With her chin in his hand, she was very close to him. So close, that it felt intimate. With the corner of the cloth, he removed the eyelash from her eye. She blinked twice. He focused on her eye while she stared at his mouth.
“There you go,” he said, pushing the cloth into her hand. “Keep this; you might need it again.”
“Thank you,” she said, getting a good look at him in the daylight. Marco was tall and lean and dressed in leather trimmed with animal fur. His handsome appearance was rugged and smelled of the earth and fresh air.
“You’re welcome.” He noticed her perusing him and did the same to her. The tip of his thumb grazed over her cheek, sending a slight tingle flitting across her skin. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the fact she’d been alone so long or that she was standing closer to a man than she ever had in her life, but she welcomed his touch.
Before she could ponder the thought further, he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. It took her by surprise and she didn’t know how to respond. With one hand, he pulled her closer, up against his leather-clad body. When he dipped down for a second kiss, she found that she liked it, and did nothing to push him away. She had only been kissed a few times in her life but never had she felt the warmth spiraling up from her pelvis as she did now. Odd, since she wasn’t even all that attracted to the man. Or was she?
The baby started crying again. Marco broke their connection, stepping back quickly. “You’d better go to her.”
“I – I don’t know what she needs.”
“I thought you said you have siblings.”
“I do. But I am the youngest. I have never had to take care of a baby or a child before.”
“It’s simple.” He held out his hand and used his fingers to tick off his words as he spoke. “Either the baby is hungry, tired, has gas, or needs to be changed.”
“I already fed her the bottle Hecuba left. And she was sleeping so it can’t be that she’s tired.”
“Then it must be one of the other two.” He walked over and picked up the baby, holding it up to his shoulder, patting it on the back. A small burp released from the baby’s mouth before she started to cry again. “When is the last time you changed her?”
“Changed her? Do you mean changed her swaddling?”
“Well, I’m not talking about changing her into a toad.”
His jest about the toad sent a shiver up her spine. Hecuba warned her to take care of the baby, and Rapunzel didn’t like the idea of turning into a frog. She had no choice but to do it. “I’ve never changed a swaddling before,” she stated.
“Neither have I, but I’m sure it can’t be that hard. Look, there is a pile of clean cloths. Use one of those to change Medea’s swaddling.”
The last thing Rapunzel wanted to do was to change a dirty swaddling. However, she liked having someone to talk to and didn’t want Marco to leave. Perhaps, if she was cunning enough, she could convince him to do it. Or she could just come right out and ask since he seemed to like babies so much. “Will you do it with me?” she blurted out without another thought.
His head snapped up and his dark eyes drank her in. “Do it? With you?”
“The swaddling!” Rapunzel quickly clarified what she meant, horrified to realize how it sounded.
“Aye, of course,” he answered with a sly grin. He laid a cloth down and spread it out, taking another and wetting it in the basin of water. “You do it, and I’ll instruct you.” Watching over her shoulder, Marco stood with his chest pressed against her back. Rapunzel started feeling that spiral of heat again. She attempted to change Medea’s swaddling, but he stopped her.
“Wait. You need to clean her with this first.” He pushed the wet rag into her hand. Rapunzel wrinkled her nose, looking down at the mess in the baby’s swaddling. “Nay. I don’t think I can do it.”
“Sure, you can.” He leaned against her and reached his arms around, taking her hands in his to guide her through the process. A dirty swaddling was no longer on her mind as she went through the actions, her hands being cradled in his. Instead, she kept thinking about the kisses they’d shared. His warm body pressed up against her had her questioning the way her own body was reacting. He was nothing at all like the men who usually took her interest. Yet, he was starting to seem more desirable at the passing of every minute.
After they’d finished, washed up, and got Medea back to sleep, Marco looked over at her and nodded.
“It’ll be easier to escape if the baby is sleeping. When do you think the witch is returning?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “But you can’t mean we are going to take the baby with us?”
