Page 8 of The Winter Prince

“Every...” She trailed off. “All right,” she said, not quite grimacing but doing an admirable job hiding her fear, though she couldn’t hide it from her scent, and it set him on edge. “Anything else?”

His nostrils flared. She smelled so good even with that spring-like hint to her scent—his thoughts cut off as recognition poured into him. He snarled and prowled toward her. Alarm flashed across her face, and she stumbled back several steps.

“Where is it?” he snarled. “Where’s your elven magic?”

Her eyes widened. “My—”

“You have something made by elves. It reeks of their magic. Drop it on the floor.”

Wordlessly, she reached into her skirts and withdrew a smooth blue stone. Revi studied it. He hadn’t seen a stone like that in averylong time.

“Razkrys.”

Magic flared through the stone, revealing its workings to him. Something related to communication, probably over great distances. He huffed out the stink of elven magic, like a breath of spring growth and rich earth, from his nose.

“You may not keep that while you stay.”

“It was a gift,” she said, her voice soft, almost timid.

“Nevertheless,” he growled. “Leave it there on the floor. Someone will come collect it.” He turned away and started walking again.

She only hesitated briefly before she followed him. The scent of the elven magic receded. Good. She hadn’t tried to pick it up again.

“You smell magic?” she asked after a moment, her voice wavering but lanced with curiosity.

“I can smell a great many things.”

When they reached the door to the castle, it swung open. Her steps faltered behind him.

“Is there anything else I need to know?”

He didn’t answer.

Beyond the door, a young Elyri woman waited. She was lithe and small, a full head shorter than Kienna. At the arrival of her prince and the human, she dropped into a deep bow. He didn’t know her name, he realized. He should have asked Enlo for it.

“This is your maid. If you need anything, she’ll help you.”

The Elyri woman straightened and then bowed again.

Kienna gave her a small smile. “I’m Kienna.”

The woman blinked and cast a glance at Revi. “My... my prince… I don’t speak this language.”

He frowned. Of course she didn’t. She was not one of the nobles gifted with language as a child or an ambassador to other Courts, but she would need to be able to communicate with Kienna. Silently, he approached the young woman and pressed his nose to her hand.

“Zenovor.” The magic left him in a sudden whoosh, the feeling akin to being kicked in the chest. He dug his claws into the marble floor to steady himself, but still his legs swayed beneath him.

Kienna took a half step forward. “Are you all right?” she asked, her voice almost concerned.

The Elyri woman’s eyes widened as she realized what he had done. “I will bear your gift with honor, my prince,” she murmured, bowing deeply.

Revi lashed his tail, ill at ease with her gratitude. “Just take care of the woman. She’s your charge. Help her with whatever she needs.”

“Yes, my prince.” The woman turned to Kienna and switched to Kasmian Common like she’d been born speaking it. “Welcome to the Winter Court, my lady.”

Kienna’s eyebrow tilted up, and she grinned. “You do speak Common. I was worried for a moment.”

The woman stole a glance at Revi but said nothing.

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