Forbidden Fairytales- The Complete Series

by Caroline Peckham

  The other suitors eyed me with interest as I looked the giant right in the eye and gave him a wide smile.

  “I hear you’re the one to beat,” I said to him, loudly enough to let the others know they didn’t threaten me in the least.

  “I will win the Princess’s hand and kill all of you who tries to stand between us,” Kahn replied confidently.

  “Well I won’t be standing between you,” I said and his brow furrowed with confusion.

  “What?”

  “I’ll be standing above you. While you bleed out on the ground. And cry to your mumma about the injustice of it.” His frown deepened as he slowly realised what I was saying and I slapped his cheek in that patronising way which I knew drove men insane.

  Kahn took a swing for me and I danced aside with a laugh as his mother stepped forward angrily.

  “That’s enough!” Gothel snapped. “Save the fighting for the ring Kahn, this miscreant will soon be beaten and forgotten.”

  “We’ll see,” I taunted as I pushed between the suitors and took the lead as we followed the Emperor.

  I could feel all of their eyes on me as they were forced to walk behind me and a wide smile pulled at my lips.

  Yeah I’ve got bigger balls than all of you. And you ain’t seen nothing yet.

  Two guards opened a door at the end of a long corridor and the Emperor led the way out onto a sweeping balcony.

  The sun beat down on us and I was wildly tempted to remove my shirt but Cassian had assured me that that was unacceptable.

  The Emperor took a seat beneath the shade of a palm tree in a huge blue pot. Gothel dropped into a chair beside him and two servant girls moved forward to fan them.

  We were ushered into a line along the wall of the building and I gazed out at the view beyond the balcony which looked over sweeping ornamental gardens.

  “Her royal highness, Princess Rapunzel of Osaria,” a guard announced as a door was thrown open to our left.

  The Princess walked out flanked by two plain servant girls who kept their eyes lowered. A veil hung from a crown on her head, covering her face and half of her body too.

  Cassian had better not have been lying to me about what’s hidden beneath that swathe of silk because I’m not going to risk my neck for her hand if she looks like a goose.

  She moved to stand opposite us and the guards left the balcony, closing the door behind them with a sharp snap.

  I folded my arms as the silence stretched, glancing at the other suitors who all stood with their hands behind their backs and their chests puffed out, their excitement evident.

  I considered mimicking their posture but that really wasn’t me and I could only bear to be so fake in the name of passing myself off as a nobleman. No doubt Cassian was self-combusting somewhere at this very moment in outrage.

  “Gentlemen,” Gothel purred. “Allow me to present the prize which you will all fight so desperately to possess.” She waved her hand towards the Princess and the two serving girls stepped forward, grasping the edges of the Princess’s veil.

  They glanced at the Princess and she nodded once before they slowly began to peel it back. They lifted the veil inch by inch, revealing the point where blue skirts met with a tight bodice around a slim waist then higher still as she ducked her head and they lifted it right off of her. A breeze caught in the thin material of the veil, lifting it up and sending it flying away from them as they released it, twisting across the blue sky.

  A smile tugged at my lips as I looked upon the face no man had been allowed to see before. She stared back at us and her eyes glimmered with more than a little discomfort at being exposed before this line of men. I wondered what it would be like to be handed out as a prize to be won.

  Her skin was a deep bronze, several shades darker than her amber eyes which shone like two jewels. Her unusually golden hair tumbled down her spine and caressed the soft curves of her waist.

  Her eyes fell on me and I gave her my best smile, throwing in a wink in for good measure. She blinked at me and her lips pulled into a hesitant smile in response as a little colour flared in her cheeks.

  Yeah, Cassian had been right. She was pretty damn beautiful.

  I was still holding the breath I'd taken just moments before my veil had been stripped away. Eighteen years I'd remained hidden. Now that time was abruptly over. And even after all the times I'd dreamed of this moment, I wasn't ready for it now it was actually here.

  Eight suitors lined up before me on the balcony, though I was sure I'd been told there were only seven...

