured around the room. “The twins have been holed up in their rooms since they came back from their trails. Even Luke has been suspiciously quiet. That motormouth is usually an unending stream of information we didn’t ask for. Isn’t that strange to you?”
