“Sir?” asked Marco, seeming like he didn’t know whether to kneel down in respect or draw his sword in defense.
“De Bar, you’d better not think of hurting my son.” Marco’s father went for his sword.
Lucio chuckled. “Don’t worry, del Rossi, harming your son is the last thing on my mind. I’m going to knight him.”
“My lord,” said Marco. “Can you do that?”
“You saved my daughter’s life and showed the bravery of a knight. I can do this and I will, so kneel down before I change my mind.”
Marco looked over to Rapunzel and she nodded.
Down on one knee, Marco bowed his head as Lucio used his sword to tap him on each shoulder, having him repeat his words reciting the vows of knighthood. “Stand, Sir Marco Drago del Rossi the Third,” said Lucio, clasping hands with Marco as he got to his feet. Everyone clapped and cheered for him. Rapunzel’s heart swelled with happiness, seeing the smile on Marco’s face. He stood taller now if she wasn’t mistaken. Aye, this was the look of a proud man.
“Priest, we are ready to get married now,” said Marco, after thanking Lucio for the honor bestowed upon him.
Marco and Rapunzel were married there at the water’s edge with an outdoor wedding. It hadn’t been anything like the wedding Rapunzel dreamed about her entire life – it was even better. She was married to the man she loved, and they were going to be parents soon. Rapunzel reached up and put her arms around Marco’s neck, kissing him with loving passion on the lips. Whistles and shouts came from her brothers, followed by their wives scolding them not to act that way.
“There is something else, del Rossi,” said Lucio.
“What more could there possibly be?” asked Marco.
“As a wedding present, I’d like to give you a bountiful dowry that includes not only money but a place to live that is large enough to house a dragon or two.”
“My lord, I already cannot thank you enough for knighting me. I couldn’t expect you to give me more.”
“Rapunzel is my first daughter to get married. It is customary for the father of the bride to give a dowry, and that is what I’m doing.”
“Father, what kind of place is large enough for a dragon?” asked Rapunzel, wondering what he had in mind.
“I am giving you Tavistock,” said Lucio.
“Tavistock?” asked Marco. “As in . . . Tavistock Castle?”
“That’s right. The castle is where a knight and his lady should raise their child. There is enough surrounding land as well as a lake and the forest, so there is plenty of room for a dragon if need be.”
“Father, you shouldn’t,” said Rapunzel, shaking her head. “That is your castle, and it was Winifred’s grandfather’s castle before that.” She glanced over at Red – her brother Hugh’s wife.
“I don’t mind, Rapunzel,” said Red. “I have a new home with Wolf at Babeny Castle now.” “Besides, the area around Tavistock is perfect for a dragon.”
“Are you sure about this, my lord?” asked Marco, sounding very excited.
“There is only one stipulation,” said Lucio.
“What is that?” asked Marco.
“That you take your father to live with you, and make him your advisor since he has been lord of a castle before and commanded an army of men and you have not. Of course, his dragon will be welcome there as well.”
Rapunzel noticed the smile spreading across Marco’s father’s face.
“I would have it no other way,” said Marco, nodding to his father.
“Medea’s here,” said Rapunzel, noticing Medea standing back at the hovel with the witch’s mirror in her hand. The girl was a full-grown woman now and looked beautiful with her long, dark hair and mesmerizing, dark eyes. She watched in silence. Rapunzel felt sorry for her, knowing how lonely she must feel. She wanted to run to her, but thought it better if she waited for Medea to come to her instead.
“Daughter, come here,” said Lucio, starting to go after her.
Medea shook her head. “I only came for mother’s mirror and naught else.” With a wave of her arm, Medea disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
“She seems to have picked up a new skill,” said Rapunzel, wondering how much trouble Medea could cause now that she knew how to transport.
“Aye,” said Marco. “I’m surprised she didn’t ask for that kiss I owe her.”
“You’re a married man now, Marco. You can’t go around kissing other women,” Rapunzel reminded him.
