“Henry!” I was shocked. “I'm not going to leave now that I know you're alive. Why would I? I love you,” I said softly. I couldn't hold the tears back any longer. “I would never leave you.”
“What about that man? The one I saw you kiss? He climbed into your tower.” His shoulders dropped a few inches. “Do you love him?” His voice was a whisper.
“Of course not. I don't love him. I have only ever loved you. Yes, it's true. I was going to leave. I mean, I wanted to love him, to be loved. I wanted to leave.” Sobs shook my body. “I thought you were dead and there was nothing for me here. He found a way for me to leave this place and finally be free to live. But now I'm not. I won't leave you.” I reached for him.
I traced across the back of the hands over his face. “If you can't look at me, then keep your eyes closed and remove your hands. I want to see your face. I've missed it so much.”
He slowly lowered his hands and scrunched his eyes tighter still.
I stared for 250 years. At least it felt like that long. I found every crease and crevasse I’d memorized so many years ago and dreamed of every day since. I traced them with my eyes and imagined the feel of my lips on his. It was him. It was truly Henry, standing in front of me. He looked the same as I remembered him. He hadn't aged one day. He was beautiful. “Kiss me.”
Henry leaned his beautiful face down, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled me close and without looking at me, his lips found mine.
It was home. The very kiss I had been dreaming about had come to life again then turned into a fervor I had only dreamed about. How could I make it last our lifetime?
We slowly pulled apart and my lips felt swollen. Henry wrapped his arms around me and settled his chin on the top of my head. “I am sorry, Rapunzel. I have missed you so much,” Henry whispered then held me a little tighter. “I love you.”
I felt safe in his arms again. “I love you, too.” I looked up at him. Before I could look away, we locked eyes.
Henry shoved me back, and I fell to the ground. What had I done? No!
He ran.
With each step his body morphed into something inhuman. First his legs, then his arms—they became black as night with green iridescent scales. Then his back extended into a tail with a serpent’s end. His body grew to the size of four wagons.
Henry was the dragon?
Henry was the dragon.
All this time? I sank to my knees and clutched the earth. No!
Henry roared and lifted his dragon face to the moon. His wings spread and he began to rise. Within seconds, he was gone into the clouds.
I fell to the ground and buried my face in my hands as sobs overtook my body. If only I could die.
“Rapunzel! Rapunzel!” Gretta yelled from the castle. “What are you doing out there? You know you're not supposed to be out after dark. The dragon, remember?”
The familiar roar bellowed from the sky.
Henry. He must have heard Gretta.
Another roar accompanied the sound of rushing air as he swooped down and flew toward the castle with a speed I’d never witnessed before. Streaks of fire lit up the night and streaked toward Gretta like arrows.
Henry wanted her dead and now he had his chance.
I heard Gretta scream, then the dragon roared so loud I had to cover my ears.
I sat there in the grass and watched Henry fly through the air and circle the castle. He was taunting her. He wanted her dead, and he wanted me back in the tower where I would be safe.
The dragon wouldn't hurt me. He loved me and I loved him. Henry flew toward me and landed about thirty feet away from where I stood. I crept toward him.
“I won't hurt you.” I whispered then reached out and touched him—the dragon.
He was beautiful and I loved him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“Rapunzel!” Gretta’s shrill voice called out to me as I walked up the steps to the tower. “Rapunzel, stop right there!”
“What do you want?” I spoke through gritted teeth. How dare she even say my name? All these years, I thought Henry was dead, but he wasn't. Gretta put a curse on him and it kept us apart. Henry had been kept in an even harsher prison that I had for all those many, long years.
“You know the rules! You're not supposed to be outside after dark. The dragon could kill you!” Gretta's weakness revealed itself in her anger. Or was she just scared? She had come close to feeling the wrath of the dragon.
“The dragon won't hurt me. He protects me.” I raised my voice this time. Why did I let her get to me like that? I could go away with Henry and live in his cave. It wouldn't matter if he were a dragon. I loved him and wanted to be with him. Man or beast. “Just leave me alone, Gretta.” I raced toward the tower.