Page 11 of The Winter Prince

He cast a sharp look at her. “Been like what?”

“A... a beast.” At his flat look, she huffed and rolled her eyes. “It’s painfully obvious there’s something wrong here. You can’t expect me not to notice it. You only take the forms of animals, and perhaps that’s perfectly normal for fae, but I’m fairly certain that the Winter Court being in the midst of a droughty summer isdefinitelyunusual.”

Revi held back the snarl that wanted to rip from him. He had no intention of telling her the curse, but he had neglected to consider whether anyone else would have the same sense.

“Did Zoya tell you something she ought not?” The words came out more growling than he intended.

Kienna’s eyebrows puckered together. “No. She was very friendly, but if I tried to ask her anything about it, she shut up like a pinecone.”

Revi leaned back. At least there was that small grace. He would have to speak to Zoya to ensure she continued to keep her silence.

“What is wrong with your Court?” Kienna pressed. “Is that why I’m here? Something to do with it?”

He snapped up another piece of meat in front of him, not caring any longer if it disturbed her. “This falls under the purview of questions, little human,” he finally said.

She stabbed at the leafy greens on her plate with too much force, clinking the plate beneath. “Then I suppose asking why the castle is empty would as well,” she said, her voice tense. “Why you have no family or court in your Winter Court.” She stopped and drew in a deep breath as if trying to calm herself. When she looked at him again, there was understanding in her eyes, but that only made Revi’s hackles raise. “If only you would tell me, I’d be willing to help. Secrets serve no one but themselves. If you would just—”

He snarled, and she cut off, flinching away.

“Your human mind is ill prepared to understand all I have endured. All I’ve had to do. All those I have hurt.”

She flinched again at his guttural tone.

He rose and stepped down from the seat, stalking behind her chair and pushing his muzzle closer to her side. He could hear her rapid pulse, smell her rising fear. It made the predator in him hungry, especially after that paltry attempt at nourishment.

“Telling you won’t fix anything,” he continued, his voice a deep growl. “There’s—” His voice choked off, his Elyri magic not allowing him to finish the lie. Instead of trying to come up with a truth that would keep her from questioning him further, he turned and stalked from the room.

Chapter 7

Enlo

Enlorippedhimselffromhis magic, coming to in his bed and sitting up with a jerk. He didn’t have as much magic as Revi, but he’d long since perfected the Winter Elyri skill of soulwalking—sending his spirit beyond his body to spy and learn things he would never know otherwise. It was invaluable in the politics of court, but he hadn’t needed it recently—not before Kienna’s arrival. The temptation to lurk and watch the first dinner between Revi and the human had been too much for him. And now that he had…

Fury was lightning in his veins. How could Revi have been so stupid? Enlo had hoped that the reticence he’d sensed in his cousin when he and Revi had discussed breaking the curse via Kienna’s affections had been his imagination. Or, if not that, then at least that Revi wouldn’t let his reservations hinder him when it came to actually wooing the human.

Enlo had clearly hoped in vain.

If Revi was ever going to sway the human’s heart, snarling at her and scaring her away from helping was not the path forward. Enlo curled his fingers into a fist, his slightly pointed, clawed nails digging into his palm. If Revi was left to his own devices, they would all die before the curse was broken.

If only Enlo could take Revi’s place. Before the curse, he had never wanted for female companionship. Women loved his easy smile and charismatic nature. If it were left to him, he would have already had the human blushing.

What if… what if itwereup to him? The idea unfurled in his mind slowly, a banner of impossibility and hope. He was not the Winter Prince. He was not the ruler of their Court. But hewasfrom the royal family. Maybe, just maybe, that would be enough to satisfy the curse… And if he could break the curse, he would. In a heartbeat. Revi was like his brother, but Revi was too coiled up in his own pride, his own bitterness, to do what needed to be done.

Revi would kill them all.

The thought left an acrid tinge at the back of his throat, but he brushed it away. Revi was suited to war; Enlo was suited to the people, especially to women. It was just their natures. It wasn’t disloyal of him to acknowledge Revi’s weakness. He only wanted to help their Court. For Revi. For their people. For him. He was sotiredof this awful slow dying of the life he’d known.

Still, he would say nothing to his cousin, not until he had researched and studied the curse further to ensure it was a real possibility. There was no need to give false hope. He closed his eyes and pictured the human: her golden hair, the way that summery lilac dress had hugged her curves. She lacked the elegant pointed ears of the Elyri, the sharp glint of cunning in her eyes, the angular jaw and cheekbones, but she was beautiful in her own way. Soft curves, sweetness like a ripe piece of fruit. There was an innocence to her.

Yes. Enlo’s mouth curved into a slow smile. He was confident that he could steal the girl’s heart.

Chapter 8

Revi

“Andthecaves?”

Revi’s steward, a diminutive Elyri man with glittering grey eyes and dark hair the exact shade of green as a fir’s needles, scratched the side of his nose. “No new reports, Your Highness. Our men are still scouting them to ensure their safety.”

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