Page 47 of The Winter Prince

Enlo opened his mouth to respond, but whatever he said, Revi missed it. A sensation that could only be described as a sharp slicing across his magical senses tore into him. He doubled over, collapsing against the doorframe. He reached out through his senses, beyond himself, into the magic in the near vicinity. Something that had been so easy before sending Kienna away, even a few moments ago before handing his throne to Enlo, pushed black spots into his vision now. But he managed it for a few brief seconds before it snapped back to him.

“Zruyeds,” he gasped, fury giving him a new strength. “My magic is too weak to hold the border around the castle.Zruyedshave breached the wall.”

Enlo’s brows drew down sharply at the news. “How many?”

“A dozen.” Revi drew in a deep breath, and then another, letting his mind fall back on his warrior training. He had no weapons; he hadn’t needed them in years. A beast had no need to carry around a sword or war axe.

A beast. He nodded once, decided. The idea of returning to a beastly form turned his stomach, but he had done it before the curse, and he would do it again. He was nothing but a warrior now—not a beast, but a protector, just as he had always been. He was no longer the Winter Prince, but he would do whatever he needed to protect his Court. Just like always.

“Zeminy.”

With a roar and the last dregs of his magic, he shifted back to a beast one last time.

Chapter 31

Enlo

EnlosteppedforwardasRevi’s familiar frostcat form appeared beside him again.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“The curse is broken.” Revi’s voice rumbled in its familiar beastly cadence. “Our people need a leader, and it’s not me. I will handle this threat.”

Revi didn’t wait for Enlo to respond, and Enlo stared after him as he bounded across the fresh snow, leaving massive paw prints in his wake.

Enlo dug his hands into his hair. The curse was broken. The thought kept circling in his mind.Revihad broken the curse, Enlo suspected strongly, because of his willingness to sacrifice himself. To let Enlo lead.

He had sacrificed his days in a far more permanent way because of his love of the Court and his love of Enlo. Now he was doing it again, going to face a dozen enemies on his own. Enlo had no doubt he would die from it. He was already weak, bereft of most of his magic.

Because of Enlo.

Enlo could have everything he wanted. He could keep the throne. He could probably even spin the story to paint himself as a hero. Revi would be gone. No one would know.

But... Revi would begone. His best friend. His almost-brother. The one who had always sought his opinion, had always valued him as they’d workedtogetherfor the Winter Court.

The clarity that came with that thought stung like a dive into a frozen river, and he suddenly understood why Revi had chosen to let Kienna leave. Saving the entire Winter Court would be meaningless if he lost Revi in the process. Enlo had never truly wanted his cousin’s throne. His desperation to get out of the curse had twisted his thoughts and made him believe it was the only way to save them all.

But the curse was broken. Revi had broken it. Revi, the strong warrior, the fearless protector, the man Enlo had seen fight for his people time and again. Just like he was fighting now, while Enlo hung back. Revi had always been willing to die for his people, but Enlo had finally realized he couldn’t let that happen.

He started down the steps of the castle, paused, turned around, and dashed inside, scooping up the axe forgotten on the floor before running back outside.

Revi was a maelstrom of death. He moved amongst thezruyedsthat had converged on him in the front garden, delivering destruction the likes of which Enlo hadn’t seen from him since the attacks that had led to the curse.

But at the same time, it was nothing like that, because for every two strikes Revi made, thezruyedsdelivered one to him. Red stained his fur and the fast-growing layer of snow on the ground.

They were killing him as surely as he killed them.

Enlo leaped into the fray, striking the nearest enemy and drawing its attention away from Revi. He fought desperately, leaning into the long-buried memories of fights won against these monsters. He’d never been a great warrior like Revi, but he had held his own, and he dredged up those recollections to do so again now. He narrowly avoided one taking his head off, scrambling back and cutting into it with his axe. It dropped at his feet, and he moved in to guard Revi’s back, just as he had before. One by one, thezruyedsfell.

Until none were left.

Enlo didn’t even realize it until a pained whine cut through the silence. He whirled; Revi had collapsed, his sides heaving. His face was wan.

Enlo dropped to the ground beside Revi. In his comatose state, Revi was already shifting back to his natural form, tangled silver hair spread around him in waves.

“No, no, no!” Enlo growled. He pulled Revi onto his lap and pressed his hands to each side of Revi’s head. He tapped into his newfound magic—the Court’s magic, meant for the royal on the throne. It felt weak, or maybe empty, like a drought-plagued river, somehow. And it was supposed to beRevi’s, not his.

But even as empty as it felt, it was still a large force compared to his own normal magic; his was a bowl he could draw on in small amounts. This was a torrent. Enlo almost wasn’t sure how to wield it. So with all of the finesse of a blind, blundering bear, he shoved it at Revi, willing it,beggingit to go back to its original master.

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