“Don’t worry, Wife. You are the only one I want to kiss from now on.” Marco collected her into his arms and kissed her passionately in front of everyone. “Lord de Bar, would you mind if we spent our wedding night at Tavistock Castle?” asked Marco.
“It’s yours now, do what you want with it,” he answered. “And please, call me Lucio.”
“Shall I transport you so you can get there faster?” asked Freya, clutching her frog in her hands.
“Nay,” said Marco, putting his fingers into his mouth and whistling.
Rapunzel laughed at his action. “Husband, do tell me what you are doing.”
“I’m calling Red,” said Marco.
“I’m right here,” said Red, looking very confused.
“Nay, not you, Red, sorry,” said Marco. “That is what I named my dragon.”
The massive, red dragon appeared in the sky, flying in a circle above their heads.
“I only hope our child will be as obedient,” said Rapunzel with a giggle.
“Are you sure my daughter and grandchild-to-be will be safe riding on that thing?” asked Lucio. “Perhaps you should take Freya up on her offer.”
“Lord de Bar, I would never do anything to jeopardize the safety of your daughter or your grandchild.” Marco pulled Rapunzel closer. “I am a confident Dragon Lord now, and will never again have self-doubt. That dragon is part of me and part of my life and will always be. Rap and our child will ride safely upon the dragon, locked in my arms. Because, you see, they are my family and my future. I would never let anything or anyone harm them. I love both my unborn baby and my wife. I may have had a little help, but I managed to give Rapunzel everything she wants and deserves. And from this day on, Rapunzel de Bar will be known as Lady Tavistock or Lady del Rossi, but never again will she be the Lady in the Tower.”
From the Author
Rapunzel was the fifth de Bar sibling with a curse. With faith and determination and a little luck, each of the siblings, so far, except Wolf, has had their curse broken. As the saga of the old evil witch, Hecuba, and the de Bar family continues, Cinderella will go through many hard times before she remembers people and places in her life in A Perfect Fit (Cinderella) Book 6 coming up next. After that, you’ll follow MacKay to the frigid Highlands where he will deal with a curse like you’ve never seen before in the last book of the series, Heart of Ice (Snow Queen) Book 7.
Here is the list of the entire Tangled Tales Series.
Lady and the Wolf – Book 1, (Red Riding Hood)
Just a Kiss – Book 2, (Frog Prince)
Beast Lord – Book 3, (Beauty and the Beast)
Touch of Gold – Book 4, (Rumpelstiltskin)
Lady in the Tower – Book 5, (Rapunzel)
A Perfect Fit – Book 6, (Cinderella)
Heart of Ice – Book 7, (Snow Queen)
The books are also available as paperbacks, and audiobooks.
If you enjoyed Lady in the Tower (Rapunzel) Book 5, I would love for you to leave a review. I am sure some of you are wondering if Rapunzel’s half-sister, Medea, ever got her kiss from Marco or the dragon ride he promised. You will see her make appearances in the last two books of the series and find out more then. And if her character has intrigued you, I will say that I have her own story planned that will be part of my Second in Command Series, later on down the road. The Second in Command Series takes secondary characters from any of my books, no matter what series or sub-genre of romance, and gives them the spotlight and their happily-ever-after. Each book will
stand alone but relate back to an existing series, such as The Legendary Bastards of the Crown, Legacy of the Blade, Tarnished Saints, Barons of the Cinque Ports, Tangled Tales, and more.
Thank you all for going on this paranormal journey with me through a world based on fairy tales. My Tangled Tales Series was inspired by my love of childhood stories. They are meant to be short, fast, fun reads relating back to tales that we all remember from our younger days. I write many genres of romance, and it is always a treat for me to write paranormal. When I first came up with this series, I decided I would write it for myself. Therefore, this series has no rules or boundaries but, instead, I have allowed my imagination to run wild.