  I tried to decipher what they thought of my face but with eight pairs of eyes slamming into my skin at once, I'd never felt so scrutinised. I was being stripped apart like a scrap of meat torn into by a bunch of dogs. Their muscles were tensing, their chests puffed out. Apparently it was a who-can-look-the-most-pompous competition. Was this supposed to impress me?

  My gaze fell on the single man in the line-up who didn't look like someone had just pumped too much air into his lungs. His eyes were unlike any nobleman's I'd ever seen. They glittered with secrets and dark promises. His handsome features were skewed in an indifferent kind of expression. Not entirely without a hint of intrigue, but nothing of the raging excitement wafting from the other suitors. He was somehow casually disinterested and yet completely engaged in looking at me. It left me feeling like he was absolutely in love with me and yet didn't want me at all. And my mind just sort of...boggled.

  They all bowed their heads briefly. The bored-looking one did so too a beat later, but with hardly any enthusiasm.

  I'm not even respected by these men. I'm just a feather dangling above a bunch of cats.

  My gaze scraped across the group from right to left, recalling their names from the descriptions I'd been given. Whoever the mystery man was, I didn't have a name for him. I tried not to let my eyes drift to him again as I gave each of the suitors my attention.

  Kahn stood to the far left, towering above them all, his auburn locks still in place since the gifted potion had altered his looks. He was handsome but his face now seemed as though it were carved from the boulder he’d been born as. His nose was the perfect sort of rectangle found on the statues in the walled gardens.

  Next was Prince Jah-fal. Three times my age and son of the Ageishan Emperor. Tall, thin and with grey hair that had been slicked with oil to try and make it appear black. His expression reminded me of a grumpy toad. Maybe it had something to do with the weird shape of his eyebrows.

  I grimaced as I turned away from him.

  Shit, stop wrinkling your nose! They can see you!

  The veil was gone. I seriously had to remember that. A low snort of amusement drew my attention to the mystery man again, but I forced my eyes from trailing toward him. What kind of nobleman snorts?

  Lord Kalaviv was next: a roguishly handsome man with the typical dark curls and ebony skin of the Forken Empire in the south. He was a renound hero. A warrior. And I had to admit, I might have been slightly interested in him if he hadn't been paying off my father to try and buy me. That single fact alone would have ruled out every one of these bastards if I'd had a choice in it.

  To his right was Lord Darell, a seriously fit-looking man in black robes, his bald head looking like it had been recently polished, Count Cartoum who had the look of a demon about him with piercing eyes and overly long fingernails, and Prince Gurvine of Laverna, a spotty teenager who looked like his head had been transplanted onto the body of an ox. Beside him was Captain Hariot of the Cartlanna Fleet. His face was weathered by years at sea, but he was young and primed with muscle. His hair was sunkissed and his eyes two pools of jade. Finally, there was the handsome enigma.

  I beckoned Zira closer, whispering in her ear. “Who's that? I wasn't given a name.”

  “Count Aladdin Nazari,” the man answered for himself, evidently hearing me.

  A blush crawled into my cheeks and I nodded, straightening my back as I gazed upon his deeply attractive face. Fine robes, clean cu
t, but why did something about this one feel...off?

  Gothel moved before the men and they bowed low to her. Lower than they had to me. Assholes.

  Aladdin dipped his head a moment too late and Gothel eyed him with disdain. A smile pulled at my lips and I battled to school my expression as Father raised a stern eyebrow at me.

  “You may now approach the Princess,” Gothel announced and in seconds I was swarmed. Lips on the backs of my hands, roses thrust between my fingers. This was it. The hounds were ripping in, trying to fight for their pound of flesh. Compliments flooded my ears and I shuddered, backing up, not liking this at all.

  My gaze landed on Aladdin over their heads, wandering casually toward my father and joining him in the shade of the palm tree.

  Apparently the hot question mark isn't interested.

  Why does that bother me?

  “I'm quite warm,” I snapped, wafting the men back. “One at a time perhaps?”

  “Me first,” Kahn muscled his way to the front of the group and I retreated another few steps as I lost all sight of the other men beyond his huge form.

  He was seeing me, but not really.

