Page 37 of The Winter Prince

No. She would have to suss it out herself. Maybe if Revi visited her dreams, she could sneakily gather information there. Or maybe she could go visit him during the day, if the healers would let her by. She’d had no luck with that as of yet.

Until he healed, her dreams would have to suffice.

If he ever returned to them.

Tonight, though, when she woke in her cottage, she found herself reaching fortwocups again, and the habitual motion sent a spear of excitement through her. Her mind seemed to know when she would need a second cup before she did.

Sure enough, a knock came at the door only a few minutes later. Kienna threw it open and let herself drink in the sight of her prince. He was so familiar, with his long silver hair and glowing blue eyes, and yet...

“Are you all right?” She threw open the door. “Here, come sit.”

He stepped inside, hand clenching the doorframe for a moment before he moved to take his usual chair at the table. He didn’t say a word, his silence worrying her nearly as much as his leaning on his surroundings. He wasn’t chatty, necessarily, but he’d always greeted her before, or at least asked if he could enter. Never this stretching quiet.

She studied him as she gathered the tea. He was still inhumanly beautiful, still broad-shouldered, but it did seem like he was lesstherethan usual. If he truly was Revi, then it made sense he’d be weak, still healing, in dreams as well as the waking world.

“You haven’t answered my question,” she said quietly, pushing a teacup across the table to him.

He lifted it to his lips and took a sip, eyes shutting as he swallowed. “Thank you.”

She curled her hands around her cup. What could she ask to earn the answers she ached for? He’d seen her with the other man. Maybe… “Did… did the beast have you punished? Are you injured?”

He blinked at her slowly, as if his mind was having trouble processing the question. Maybe he hadn’t assumed she thought the other man was her dream prince.

“I know he couldn’t have done anything to you himself,” she continued, “with how he’s...” She bit her lip. Here she was, most likely talking to the beast—to Revi—about his own injuries that were entirely her fault. He’d only fought those monsters to protect her. The thought pushed a wall of guilt up in her.

“And ‘how’ is he?” he asked, expression unreadable.

It wasn’t hard to produce a frown for him. She needed him to give her more clues. She needed to know if he was Revi, the beast. The Winter Prince. “He’s still unconscious. How do you not know this? Have they locked you away?”

He shook his head, something flickering in his gaze.

“No one will tell me anything.” Kienna rubbed her finger along the rim of her teacup. “Only that he’s injured and needs rest, then they send me on my way.”

His brows shot up. “You’ve tried to see the beast?”

“Yes,” she admitted. Would it upset him to hear she’d tried to visit him? He’d been angry with her, but understandably so, given that not keeping her promise had led to such catastrophic results. She wrapped her arms around her middle. Saying these thingstohim—if he was indeed Revi—left her feeling incredibly vulnerable. “He saved my life. Our lives. I thought... I couldn’t bear the thought that he was dying because of that.”

“I—” Her prince cut himself off and turned sideways in his chair, almost as if he wanted to get up and start pacing. “His injury isn’t your fault,” he said after a moment, not meeting her eyes. “He sustained it days ago, and the venom had time to work through his body before he returned to the healers.”

“Oh.” Relief warred with a new flood of worry with that news. It almost made her feel worse to know it was an old injury. No wonder he was still on bedrest.

But that sounded like knowledge only Revi or his healers would know. Could she trust it as a confirmation?

She peered at him, not wanting to miss even the most minute change to his expression. “I thought you didn’t know he was injured. Why would they tell you those details when they wouldn’t tell me?”

His jaw clenched, and his fingers tightened on the teacup, turning white.

When it became clear he had no intention of answering, Kienna blew out an irritated breath. “I wish... I wish there weren’t so many secrets here.”

“What secrets do you think there are?” he asked, an odd catch to his voice.

She jerked to standing. “Between the mysterious drought, the beast’s past,you, and my presence here, it all feels connected. Why? Why does he keep prisoners? He’s not cruel to—”

He cut off her tirade. “The beast doesn’t keep prisoners.” He looked almost hurt at her words.

She turned and stared at him for a moment. “What am I if not a prisoner? I’m treated well, but I’m trapped here. I wouldn’t even mind if it weren’t for you. You said yourself that you’re a prisoner. And the first time I found—” She stopped and choked. The words about finding the other man the first time wouldn’t come, no matter how she wanted them to. She switched tactics. Let him continue to believe she thought the other man was her dream prince. “Why did you say you were one before, but not now?”

“I have never told you I was a prisoner,” he said slowly, rising to his feet.

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