Once Enchanted Read online

  Once Enchanted

  Fairy-Tale Retelling (Rapunzel)

  By Marie Higgins

  Copyright © 2016 by Marie Higgins

  Cover design by Got You Covered

  Edition License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Once Enchanted (Where Dreams Come True)

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  EPILOGUE

  Author’s Bio

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  Once upon a time...

  The time had come for Princess Clarissa to find a husband—or so her parents told her. The shy and somewhat clumsy, Prince Ormond from a neighboring kingdom, is a contender. Clarissa knows she’ll never fall in love with him much less accept him as a husband. And yet... seemingly in a split second, she changes her mind.

  Ryder Grey has known Clarissa since childhood and cannot understand the sudden change from the girl he once adored, to the woman he sees now. How can she be in love with the meek Prince Ormond? Ryder begins to investigate and discovers that a reclusive witch has Clarissa under a spell.

  When Ryder interferes with Clarissa’s budding romance with Prince Ormond, she takes action and locks her childhood friend in a secluded tower in the east forest until she and Ormond can marry.

  Forgotten in the tower by all but the rats can Ryder enchant Clarissa and break the sinister spell? His chances do not look favorable.

  ONE

  The floor creaked. The noise woke Clarissa from a deep sleep. Another creak followed. Soft footfalls tracked across her bedchamber. A small sliver of light from the full moon split the curtains. Clarissa strained her eyes to see in the darkness.

  The hairs on the back of her neck rose. She clutched the blankets to her chin, afraid to even breathe.

  She wanted to ask who was in her room, but she didn’t want the person sneaking around to know she was awake and do something mean. Rather, she wanted the person to leave immediately.

  Tears filled her eyes as the fear grew inside of her. She wanted to cry for her mother and father, but she didn’t dare disturb the stranger in her room.

  The footfalls stopped by her bed. She held her breath. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried listening for sounds. All she could hear was someone breathing close to her. Suddenly, a hand stroked her hair.

  She held in a sob and silently prayed the other person would get out.

  Through the silence, the person whispered her name...Clarissa. The scratchy voice was of an old woman. Who was she, and why was she here? The voice spoke once more.

  “One day, dearie, you shall belong to me.”

  CLARISSA SNAPPED TO a sitting position on her bed. The sun streamed through the window. Squinting, she covered her eyes. Her heartbeat still hammered from the odd dream she’d had. Lately, she’d been having that dream quite a bit. At first, she had thought it was because she was missing her family. She’d recently traveled back to her home after an extended stay with her cousin.

  Grumbling, she lay back down, curled on her side, and tried to block the brightness covering her face. Where was her maid, and why were the curtains not drawn so she could prolong her slumber? Had the servants forgotten she’d arrived home late last night after being gone for a year? It wasn’t too much to ask for a little sleep, was it?

  A slight rustle of skirts caused Clarissa to moan just as her handmaid, Kimberly, moved to the bed. “Wake up, Princess.” Kimberly gently shook Clarissa’s shoulder. “The queen requests your company as soon as possible.”

  Clarissa rubbed her bleary eyes, trying to focus on her servant. Why would the queen, her mother, want to speak to her so soon? “Why? I spoke with Mother last night as soon as my ship arrived at the docks.”

  “I don’t know, Princess. But we must hurry. I don’t want the queen to scold me for lacking in my duties.”

  Clarissa turned her head on the pillow and peeked at her maid through tired eyes. Kimberly couldn’t possibly be serious. When had the queen ever yelled at the servants for not doing their duties? Clarissa’s mother was the kindest woman in all the kingdom. Even if one of the servants happened to make a mistake, the queen calmly instructed them on how to fix the problem. She never criticized, only praised and encouraged.

  Clarissa had only been gone twelve months. Hopefully her mother hadn’t changed that much in such a short time.

  “Fine.” She pushed away the covers and swung her legs off the bed, resting her feet on the warm and fuzzy russet rug. Mornings were usually chilly in Woodmist, but, as always, the servants had her room heated for when she awoke.

  “What would you like to wear today?” Kimberly asked cheerfully, as she hurried to the armoire.

  Stretching her arms above her head, Clarissa yawned. She didn’t know the time, but she could guarantee she hadn’t received enough sleep to keep her going throughout the day. “Oh, I don’t know. Surprise me.”

  “You have always looked lovely in daffodil.” Kimberly pulled out a yellow gown. “Hmmm, however, lavender is a good color on you as well. Or perhaps the baby blue...” She tilted her head, her gaze still on the clothes. “Then again, most colors look good on you.”

  Clarissa flipped her hand. “That daffodil dress is fine for now since I haven’t unpacked all my new clothes.” She stood and walked toward her maid.

  “I cannot wait to hear about your adventures while you lived with your cousin in Greenville. And sailing across the sea would have been fun. I’m sure you have many stories to tell.”

  Clarissa chuckled. “Oh, I could certainly entertain you with a few tales while I dress. I really wish I could have brought you with me, but my cousin had plenty of maids to spare.”

