28. Enlo
Enlo pulled himself back to his body. He dug his fingers into the arms of his chair.
Revi had sentenced the entire Winter Court to death for a human. It had been a ridiculous waste of his magic, and now their last hope was gone. She’d tricked Enlo, implied she’d go along with his plan—only to run to Revi first thing upon waking.
Enlo could only hope she’d come back like she’d promised Revi she would. But before then, he needed to deal with Revi. This was the final proof that Revi truly wasn’t worthy to rule the Winter Court any longer. He’d be weak after using so much magic. Enlo would not waste the opportunity.
He rose from his seat and collected the axe he’d found earlier that day. The halls were empty—as they always were now. He encountered no one as he left the castle and traversed the gardens, his hand clenched around the handle of his axe. He wouldn’t have long to do what he needed to do. As soon as he made the first strike, Revi would surely know. His hand tightened on the axe. He was only doing what needed to be done, though it gave him no pleasure.
Revi sending Kienna away was all the confirmation Enlo had needed. Revi was unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary for their Court.
Enlo had no such qualms.
The garden was quiet, but that was no surprise with no courtiers at the Winter Court. There was no one to wander the gardens but servants, and they rarely took advantage of that option. The fear of Revi, if something accidentally happened to his frostroses, was too strong.
The roses waited where they always were, cast in the soft morning sunlight. Enlo walked toward them slowly, trepidation filling his heart. If he did this, there would be no going back. He would kill Revi, or Revi would kill him.
The thought twisted in him like a knife to his heart. But he cut himself off from the sensation. Someone had to be willing to put the Court before their emotions.
Squaring his shoulders, Enlo lifted the axe and brought it down on the roses.
A pulse of magic shuddered through the air, much like the one from Kienna’s departure, except this one held an edge of wrongness to it. Of pain. Enlo pushed away the feeling and raised the axe again.