“Well, we certainly can’t leave her here unattended. We don’t have a choice.”
“That is Hecuba’s baby!” she squeaked. “Are you daft? If we steal the witch’s child, who knows what she will do to us when she finds out.”
“Medea is also your half-sister, and your father’s child, or have you chosen to ignore that point? Don’t you think your father would like to raise his daughter and not let the witch do it instead?”
“The baby will be fine until she returns.” Rapunzel headed across the room, not at all worried about it. “Let’s go.” She peered out the window, surveying the ground far below. Last time, she managed to leave through the window. So, this time, should be a snap. Taking a hold of the rope Marco used, she pulled it tight to make sure the grappling hook was secure. “Can this hold both of us? Mayhap, we should use my braid again the way I did last night.”
“You use your braid. I’ll use the rope. It’ll be faster if we both go at the same time.”
He continued to fuss with the baby as she tied the end of her long braid around the bedpost. “Hurry up, or Hecuba will return.”
“I’m ready,” he said, turning to face her. Her mouth dropped open when she saw he’d tied a blanket around his chest like a sling and had the baby cradled inside.
“You are not taking the baby.”
“I am not leaving her behind.” With that, he headed to the window and started to climb out. Rapunzel let out a deep sigh and followed. Hecuba was going to be furious when she found out that Rapunzel had not only escaped again but that they’d taken her baby with them.
Chapter 3
They managed to escape the tower and were just making their way into the woods when Rapunzel’s hair gripped on to logs to keep her from moving.
“Nay, not again,” she cried, yanking at her long braid but it did no good.
“Hold still, my lady. I’ll cut you free.” With one hand protecting the baby, Marco slid his sword from his sheath with the other.
“It’ll do no good,” she explained. “Just go without me. I can never leave.”
“I won’t leave you here,” said Marco. “I came to rescue you.”
“Then you’d better think of another plan. Hecuba told me as long as I am grounded to the earth, my curse will never be broken.”
The baby started crying, and Marco tried to hush it. Rapunzel felt the presence of the old witch getting nearer. “Go quickly. The witch is coming. I feel her presence. But before you go, you’d better give Medea to me.” She held out her arms for the baby.
“You want me to give you the baby?” he asked. “Well, I’m glad you finally decided to protect your little sister.” He handed her the crying child.
“I’m trying to protect you! Hecuba might not be able to see you in her mirror, but her crying baby is going to lead her right to you. Now hurry and hide,” she said, seeing a green fog appear.
“I’ll be back for you,” promised Marco, rushing to hide behind a tree.
“What is this?” screamed Hecuba, anger filling her bloodshot eyes. “You dare try to escape again, and take my baby with you? You will pay for this, Rapunzel.”
“Nay, leave her alone,” shouted Marco from behind her. Hecuba held up her mirror, but couldn’t see his reflection. Spinning on her heel to face him, she finally saw his form.
“Who are you?” she as
ked, squinting one eye, seeming cautious. “Are you a warlock with a cloaking spell since I am not able to see you in my mirror?”
“Mayhap I am,” said Marco foolishly.
“Marco, nay. Just leave before you’re hurt,” Rapunzel warned him, trying to rock the baby that just kept bawling.
“Come here,” said Hecuba, urging Marco to step forward.
“Don’t do it,” begged Rapunzel. Marco didn’t listen to her warning. He walked forward with his sword drawn as if he thought that could stop a witch.
“You’re not a warlock,” surmised Hecuba. Her eyes scanned him from head to toe.
“Why would you say that?” asked Marco.
“Because, if you held any powers whatsoever, you wouldn’t be gripping your sword like a lifeline. You tried to help Rapunzel steal my baby, and now you will die for it.” She raised her hand and sent a beam of light right toward him.
“Nay!” shouted Rapunzel, fearing for Marco’s life. Marco lifted his arms to protect himself. His ring glowed brightly. Then a beam of light came from him, pushing the witch to the ground. No one looked more surprised than Marco.