  “I understand, Princess.”

  Throwing off her nightdress, Clarissa began her story about the day she arrived in the kingdom where her cousin lived with her husband and three children. But before she could get to the part where her cousin’s husband tripped over his large feet and plowed into her, pushing her face-first into the mud, the door to her bedroom flew open and in walked her mother.

  Kimberly gasped and quickly curtsied. “Your Highness, I was trying to get her ready—”

  “Yes, I can see that, Kimberly, and you have done a splendid job in waking my daughter. I know how she likes to dilly-dally.”

  Clarissa scrunched her forehead. What did her mother mean by that comment? Hadn’t she always obeyed her parents? Dilly-dally? She didn’t think so!

  Clarissa held her long hair out of the way while the maid pulled the gown around Clarissa’s waist. She glanced in the full-length mirror at her mother’s reflection and frowned. “Well, considering I’m still exhausted from the trip and arrived late in the night, I think it was inconsiderate to ask me to awaken so early,” she defended.

  The queen’s caring smile never faltered—even as many times as Clarissa argued with her. She crossed the room to stand beside Clarissa. “Yes, I agree, but your father is in a terrible fit this morning, and
we cannot keep him waiting.”

  Kimberly tied the sash around Clarissa’s waist before hurrying to the vanity to snatch the hairbrush. Clarissa sat on the chair and pulled on her stockings while the maid brushed out the tangles in her knee-length tresses.

  “Why is Father in such a dither this morning?” Clarissa wondered. “He seemed fine last night when I talked to him.”

  The queen shook her head. “He hasn’t said for certain, but I’m assuming he’s upset because the daughter he sent across the sea for a year didn’t obtain the husband he’d hoped she would.”

  Clarissa widened her eyes. Her mother couldn’t be serious. “Father is upset because I returned without a husband?”

  “Yes, I believe so.”

  “Why, that is just...just...ridiculous.”

  The queen stepped directly in front of Clarissa and arched an eyebrow. “Ridiculous, you say? I don’t think so, especially since that was the main reason your father allowed you to visit your cousin’s kingdom, and yet you returned without a man. Tell me, my dear. In the whole year you were gone, did you find any man worthy of your love?”

  Closing her eyes, Clarissa groaned inwardly. She’d forgotten the reason her parents agreed to let her visit Fiona. Well, she’d almost forgotten. In the back of her mind, she had known what her parents wanted. Yet, once she and her cousin had started doing things together, the idea of marriage vanished. Besides, Clarissa hadn’t felt like getting tied down to a man. Now, one year later, she held the same indifference toward the idea of marriage. She wasn’t old. There was still a lot of life to live.

  “I met a few men during my stay,” she said hesitantly, “but none who could hold my interest.”

  Her mother’s smile disappeared as she rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes. “Then I worry what your father will do now.”

  The expression on her mother’s face made Clarissa’s heart race. Not often did the queen appear so worried, and, knowing she was to blame, Clarissa felt ashamed. “What do you think Father will do?”

  The queen exhaled deeply before opening her eyes to focus on her daughter. “I think he’s going to take control of this situation and find you a husband himself, quickly.”

  Panic gripped Clarissa’s chest, nearly suffocating her. “No! He wouldn’t do that...would he?”

  “Yes, my dear, he would,” her mother said softly. “Your father’s health hasn’t been the best lately, and he’s looking toward the future: he is wondering who will take over as king once he is gone.”

  “He’s...dying?” A sob caught in her throat as tears stung her eyes.

  The queen offered a sympathetic smile and stroked Clarissa’s cheek. “Oh, my dear. We cannot live forever. Eventually, both the king and I will grow old and die and the kingdom will go to you and your husband.”

  “Yes, I know.” Her voice squeaked. “I had hoped it wouldn’t happen for quite some time.”

  “We can only pray it is several years away. But, my dear,” her mother said softly, “we still need to start preparing for it now. Do you understand?”

  Clarissa’s mother stared at her with her deep turquoise eyes—eyes that Clarissa had inherited. She just wished she could have inherited the queen’s patience and understanding as well. “Yes, I do, and I won’t drag my feet any longer.”

  “Good girl.” The queen patted Clarissa’s head. “As soon as you’re finished, come down to the dining room and have breakfast with your father and me.”

  “I will.”

  The queen offered a caring smile before leaving the room. Clarissa’s frown deepened. Gloom shaded her like a heavy rain cloud hovering just above her head, threatening to burst and soak her clean through at any moment. Her carefree life was over. She had to get used to the idea of finding a husband. The saddest thing of all was that she hadn’t had many beaus over the years, and the men who’d courted her were always lacking. Her father was a great example of the kind of man she wanted as a husband, and unfortunately, all of the men who had courted her had failed miserably to measure up. They were just not as perfect as her father. They were not worthy to become king.

