Incarnate Sneak Peek #3: "Protected"
No one expected the Moondrop to take a human host. Figuring out what to do afterwards is a sticky, blind process, one that brings up some memories Rapunzel would rather forget permanently.
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“Hector’s a person, not a gemstone or a flower,” Adira insisted.
“Hector is one of many people,” Edmund countered. “The Moondrop’s power is a threat to the entire world. It CANNOT leave this kingdom, this very castle, or it will become an even bigger threat than it has ever been.”
Rapunzel’s gut twinged with discomfort. It wasn’t the king’s actual words that made her nervous. It was the unspoken decision that Edmund had clearly made already.
“The outside world is a dangerous place, filled with horrible, selfish people.”
The mere memory of Gothel’s deceptively soothing voice sent a chill down Rapunzel’s spine. She shivered and shook her head, trying to focus on the present moment. On the fact that she was no longer in Gothel’s tower, and she never would be again. That was something Queen Arianna had taught her for coping with relatively small, quick moments of flashback.
“There’s only one person who can use the Moondrop’s power now. And he’s the most loyal, dedicated member of the Brotherhood,” Adira argued.
“Which means he will understand why he must stay here under my guardianship until a means of extracting the Moondrop’s power can be found,” Edmund replied.
“Blondie?” Rapunzel turned to her right at Eugene’s whispered voice. Her boyfriend’s concerned gaze brought her a smidgen of comfort, but her heart was starting to race. “Are you okay to be a part of this conversation?”
“That is his choice to make, not yours!” Adira said darkly. Rapunzel looked back at the warrior, momentarily stunned by the sheer anger and indignance in her narrowed eyes.
“Hector chose to pledge himself in service to me. As his king, and the final authority on matters concerning the Moonstone-”
“You don’t own my brother!” Adira snapped furiously, slamming one hand on the table. Rapunzel flinched. “He’s your subordinate, not your slave!” Her heart was racing, and she didn’t want to untangle the mass of emotions that was crashing over her head like an ocean wave.
“No,” she whispered back. Eugene paused, eyeing her skeptically.
“He’s a far better subordinate than yourself, and he will be treated accordingly while under my protection.” Edmund’s intonation on the word ‘protection’ scared Rapunzel in a way that she couldn’t put into words.
“Raps, what’s wrong?” Cassandra’s voice asked from the princess’s left.
“ENOUGH WITH THE LIGHTS, RAPUNZEL!”
“Protecting the Moonstone has achieved nothing!” Adira spat venomously. “The black rocks have made their way across the sea and started terrorizing a whole new continent of innocent people! Hector’s bodily autonomy has been violated twice already by forces of magic. Something has to change!”
“If Hector lives long enough to see another ruler take my place, perhaps they will be more lenient with him! But as long as I am King over Umbra, the Moondrop will not leave these borders!” Edmund thundered.
“YOU ARE NOT LEAVING THIS TOWER! EVER!”
Rapunzel wasn't sure when she had gone from sitting rigidly in her chair to standing upright at the table. She remembered Gothel's voice shouting in her head, and herself shouting back defiantly. She couldn't remember standing up, or what happened to her chair, but King Edmund and Adira were both looking at her with surprised expressions.
Maybe she hadn't been shouting at Gothel in her head.
"Easy Raps," Cassandra's voice soothed, and Rapunzel felt the older girl's hand on her shoulder. "We're a long way from the tower," she added under breath. She'd heard the story about Eugene rescuing her from Gothel, just like everyone else in Corona. But the princess hadn't spoken about the details of her childhood in captivity with anyone other than Eugene since returning to the castle. Still, the handmaiden clearly understood what had triggered her, and Rapunzel was grateful for that.
"Did you have something you wanted to contribute, Rapunzel?" Euegne asked hesitantly, standing with them. She nodded, eyes locking with Edmund's.
