~ The Cloaked Prince ~

"I simply cannot ride this thing," Winter shook her head, staggering backwards.

Lysander let out a sigh, gently petting the miniature horse's mane. It was a shade of white that he had specifically searched for because it resembled snow.

"You have a pet phoenix," Lysander told her. He wanted to add that she also carried a feral wolf around for a while, but he recently found out the wolf was in fact a druid.

"Hurry up, Winny." Aiden whined from on top of his horse. "How can you be okay with cuddling a supernatural wolf, but not riding a horse?"

Winter scowled before approaching the animal slowly. She lifted a foot, jabbing it at the stirrup. Her foot missed the first time, causing her to let out a pitiful whine. The second time she was able to get it and hauled herself up. Once she was on top of it, she didn't move, taking heavy breaths and inwardly cursing her brothers.

Lysander had only just arrived back from the Academia and insisted on teaching the twins to ride in the stead of an actual teacher. He had purchased two horses for their birthday: one with golden hair and another with white, specifically coordinating their physical appearances with that of the twins.

"This is my favourite birthday gift ever!" Aiden exclaimed, clutching the two ropes coming from his horse's head.

"This is the only gift you've ever received," Winter reminded him solemnly. "We didn't celebrate our birthday in the attic so anything would've been okay, Your Highness. You didn't need to go this far."

Lysander frowned, mounting his horse. "I just don't know how to make you happy, Winny. I've bought you dresses and necklaces, but the only things you actually want are my precious books."

"I fully plan to rob you dry," She said with twisted eyes.

"Stop talking so much," Aiden whined. "Teach us how to ride."

Lysander chuckled. "Most beginning riders have trouble controlling their horses, but you'll gain the ability to effectively communicate your orders to your horse with practice."

Winter, who was distracted by the cold feeling growing in her palms, accidentally kicked the horse with her heels. The horse immediately grew startled and began bolting through the open field. Winter shouted for help, dropping the reins and frantically grabbing onto the horse's mane.

The wind rushed by her, painfully whipping her rivers of hair back in her face. The horse was gaining speed and the harsh wind around her beat down on her body heavily. The ground passed in a blur, and only the sound of her rapidly beating heart could keep up the pounding of hooves. She clenched both hands more firmly on the horse's mane, screaming for help. She vowed to turn both Aiden and Lysander into popsicles if she got out of this situation alive.

Out of desperation, she pulled on the horse's mane. The animal reared on its hind legs and Winter found herself falling from the saddle. Her back hit the hard ground with a thud and pain eroded from her spine. Yup, she thought to herself. She was really going to turn them into popsicles.

She groaned, ignoring the pain that stretched out over her back, and pulled herself up while drawing in heavy breaths. Where was she? She glanced around hurriedly, but to her dismay, the only thing she was able to see was forest. Several tall trees towered over her, blocking the sunlight and casting looming shadows over where she had fallen in a heap on the cold ground.

"Are you alright?" An oddly familiar voice asked from behind her.

She turned around quickly, causing the pain to cut across her back in a sharp motion. She let out a small whimper, clenching her fists. The cloaked figure reached out a hand to her and she saw a flicker of silver from beneath its hood.

Winter shuffled backwards on the ground. "Who are you?"

The figure hesitated, before stretching his hand out even further. "I must say it hurts that you do not recognize me. I am your lover, after all."

She flinched as his gloved hand lightly caressed where her necklace sat placidly on her skin. He then reached for her dishevelled silver hair, which had flown loose from its once neatly done braid. He raised the strands in his palm to his mouth slowly, as if he was kissing them.

Winter, taken aback, yanked her hair free from his grip. "What are you talking about?"

The cloaked figure took off his hood in one swift motion. The shadows danced on his defined face, complimenting the silver of his eyes and navy blue hair. Prince Henrik. His eyes traced her face, before falling on her necklace.

"I don't remember giving you that," He said eerily. "Could you be cheating on me?"

Winter practically spat. "You don't get to own me just because you send me gifts."

Henrik flicked an eyebrow up, eyes devouring her every motion. "That may be true, but nevertheless you are still mine. I will not leave someone who touches what's mine unscathed."

"Shut up," Winter grumbled, making an effort to soothe her pulsing back. "Did you do that to my horse?"

Henrik shook his head. "Listen," He said, cupping his ear with his hand. The faint sound of rushing water pierced Winter's eardrums. "Your horse was heading straight for a waterfall. You're lucky I stopped it in time."

Winter tensed, thinking about how she didn't know how to swim.

"What shall I do?" Henrik sung in a sorrowful tone, "The gods seem to want my bride to be dead."

"...What?"

Henrik's eyes flashed with anger. "Did he not tell you?"

Winter said nothing.

Henrik sighed, shaking his head. "To think I even sent him three prophets and that King wouldn't listen. You must have guessed by know, why all these weird things keep happening to you."

Winter remained silent.

"My dear bride," He said tauntingly. "Ask the King whether or not your soul is yours to keep."

Before Winter could protest he disappeared into thin air without a trace, leaving her with nothing but shadows and the faint sound of rushing water. Her palms began to itch with a tingling sensation. Frost spread from where her palms touched the grass, eating away at the area around her.

"...ter!"

"Winter!"

Lysander froze in horror at the sight of his trembling sister surrounded with frozen grass. She met his gaze, eyes glowing green with fury.

"Winter?" He asked her in barely a whisper.

"What the hell aren't you guys telling me?"