  This is just a face. There's more beneath it and you can't have it.

  “You're very pretty,” he said, his azure eyes twinkling. “Prettier than the moon. And I quite like the moon.” He started rambling and my eyes trailed to Aladdin again as he spoke with my father.

  What the hell was he saying to him?

  My father nodded then laughed and I couldn't hide the bewilderment on my face. It was just too damn hard getting used to schooling my expressions when I hadn't had to for so many years. How the hell had he made the Emperor laugh? A man who had been stone-cold to me since Gothel had claimed him as her husband.

  Aladdin shot me a look then jerked his head. I sensed it was an order. A summoning.

  How dare he? I was supposed to be the one with the power here. And yet, I should have realised that I wasn't. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head in a fierce refusal to his demand.

  He cocked his head, puppy dog-like and suddenly cute as hell.

  My belly writhed and I drew my eyes away from him again as Kahn continued to try and come up with the words he needed to describe me.

  Gothel stalked at the back of the men, eyeing them up as if assessing how strong they might be for the coming fights. Her gaze raked down the warrior Lord Kalaviv who was clearly her biggest threat. His biceps pressed against his shirt and several medals gleamed on his chest, speaking of the battles he’d fought and won for his kingdom.

  No one cared for the fact that I didn't want any of these men to win the brawls. I half wished I could fight for my own hand and run away into the sunset with myself. Ignoring the fact that I'd lose miserably...

  Lord Kalaviv pushed Kahn aside and Gothel's son cracked his knuckles as he backed away.

  “Princess Rapunzel how beautiful you are.” Kalaviv lowered his tone. “And how bored you must be.” His eyes glittered with playfulness and I raised a brow.

  Maybe the warrior's not so bad.

  “Yes very,” I said with a genuine smile. I could feel Aladdin's eyes on me like they were boring into my head. I suddenly very much had his attention. What was with men and competition? If I was as ugly as a trout would there be this much testosterone in the air?

  “All of this is very formal,” Kalaviv said with an apologetic frown, “I do hope I win my first brawl and have a chance to spend more time with you alone. Oh and I'll try my best not to get too bruised. Unless you're into the wounded-warrior type?”

  I released a small laugh and he grinned broadly. Before I could say more, Lord Kalaviv was nudged aside and I was forced to exchange words with the rest of the men. All but Aladdin who had turned to face the view over the balcony. If he wasn't interested in me then why had he come here?

  Maybe it's about power for him...a man like that probably has a hundred mistresses anyway.

  My father finally called quits to the Unveiling and the men were ushered away by his guards. Aladdin remained in place, folding his arms as he watched the other suitors depart the balcony.

  “Time to go,” Gothel said to him, her tone sweet. Hell, even she was sucked in by that face. I wondered what it would have been like to be him. Your looks were a blessing if you were a man in Osaria. It gave you options. For a woman? It just gave you more men to fend off. And most of them were jumped up lotharios.

  “I haven't spoken with Rapunzel,” Aladdin said, shrugging one shoulder.

  Two guards helped my father out of his seat and I could tell he was feeling weak today. My heart crushed in my chest as I watched them guide him away. How long was Gothel's cure going to take to find? He needed it sooner rather than later.

  As he passed me, I reached out to brush his hand. His fingers didn't even twitch in response.

  Do you even notice I'm here? Do you care what's happening right now? Your daughter's being sold.

  Gothel dipped her head. “One minute, I shall wait.” She ushered Aladdin forward and the second she passed him, her face dropped to a scowl.

  I shared a look with Zira who was waiting by the door and gave me a suggestive grin, nodding to Aladdin.

  I rolled my eyes as I faced the final suitor. He moved so close to me I almost backed up. But a dangerous curiosity rooted my feet in place.

  He smelt like the richness of the desert and something fresh...crisp. What is that smell, it's so good.

  “Hello wife,” he said with a smirk.

  “I'm not your wife yet,” I balked, my brows raising at the balls on this guy.

  “Yes you are.” He winked and walked off without even staying for the whole minute, leaving me frozen. I was unsure if the heat in my blood and my hammering heart was due to rage or desire. Either way, I was mad. Seethingly mad.

