Page 31 of The Winter Prince

Whenshewas safe.

Chapter 19

Enlo

Enlodidn’tsearchoutKienna when Revi took leave of the castle. He’d promised, after all.

But his promise didn’t constrain him from using his magic to send her a message, and if she chose to heed the invitation on it… Well. The promise said nothing ofherseeking him out.

His lips curved into a smile as he heard the quiet, swift steps behind him. He schooled his expression into one more neutral and turned from the window he stood at, overlooking the pitifully low pond in the back garden. No matter how it rained, it never stayed full.

Kienna’s eyes lit up at the sight of him, but there was an odd twist to her smile.

Enlo let his own smile widen as he drank her and her summer dress in. “You came.”

“Of course,” she said simply. “I was glad to get your note. After how you left so abruptly last time, I…”

Enlo tilted his head. “You took your leave ofmelast we met.”

“No, not the library. From my cottage. After the skating.”

Enlo blinked slowly, careful to keep his smile in place as he sifted through this. He’d watched her with his magic enough to know she had only her rooms in the castle. There were no cottages on the castle grounds.

Understanding clicked into place. Kienna’s reaction last time he’d met her, in the library. Her expectations of what he’d be like.

It seemed Revi had been busy after all—during nights, at least.

Irritation tingled along Enlo’s skin. Revi’s attempts to woo the lady at the dinners were abominably poor, but what had he told her in the dreams? Surely not much, since she didn’t know the prince from her dreams and the beast were one and the same.

Still, it rankled him that he didn’t know what they were about while sleeping. Especially since she thoughtEnlowas the one she met.

Kienna still watched him, that small crease between her brows.

“My apologies. Dreamwalking stretches my skills.” True. He could hardly manage it, not like Revi. He stepped closer to her—not so close as to push her boundaries like last time. Just close enough to indicate his interest. It was all a game, and no one played it better than him. Her skin flushed, but she didn’t shift away. Good. He was still within her boundaries. “But I could never be angry with you, Kienna.”

“O-of course,” she stammered. “It must have been especially taxing to change everything for so long while we ice skated.”

Enlo’s brows flew up before he could stop them. Had Revi wasted precious magic to change her dream so thoroughly? It was one thing to insert himself into it. An entirely different thing to pull magic to change it. The Courtneededthat magic—far more than a human did.

Kienna’s eyes darted between his, the tiny crease returning. Enlo mastered his expression and gave her an easy smile as the half-truth slipped past his lips. “You are well worth my efforts, I assure you.”

“What did you want to do today?” she asked, searching his face as if looking for something.

Probably trying to understand the discrepancies she might remember between him and Revi. It could be difficult to recall details from dreams, but it could be done. Enlo would just have to distract her from the task.

“Anything, Kienna, as long as I’m with you. This place has a new life with you here. I could almost come to love the warmth of it, given how it suits you so well.”

That earned him an askance glance. “You don’t have to twist your words to flatter me. I remember too clearly what you said before about hating the husk of what your Court has become.”

Enlo flinched. That was exactly how he truly felt, but he had never told her that.

Had Revi? The idea made him want to scoff. His cousin would never admit something so personal to anyone, much less the human he was so stiff with. His pride wouldn’t allow such weakness to show.

“I only meant that you make it more bearable,” he said smoothly, gliding to her side again. He gestured for the doorway. “Come, let’s call for some tea. I’d love to read to you in the library.” He had just the book in mind—something he knew she’d enjoy based on her choices when he’d observed her with his soulwalking.

Really, wooing women was so easy if you just paid attention to details. He didn’t know how Revi was so terrible at it.

She followed him, her expression still somewhat guarded, but Enlo wouldn’t let that bother him. He’d spend the day swaying her heart to him with some of the most romantic Elyri love stories he could find. She’d be back in the palm of his hand by nightfall. And then he’d start again tomorrow. And the next day. He would make the most of his cousin’s absence to soak in this delectable challenge.

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