“W-what just happened?” asked Marco. “Did I do that?”
Rapunzel glanced down at the baby in her arms, realizing Medea no longer cried. Instead, she was looking with wide eyes toward Marco and grinning. That told Rapunzel that Marco didn’t have any powers. It was the baby who had helped him.
“Run, Marco. Go find my brothers and my father and tell them I am here.”
“Nay,” he said boldly. “I have powers. I am not going anywhere.”
The witch shook her fist at him. This time when Marco lifted his arms, nothing happened. He fell to the ground, almost landing on his face.
“Do it,” commanded Rapunzel, holding up the baby, hoping he would realize her subtle message of what was happening.
“I can’t believe I mistook this fool for a warlock.” Hecuba got up with fire blazing in her eyes.
“Go!” shouted Rapunzel. “Marco, please go before it is too late.”
Marco turned and ran for his horse. Hecuba might have continued to go after him if Medea hadn’t started screaming at the top of her lungs.
“Give me my child,” spat the witch, taking the baby to her bosom. “Can’t you manage to do anything right?” Then in a puff of green smoke, they were all transported back to the tower.
Marco watched from atop his horse as Rapunzel, the witch, and the baby disappeared into a green fog. His body ached from the bolt of energy the witch shot at him. His head felt as if it were splitting open. And his stomach turned as he saw spots before his eyes. What just happened? One minute he was on the top of the world, thinking he had special powers to go up against a witch. And the next, he was lying flat on the ground with the air knocked from his lungs.
Marco inspected the ring on his finger. He was sure he saw it glowing earlier. Something was happening with the ring, and he had to find out more. However, the only living person who could tell him about it was someone who had warned him never to mention dragons or Dragon Lords again. Marco had almost forgotten all about his dreams until his mother died recently, giving him this ring on her deathbed. His thoughts went back to that sad day not long ago.
“Mother,” said Marco, rushing into the hovel holding a dead pheasant on a rope. He’d been out hunting all day, and this was all he’d caught. His father sat sulking in the corner by the fire as he had done since the day they moved to England from Italy. He was naught more than a shell of the man Marco once admired in his childhood.
“Marco.” His mother, Maria, tried to sit up in bed, but she was much too weak.
“Lie down, Mother,” he said, holding the pheasant up for her to see. “I have caught some food. We will eat well tonight, and you will regain your strength.”
“She’s dying,” said his father, getting off his stool and hobbling across the floor. He’d been maimed in battle years ago and dragged his right leg as he walked. “Where is the money from the bounty of the man you were chasing?” asked his father, Marco Drago del Rossi II.
“He got away,” said Marco with his eyes turned to the ground.
“Dammit, Marco, we needed that money for medicine for your mother. If she dies, it is your fault.” His father shook his head and dragged his injured leg, leaving the hovel and slamming the door.
“Mother, I’m sorry,” said Marco, sitting on the edge of the worn pallet, cradling his mother’s hands in his. “I’ll do better tomorrow. I’ll get back on the trail of the escaped criminal and, next time, I’ll bring him in for the bounty.”
“Nay,” she said, forcing a weak smile. Even though she was dying, love shone in her eyes. “Marco, you were never meant to be a bounty hunter or a hunter of any kind. You were meant for a life of greatness and should not let your father bring you down because of his own demons.”
“Demons? What do you mean?”
His mother coughed and wheezed before answering. “Your father was once a very brave and proud man. But he was obsessed by power. It turned his life as well as all of our lives for the worse.”
“Are you talking about when we lived in Italy?”
“You were just a boy then. How much do you remember?”
“Not much. Just the dreams I used to have before we were attacked and were forced to leave our land and castle behind.”
“Oh, my dear son. I never wanted to lie to you, but your father said it was to protect you.” His mother’s face looked ashen, and her eyes didn’t have their normal brightness.
