Page 9 of The Winter Prince

“My name is Kienna. What’s yours?”

“Zoya,” the maid said, barely hesitating at Kienna’s bold, thoughtless question; humans didn’t know how personal it was to ask an Elyri for their name. “Come, my lady. I’ll show you to your quarters.”

Kienna nodded but she cast another glance at Revi. “Is there anything else I should know while I stay here, Winter Prince?”

Irritation flared under Revi’s skin. “Yes.” The word came out as a guttural growl. “Don’t ask any more questions. And don’t call me Winter Prince.”

Kienna’s brow shot up, and Zoya’s eyes widened.

“What would you rather I call you?” Kienna asked.

Revi didn’t know the answer to that. He only knew that every time she called him Winter Prince, it grated under his skin. It felt like a mockery. It was the Winter Court only in name—there was no winter left in his home.

“Nothing. Call me nothing.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Kienna snapped, losing her composure for the first time. “You can’t expect me to call you nothing.”

“Then pick something else,” he growled. “Just do not call me that.”

“Well, why don’t I call you Beast, then?”

“Perfect. It’s fitting.” With the irritation of her under his skin and the tantalizing smell of her in his nostrils urging him to act on his predatorial hunting instincts, he felt like little more than a beast. He moved away, leaving the human with her maid.

“I’ll see you at dinner, Beast,” she called after him, something like a taunt edging her voice.

Chapter 5

Revi

Reviretreatedtothelibrary after leaving Kienna with her maid. The door was ajar, as most doors in the castle were. Revi could open them, but it was easier not to have to try to deal with the latch.

Butthisopen door gave him pause. There was a sense of anticipation to it. It was too inviting. He sniffed the air wafting from the room. A hint of frost and evergreen.

Of course. He sighed and pushed past the door.

Enlo straightened in his seat where he waited on the sofa as soon as Revi entered. “Well? Has she come?”

Revi padded into the room and settled on the rug next to the fireplace. The cold, empty fireplace. They hadn’t had to light a fire for anything besides cooking since the curse had begun. His chest tightened with pain at the thought.

“She came. She’s with Zoya. I sent her father away already.”

Enlo leaned back on the sofa, a look of supreme satisfaction on his face. After a moment, it turned into a sly grin. “Is she beautiful?”

It rankled Revi to admit to Enlo how attractive he found Kienna, so he gave an awkward shrug with one shoulder and looked into the empty fireplace.

Enlo chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes. Oh, this will be such fun. I can’t wait to get acquainted with her.”

Something in Enlo’s tone made Revi’s fur stand on end. He cast a slitted glance Enlo’s way. “She’s not a toy.”

Enlo shifted. “I know that. I know her importance. Don’t think I will do anything to get in the way of that, cousin.”

Revi forced himself to calm. Of course Enlo knew that. He was the one who had pushed Revi into this. And yet he lounged there, carefree and as charming as ever. Something small and tight twisted in Revi’s chest. Even if he wanted her to, he didn’t think it was possible for a human to fall in love with a creature like him… But Enlo? He was lithe, handsome, an impeccable specimen of an Elyri man. Before the curse, he and Revi could have passed for twins, except for Revi’s broader build and longer hair. And, of course, Enlo’s infinitely superior personality. Enlo could easily destroy any small chance there was of Kienna falling in love with Revi. Why would a beautiful woman pick a beast when she could have Enlo?

Revi looked away from his cousin. “I know,” he conceded. He hesitated and shifted, kneading his paws into the carpet. “That’s why I must ask you to stay clear of her.”

Enlo laughed. The sound quieted slowly as he realized Revi’s seriousness. He was silent so long that Revi stole a glance at him.

He was studying Revi, expression shrewd. Of course he knew exactly what Revi was thinking, but he had the grace not to voice it.

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