I hope you enjoy it because living in a fantasy world is much more fun when I can share it with my readers.
Never be held back by anyone, and especially not by self-doubt. Too many times our prisons are self-made. Remember, no one fails unless they stop trying.
Let your dreams and imagination soar!
Elizabeth Rose
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Rose is a multi-published, bestselling author, writing medieval, historical, contemporary, paranormal, and western romance. She is an amazon all-star and has been an award finalist numerous times. Her books are available as Ebooks, paperback, and audiobooks as well.
Her favorite characters in her works include dark, dangerous and tortured heroes, and feisty, independent heroines who know how to wield a sword. She loves writing 14th century medieval novels, and is well-known for her many series.
Her twelve-book small town contemporary series, Tarnished Saints, was inspired by incidents in her own life.
After being traditionally published, she started self-publishing, creating her own covers and book-trailers on a dare from her two sons.
Elizabeth loves the outdoors. In the summertime, you can find her in her secret garden with her laptop, swinging in her hammock working on her next book. Elizabeth is a born storyteller and passionate about sharing her works with her readers.
Please be sure to visit her website at Elizabethrosenovels.com to read excerpts from any of her novels and get sneak peeks at covers of upcoming books. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads or Bookbub. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss out on new releases or upcoming events.
Click to join Elizabeth Rose’s Readers’ Group.
Excerpt from A Perfect Fit (Cinderella)
A Perfect Fit (Cinderella)
(Tangled Tales Series - Book 6)
“Give me the bag.” The man’s plump, filthy fingers reached out for it, but Cinderella took a step backward.
“Leave me alone,” she said in a shaky voice, close enough to see the man’s blackened teeth and bloodshot eyes. He looked menacing and not to be trusted.
“I haven’t had a young, fair maiden like you in quite some time now.” He reached out with both hands, meaning to grab her. Trying to protect herself, she swung the heavy travel bag at him, hitting him square in the groin. A moan and a whoosh of air left his mouth as he bent over with his hands between his knees. It gave her the time she needed to take off at a run and make distance between them.
“You there,” came a deep voice from behind her. It was her stalker from the shadows. He’d been following her for the past hour, she was sure of it. Her heart picked up a beat. The sound of his boot heels clomping on the wooden walkway in front of the butcher’s shop echoed in the night. His pace quickened. She had to move faster!
She crossed the street, not able to see much in the fog. It was getting difficult to find her way in the dark. The laughter of whores from the nearby tavern told her she was nearing the stable. In a sense it made her feel relieved, but at the same time, very nervous. Where there were whores, there were drunken men, and she’d had her fill of that already tonight. Her boot got stuck in the muddy road, causing her to fall and soil her gown. Things were going from bad to worse.
The haunting wail of a dog in the distance caused a shiver to run up her spine. Why had her stepmother insisted she finish her chores before sending her to town? Because of it, she was far behind schedule. It was much too late to be out without an escort. She needed to get home immediately.
As she struggled to stand, sinking in to the rut in the road, she felt two strong hands slip under her arms and pull her to her feet.
“Let me help you.”
She would have been happy about it if she hadn’t recognized the voice as the man who had been following her. She gripped the travel bag tightly in both hands and swung it around, hitting the man square in the chest. Then she took off at a run again.
“Cinderella, wait!” shouted the man from behind her, frightening her that he knew her name. “Ella, please stop!”
The sound of his voice lodged in her brain when he’d called her Ella. Her family called her Cinderella. She didn’t have any friends, so no one called her Ella. However, she found herself rather liking the name. For some reason, it seemed familiar – as if that was what she should be called.
A faceless person flashed through her mind and it was almost as if she remembered hearing this man’s voice, or perhaps knowing him somehow. The fog became thicker and she shook her head in frustration. She couldn’t be sure of anything anymore. Or at least not right now. This whole night was like a dream. Nay, it was more like a nightmare. Ever since she slipped on the wet floor and hit her head months ago, she hadn’t been able to remember anything from the past. Her memories were stripped from her, leaving her feeling naked and vulnerable. Ella’s life had changed forever.
