Page 60 of Rapunzel Unchained
I pushed up, forcing him to either move back or stab me as my anger from that day seethed inside of me. “So I ripped him apart.”
Gage’s eyes widened slightly, disbelief in his eyes.
I let him see me then, truly see the dark twisted thing that lived inside of me. “I’m not some pet that can be tamed into behaving, Gage. If you hurt me, I’ll hurt you back tenfold. And, when I threaten you, you take it as a promise because I always follow through.”
Gage let his dagger droop between us, his hand tightening on the hilt while his jaw clenched. “Where are the rebels?”
I wrapped myself in my magic, disappearing and then reappearing on my bed, where I placed my hands behind my head and smiled. “I have no idea.”
He took one step toward me and then thought better of it, shaking his head before stalking back through the barrier.
“Thanks for the ride,” I called out to his retreating back. “Let’s do it again sometime.”
Chapter 29
After that, Gage or Adam would bring my food only when I was sleeping. While they only brought me food once a day, in addition to the sandwiches and other hands-only food, I received packaged meals, fruits, and vegetables that could be eaten throughout the day.
Several sets of clothing mysteriously appeared after that first day. Dresses and underwear all in the violet shade that I typically wore when living in their home. Brushes and toiletries were also provided.
They had thought of everything except how to keep me from being unbelievably bored.
I laid in the middle of my cell, staring up at the metal ceiling as I floated a few fruits in the air above me. I twirled them around, making a magical dance of fruit that had me smiling.
For a brief moment, I thought of showing it to Luke. He’d have enjoyed my little display.
Then I frowned.
Anger rolled through me, causing the fruit to zip chaotically in the air.
Gage’s betrayal wasn’t exactly surprising. He’d already threatened me on more than one occasion. Locking me up once he realized he couldn’t keep me from his friends was only the next logical step.
Adam, though.
Fire raged inside me, boiling through my blood, sizzling in my bones. All the happiness and hope I’d had for him after hearing about his and Rebecca’s separation hadn’t even had time to be processed before he threw his ancestry in my face.
Being Snow’s descendant was bad enough. I could have forgiven him eventually. I understood why he kept it from me. IfI’d been in his place, I would have been hesitant to tell a stranger of unknown powers that I was their enemy, too.
Except...
I loved him.
Helovedme.
Everything in me wanted to forgive him for his lies. To get past his lineage and embrace him. Adam wasn’t Snow.Hedidn’t take Ferdinand from me.Hehadn’t put me in that tower.
And yet, he had locked me up all the same. That, I wasn’t sure I could forgive.
Why couldn’t he have just been truthful to me from the beginning? Why did it have to be about lies, manipulations, and easing people into things?
There was a right and there was a wrong. Clearly, the mages knew what they were doing was wrong. No amount of diplomacy or compromise would make them give up their power.
The more my mind raced, the faster the fruit moved until I finally let out an aggravated scream. The fruit shot across the space and pelted the barrier, shattering into mushy bits that rained over the floor of the cell.
My eyes narrowed on where they had hit. The mostly invisible shield rippled, and a distinct crack appeared in the otherwise flawless surface. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
When I’d thrown my shoe at Adam, it had gone straight through the barrier. Why did the fruit hit it?
Crawling up from the floor, I inched over to the line on the ground. My fingers trailed over the surface, not finding any give until I came to the place where the crack had formed.