  Who the hell did this guy think he was?

  I followed a servant along corridors more opulent than any rooms I’d ever seen as he led me to my chambers. Chambers. Plural. I’d never had more than a single room to call my own and I was one of the wealthiest thieves in the den. This whole pageant idea was damn brilliant. Even if Cassian had come up with it. It didn’t matter, I was going to win the tournament and marry the Princess and be the Emperor one day. And all because I’d found that lamp.

  I reached for the chain at my neck and grinned as I twisted the little lamp disguised as an amulet between my fingers. Yeah, everything was really looking up.

  The servant pushed the door open and his mouth fell open as he looked inside and found Kyra jumping up and down on the large couch which sat in the centre of the wide space. She’d dragged her blue skirt into her fists so that she didn’t step on it and my gaze caught on the curve of her thighs as she exposed them.

  I raised an eyebrow at the genie as she looked over at us.

  “Is this not okay?” she breathed, her eyes widening in fear.

  The servant’s mouth dropped open in shock. “What the-”

  “No Kyra, it’s not okay,” I snapped as I pushed my way in past him. “Jump higher! I need to be sure there are no snakes in those cushions or I won’t sleep a wink tonight and you know it!”

  “Sorry, Master,” she gasped and she started jumping more aggressively as I turned back to the servant who stood gaping in the doorway.

  “The one time I trusted another man’s assessment about there being no snakes present I was bitten. That is not a mistake I will ever make twice,” I said aggressively.

  “No, sire, of course not,” the servant muttered, lowering his head.

  Shit I don’t think I’ll ever get over how good that feels.

  “You can piss off now,” I added as he continued to linger.

  The servant backed up quickly, dragging the door closed behind him and I turned to Kyra with a grin. She was still holding her skirt up and I could practically see her ass. A pool of warmth built in my gut and I took a few steps closer to her, wondering whether she still thought I was ugly. I didn’t want to admit how muc
h that bothered me. Especially since she’d revealed her own captivating human form and the sight of her kept drawing my eye.

  “Did I just hear you telling someone to piss off?” Cassian growled as he appeared from a doorway on the far side of the room and I tore my gaze away from Kyra’s flesh.

  “It wasn’t Master’s fault,” Kyra said quickly and Cassian looked up at her where she still stood on the couch.

  I offered her my hand so that she could climb down and she eyed it hesitantly before shaking her head and hopping down unassisted. I tried to ignore the flicker of disappointment that minor rejection stirred in me and gave my attention to Cassian instead.

  “It was just a servant,” I said dismissively. In the den I told people to piss off at least eighteen times a day so I really wasn’t sure what the big deal was but Cassian looked about ready to piss himself over it.

  “That is a royal servant who has most likely worked around nobles his entire life. As we speak he is probably off telling everyone he bumps into about how the Count Nazari is completely lacking in manners,” Cassian hissed.

  “And about his fear of snakes,” Kyra added with wide eyes. “Maybe you should wish to be snake-proof,” she added as an afterthought.

  “What are you talking about?” Cassian asked with a frown.

  “The servant caught her jumping on the couch so I pretended she was doing it on my orders because I’m afraid of snakes,” I said. The lie had come easily to my lips, I’d worked enough cons to know that thinking on your feet was part and parcel of the deal and I doubted many people would mistrust a lie that made me look bad.

  “Well now if any of the other suitors want to intimidate you they’ll know to hide a snake in your bed. Congratulations on giving them a piece of knowledge over you like that,” Cassian muttered like he thought I was a damn idiot.

  “Well the joke will be on them because I’m not really afraid of snakes at all,” I replied, rolling my eyes. The slums were full of snakes who liked to hide in the shadows of the buildings and prey on the many rats who lived about the place. I’d woken up to find a python in my bed more than once and I had no real fear of the creatures. Their bites hurt but not as much as a stab to the gut and I’d sooner come face to face with a snake than a rat who might give me some disease. “I once bit the head off of a viper,” I added for effect.