Rapunzel

10

The next day, Rapunzel was sent back to the castle. She fought tooth and nail to stay by her mate's side, but he feared that if she stayed any longer, Henry would find out her identity and she'd be used for his ploys. The panic that had taken root in his eyes was the swaying factor. She wasn't going to make him worry over such a little thing, so she conceded. They said their goodbyes and she quickly ran back to her home before the Duke had woken up.

Noah sat at the dining table, his head in his hands. Fear for his sister had taken root as soon as Rapunzel left. His muscles were wound tight, and he already missed his mate's calming presence. He didn't realize how much he'd come to depend on her until she was gone. The bond between them thrummed with energy and he felt the love that poured through from her.

"Son, what are you doing up so early?"

Noah lifted his head to glare at his father. "I could ask you the same."

"Very true," Henry chuckled darkly. "Whatever happened to your mate?"

"I sent her home."

The Duke froze, facing away from his son with a scowl marring his features. "Pray tell her name. I should know my son's mate, don't you think?"

Noah scoffed. "As if I should tell you. You will hurt her to manipulate me into doing your bidding. I promised her parents that no harm would befall her, and I keep my promises."

Cursing, the Duke grabbed the vase next to him and hurtled it at his son. Noah was too alarmed to protect himself and the ceramic shattered upon contact with his face. Shards cut open the skin of his cheeks, one getting too close to his eye for comfort. Anger flared from Rapunzel's side of the bond, but he knew that her family had her restrained so that she was safe.

"Are you trying to get me killed, boy?" Duke Henry hissed in his direction, stalking over. "We are going to war, and you aren't helping me in the slightest."

"I am not behind this war, and you know that," Noah ground out. "I do not support your fanatical ideas and therefore will do everything I can to stop this suicide mission you're on."

Henry roared and launched himself at the younger Were. Noah was prepared. He knew that his father was one to resort to violence when he was rendered speechless. Noah stepped to the side and latched onto his father's arm as his lunged by, pinning it behind his back and letting the power in his leak out.

"Where did you get all that power? Is it your mate's?" Henry rasped, trying to break the grip on his arm and grimacing when it only tightened. "What is she, the Princess?"

Though it was just a joke, at the suddenly tensed form of his son, Henry realized that he was spot on. Anger built up in him and he used Noah's temporary distraction to get out of the hold. His fist connected with the younger Were's jaw, sending him stumbling back. Worry and rage shone bright in Noah's eyes as he met his father's gaze.

"How? She was missing!" Henry was beyond reason now, his last hold on sanity had vanished. "You found the brat, didn't you? You found her and took her back home."

"She escaped her captor herself. I had nothing to do with it. Hell, I didn't even know who my mate truly was until I was brought into the castle for accidentally wandering onto Fae land while following her scent. The royals were way too nervous for her to be just anyone."

His words did nothing to calm the Duke. "Where was she? Five years! I devoted five years of my life to finding that brat! Where could she have been hidden that I didn't check?"

Noah opened his mouth, but the Duke had grabbed a chair and swung it into his son's body, sending him toppling to the ground. He continued to beat the young male until the piece of furniture had shattered into thousands of splinters.