5. Revi
Revi retreated to the library 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.
But this open 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.
“Very well.”
Revi braced himself. “That also means not joining us for dinner.”
At that Enlo bristled. He opened his mouth and then snapped it shut with a click of his teeth. This time the smile he gave looked a little bit more like a baring of fangs. “What’s missing a few dinners. For a year. I’ll just eat in the kitchen with the staff.”
Revi sank his claws deeper into the carpet, but before he could say anything else, Enlo stood. “It’s a wise suggestion, cousin. Of course I’ll honor it. I, Enloras, will not seek out the human.” The words threaded with the magic that always accompanied a promise made with a name.
Any animosity that Revi had almost certainly imagined vanished as Enlo gave Revi another sly grin. “I’m glad to see you’re taking this so seriously. I look forward to hearing all about how the wooing goes.”
Revi swallowed a growl. He had no illusions about how any wooing would go. He’d rather have to fight a hundred zruyeds.