Page 34 of Rapunzel Unchained

“My queen.”

“Eva,” I interrupted her. “You can just call me Eva. As much as I miss being called queen, it’ll be much easier to keep my identity a secret if you’re not calling me queen in public. Besides,” I offered her my hand from the couch, “I would like to be able to call you my friend.”

Rebecca tilted her head at my hand before taking it in hers, awe decorating her face. “I’m honored, my queen. I mean, Eva. I would be more than happy to call you my friend.”

“Good, that’s settled.” I lowered my hand down to fluff my skirts. “So what did you want to tell me? Hopefully something that will get me off this couch and actually doing something?”

“Yes, it is.” Rebecca moved to the side so I could stand. “We have substantial evidence on Healer Beatriz and are now ready to move on her.”

“When?”

“Today. Now.” Rebecca walked me from the living area to the front door. “My informant told me Beatriz would be home alone, recovering from one of her treatments. If you wanted a time where she was alone and vulnerable, this would be it.”

“Very well. Thank you.” Purple mist wrapped around me but, before I could disappear, Rebecca grabbed my arm.

“Wait.”

My magic settled back in place as I looked at her. “What?”

“Do you even know where you’re going?” Her words came out questioning, and yet there was still a tinge of fear in her. I didn’t want her to be afraid of me. I wanted a friend, but we might still have a way to go on that front.

I smoothed my hands down my skirt. “Actually, no. I don’t. Can you show me? Perhaps a map?”

Rebecca grinned. “Better yet, I’ll drive you.”

Nodding, I allowed myself to be led to Rebecca’s vehicle. A cherry red brick of a creation that would stand out in a sea of colors.

“Won’t this draw too much attention?” I asked as we slid into the seats.

My new friend shook her head, flicking a few buttons and adjusting the music that began to pour out of the cage like spots on the doors. “Not at all. There are a lot of cars out there with this color. If I’d gone with something boring and dull, that would have drawn attention to us.”

I hummed in response.

This new world was still strange to me. There were many hidden rules I didn’t understand. Thankfully, I had Rebecca there to guide me, or I’d be completely lost.

We rode down the street with the music blaring. Rebecca swished her head from side to side as she sang along with the music. This was an entertaining side to her I’d never seen before. Maybe she was starting to loosen up now that I wanted to be her friend?

A female friend was still a foreign concept to me. Someone I could confide in and didn’t want to bed me. Rebecca wasn’t someone I had to manipulate or seduce. I could just relax with her.

I thought I’d had that with the mages who saved me. It had been so easy with them. So peaceful. While none of them hadoutright tried to bed me right away, it was hard for us not to grow affectionate toward each other.

When Luke kissed me the first time. I’d been surprised and yet not unhappy about it. Being with Luke wouldn’t get me ahead in life. Being with any of them really wouldn’t have put me further on my goal.

Only Adam would have helped me, and he had blatantly told me that I would be in his way. I wasn’t sure there was a way for us to get around that. Our goals were the same, and yet our way of getting there was so different.

“We’re here.” Rebecca shifted a stick like object in the car, bringing us to a stop before a large building.

The amount of windows on it was indescribable. I didn’t think there was ever a building in my time that reached the heavens quite like the way it did. If this was where Healer Beatriz lived, she must have more power than I thought.

Rebecca placed her hand on top of mine, giving it a squeeze. “Hey, you got this. This will work.” A cream-colored envelope appeared in her other hand, which she offered to me. “Just show her the evidence and explain that she’ll be on your side when you make your move.”

“How am I going to find her in that vast castle?” My mouth dropped open slightly as I stared up at the innumerable stories.

Rebecca laughed. “She doesn’t own the whole building, though she does live in the penthouse.”

“Penthouse?”

“The top floor.” A button clicked, and my door opened. “Now get moving before someone recognizes you.”

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