Excerpt from Dragon and the Dreamwalker
Dragon and the Dreamwalker
(Elemental Series - Book 1: Fire)
Brynn spied the nighttime candle next to the bed and brought it to her. She held her hands over the fire to help regain her strength.
She took a moment to focus her vision in the semi-darkened room. Though she feared the man in the shadows, she still had the odd sensation of being comfortable with her surroundings.
She looked up to the velvet draperies that hung from iron rods around the bed. Her heart beat faster and she sat upright, barely breathing at all as she recognized the carved spindles at each corner. Her father had carved these spindles - engraving his love for his wife in the vines and faeries that wrapped around and around, climbing to the top and ending in a moon or star. She knew now why she felt at home. She was home. Resting in her parents’ bed.
“No!” she exclaimed, not wanting to believe it was true. She placed the candle on the bedside table. Her eyes shot to the wall looking frantically for her father’s banner - his crest of sword and shield, a mighty arm holding one, a feminine arm the other. But it was no surprise when she found it missing. Instead, a banner with a fierce fire-breathing red and black dragon consumed the spot.
“You act as if you’ve seen a ghost. As if my castle’s dwellings could speak to you.” He still stayed hidden in the shadows.
“Every stone in the walls, every rush on the floor - they cry with anguish for the lives that have been lost here recently. And if you are so bold as to call this your castle, then it can only be you who is responsible for the blood that’s been shed on these grounds.”
“I claim many a triumph of the men I’ve conquered or the fiefs I hold, but I cannot put my mark on the lives lost here. I claim the castle only.”
“‘Twas you who killed my parents! ‘Twas you who stole my family’s wealth.”
“You’re parents?” he asked, sounding bewildered. As if he didn’t know who she was when he saved her from the dragon only to claim her as his prize.
She grabbed the coverlet from the bed and wrapped it tightly around her, easing herself to the floor, and hoping her father’s ivory-handled dagger still lay hidden under the loose floorboard. She would never be the spoils of war. She’d kill him before she lived at the side of the man who murdered her parents.
“I’ve heard it said that the former lord and lady of Thorndale Castle had a
daughter. A daughter who befriends fire and has magical powers at her command,” he said from the darkness.
“And I’ve heard it said that the man who leads the Klarens into battle, killing and ransacking everything in sight, is a black-hearted man who gains his power at the hands of others’ misfortunes. His reputation is known throughout the hills of Lornoon. He’s the one mothers warn their daughters about. He’s the one they mention to threaten their children when they’re bad. Yet his name is never spoken aloud, for fear the darkness that possesses this man’s soul may follow his name, striking down dead the one who spoke it.”
It was then he stepped slowly out of the shadows and into the soft light of the fire that flickered from the bedside candle. The glow encompassed him as his dark eyes bore into her. One fist gripped a tankard of ale in front of him. He was tall, handsome, foreboding, and carried his body frame straight and proud as he strolled toward her. His chest was bare - wide and sturdy. Every muscled ripple showed in his physique. His arms were huge in a strong sort of way, empowering the rest of his warrior body. And like a warrior, he still carried a weapon though he was half-clothed.
His gaze penetrating, she felt a slight hesitation in his action as he stopped in front of her with his free hand hovering above the sword strapped at his side. Almost as if she’d called him a traitor or insulted him by saying the legends of his name aloud. He was the most dangerous man alive. And she was alone with him in the dark, with only a coverlet between them.
“‘Tis true. It is you,” she said barely above a whisper. “I’ve heard of your crest described by the bards. You are Drake of Dunsbard, are you not?”
“You so daringly let my name slip past your noble lips. Aren’t you afraid you’ll drop dead at my feet for such carelessness?”
“I’d welcome death to the alternative of what you’ll do to me.”
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