“Protect me? What do you mean?”
She had a hard time speaking. Marco could see the life draining quickly from her body. He put his hand to her forehead and felt the fire of the fever burning her up from inside. She had trouble swallowing.
“I’ll get you water,” he said, jumping up, but her weak voice stopped him.
“Nay, there is no time. Bring me the jar of flour from the kitchen shelf.”
“Flour? Why?”
“Hurry, Son. I am dying.” Her body trembled.
Marco fetched the jar and rushed back to his mother’s side.
“Open the jar,” she said. “Dig down to the bottom.” Her eyes became hooded.
Marco reached into the flour jar, not understanding any of this. His fingers closed around something hard, and he pulled it out and brushed it off. “It’s Father’s ring,” he said, recognizing the gold band with claws. Clamped between the claws was a green and yellow stone with a black center. It always reminded Marco of an eye. “I thought he lost this years ago.”
“Your father threw it into the lake, and I spent months trying to find it. It is yours now, Marco.”
“I don’t understand. Why not give it back to Father?”
“You can’t let him know you have it. Promise me.”
“I promise,” he said, slipping the ring on to his finger. When he did, the stone started to glow.
“Look!” he exclaimed, holding his hand out for his mother to see.
She smiled, and her eyes started to drift closed. “I was right in keeping it all these years,” she told him. “The glow proves that you . . . are the next . . . Dragon Lord.”
“Dragon Lord?” asked Marco. “So, the stories Father used to tell me are true?”
“They are.”
“Then why, as soon as we got to England, did he tell me he made up those stories just to entertain me as a child?”
“Ask him,” was all she said. “And never . . . use the power . . . for anything but . . . good.” She died with a smile on her face that Marco would never understand or forget for the rest of his life.
Chapter 4
Rapunzel had a horrible night’s sleep, tossing and turning and dreaming about Marco. The last she’d seen him, he was lying flat on the ground, knocked over by one of Hecuba’s bolts. What if he were hurt or even dead? Rapunzel hated Hecuba with every fiber of her being. The witch had already taken the life of Rapunzel’s mother, and now also tricked her fa
ther into siring her child. If she hurt or killed Marco, Rapunzel would take on the witch personally to make her pay for what she did.
“Wake up!” shouted Hecuba.
Rapunzel’s eyes popped open, and she screamed when she saw a little girl about a year old, holding on to the side of the bed staring at her. The girl’s dark eyes and jet black hair were striking yet shocking at the same time.
Rapunzel sprang to a sitting position, clutching the blankets to her chest with her eyes still fastened to the girl.
“Who is that?” she asked.
“That’s my daughter, you fool,” answered Hecuba.
“Another one?” Rapunzel scanned the room for the baby. She hoped to hell Hecuba didn’t have more than one child sired by her father, Lucio.
Hecuba chuckled, walking over and putting her hands on the little girl’s shoulders. “Medea, please make sure Rapunzel doesn’t try to escape again,” she told the child.
“Medea?” Rapunzel stood up, stretching her neck to see the pile of blankets that Marco had put together for the baby. The bed was empty.
“I told you my daughter would grow up fast.”
“Yes, but I didn’t think you meant she’d be a toddler in a day’s time.”
“She is a special child. Her drink is in a cup on the table. Make sure she drinks it all.”
Rapunzel felt a chill run up her spine as the child continued to stare at her. “Are you leaving again?” she asked Hecuba.
“Yes. I am scouring the land for the best castle. When I find one that meets my needs, I’ll seize it as my own and use it to raise my daughter.”
“By the time you find it, she might not need it anymore,” said Rapunzel. The girl who was just a baby yesterday, held on to furniture as she made her way around the room.
“Don’t be silly,” said Hecuba. “It will be over a fortnight before Medea is ready to make good use of what I have to teach her. I will have chosen a castle by then.”
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