  With a heavy heart, she stared at her reflection in the mirror as her maid continued to brush her long hair. She would follow her father’s wishes, even if she didn’t like it. If he died before she married, who would be king? Titles as grand as her father’s didn’t pass to women. A male was the only person who could inherit it, yet Clarissa was the only child. Her father had a brother, but he was as trustworthy as a thief, so he certainly shouldn’t become king. No, she needed to do this for her family...for her kingdom.

  Sighing, she folded her arms, wishing Kimberly would hurry, even though Clarissa knew how long it took to style her hair. Long hair was something her father had always wanted her to have, and she couldn’t deny him that wish, although a lot of the time her hair was bothersome, and more often than not, she considered cutting it.

  After a while, Kimberly released an exhausted sigh and stepped back. “There, Princess. You are finished.”

  Clarissa studied the thick braid that had yellow ribbons woven throughout, and smiled. “It looks wonderful, thank you.” She stood and faced the maid. “I bet you missed me while I was gone, especially my hair.”

  Kimberly nodded. “In fact, I did. I’m glad you’re home safely.”

  Clarissa walked out of her bedroom and down the wide stairs toward the lower level of the palace. Servants were busy polishing the silver, waxing the floors, or washing the windows. They all greeted her with a smile and welcomed her home. When she entered the dining room, her mother was the only one sitting at the table.

  “Where’s Father? Didn’t you say he wanted to talk to me?”

  “He did, but you took too long getting ready, so he went ahead and rode into town to a meeting at the medical facility. They will be deciding what new additions will be made. He wants you to meet him in an hour at the children’s ward, so hurry and eat your breakfast.”

  As Clarissa stuffed the scones and fruit in her mouth, her mother explained how the children’s ward was getting an extension. Clarissa was pleased to hear this news. Before leaving for her cousin’s, she had spent a few days a month visiting the children at the medical facility. It was clear even then that they needed a new wing and updated tools.

  Immediately after breakfast, Clarissa slipped into her cloak and hurried outside to mount her horse, Moonbeam. Four of her father’s guards were there to ride into town with her. One man, almost as tall as her father, stood by the horse and held out his hand. Without really looking at him, she offered him her arm, and he assisted her onto the horse.

  “Welcome home, Princess.”

  She glanced at him and nodded, not really paying attention to her escort for the day. It wasn’t until she turned away that a nagging recognition gave her pause. She turned back to face her tall guard who had dark hair and astonishing brown eyes.

  “Princess?”

  “Ryder Grey?” She gasped. “Is that you?” She peered closer at him. He was built much more like a lumberjack—with the trimmed goatee and all—than a king’s guard. He wore the traditional red and gold guard’s jacket with the mandatory white trousers that molded to his muscular legs. “No, you couldn’t possibly be the boy I remember growing up with.”

  He smiled widely and nodded. “Yes, Princess, it is I.”

  How had she forgotten about him? Years had passed, and they had gone their separate ways, but now her childhood friend was back. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

  The question was, would the school-girl crush resurface? She wasn’t a child any longer. Then again, though Clarissa, glancing appreciatively at his well-fitted attire, neither is he.

  Her stomach fluttered with excitement...and anticipation.

  TWO

  It was strange to think Clarissa had spent an entire year with her cousin, and none of the men she’d met in that kingdom made her heart skip a beat. But now, mere hours after returning home, it was fluttering like
a fairy flapping its wings in flight.

  She raised her hand to block the sun from her face as she looked into the dreamy eyes of her childhood friend. “If I recall, the last time we saw each other was the summer before you left for Woodmist University.”

  His smile stretched, making his brown eyes twinkle. “You have a perfect memory, Princess.”

  “When did you return?”

  “You had just left for Greenville when I came home.”

  Perhaps that was why she hadn’t seen him. “So tell me, Mr. Grey, why did you decide to become a guard instead of seeking employment in your chosen profession? Surely a man of higher learning could procure employment wherever he wishes?”

  He smiled. “Perhaps this was where I’d left my heart.” He shrugged. “And my father wanted me to continue in his footsteps.”

  One of the other guards cleared his throat. Ryder’s gaze jumped up to meet him and his cheery expression quickly disappeared. When he met her gaze again, he nodded. “We should be on our way now. The king is waiting for you.”

  She didn’t say a word as Ryder walked behind her to his horse and mounted. Two guards rode in front of her, two in back. Thankfully, her childhood friend was within talking distance.

  “Tell me, Ryder,” she began, aiming her words at him from over her shoulder. “When did you start working for my father?”

  The smile she’d seen on his face a few minutes ago returned and made his eyes sparkle again. He urged his horse a little faster to trot beside her. “I’ve been with the king for six months now. I don’t know if you remember, but my family has always worked for the king. My father and grandfather were guards as well.”

  “I must have forgotten. How very fascinating. How is your family doing? Your older sister married right before I left, correct?”

  As he answered her questions, she studied his handsome face—full lips and square jaw covered lightly with a goatee and soft, coffee-colored eyes that danced with excitement when he spoke. He’d always had such a charming personality, and as kids, he’d made her laugh too many times to count. They’d gotten into mischief as well, which made her memories all the more enjoyable.