The Ice Twins - Nikki Jefford Page 0,3

dress—the one Ren had once said had a “fetching” hue.

Fortunately, Daisywhirl Hall had no events for the next ten days, giving us plenty of time to go all out in our preparations.

Aimer shut the ladder and leaned it against the wall. “I love the swings,” he said.

I smiled at him, then looked over my handiwork. “Thanks.”

“See you tomorrow.” Aimer waved.

“See you then.” I’d have big news to share with our group of volunteers the next day. Oh my gosh, I was having trouble not talking about it now.

My friend Meara entered the hall, clutching a stack of notebooks against her white tunic. She taught first-years and had the patience of a priestess. She peered through thick brown bangs, her cheeks lifting when she spotted me. Rushing over, she looked at the swing and gasped. “Zelie, it looks amazing in here.”

Thessalia, a gorgeous blonde elf, huffed. “Enchanted forest—real original,” she said sarcastically before walking past us.

I glared at the back of her head, which was partially swept up into a princess style with long, loose curls spilling down her back. Thessalia had been one of the first females in my class to be snatched up by a male and provided with a life of comfort. Lanson, her mate, was always traveling the realm, selling his family’s exotic silks. Every return trip, he showered gifts on his mate. I’d heard their townhouse was like a fine museum of treasures, not that I’d ever come close to a tea invitation.

“Don’t listen to her.” Meara frowned in Thessalia’s direction. “She’s just jealous.”

“She’s just mean,” I corrected. Thessalia had nothing to be jealous of, and she knew it. Sometimes a bitch was just a bitch.

Meara lowered her voice. “I heard Lanson will be out of town during the ball.”

A twinge of unease unspooled inside my belly. The reunion ball was sort of a big deal, and despite her thorns, Thessalia had been one of our most regular volunteers. Ugh. I didn’t want to feel sorry for Mrs. Stuck-Up. I’d envied her all through school. She’d always seemed to have everything served up to her like sweetberries on a silver platter. Ironic to imagine the beautiful blonde elf dressed up and attending the ball alone.

Probably mistaking my frown for irritation, Meara said, “Forget her. You’ve transformed this room into a magical wonderland. Maybe you’ll be nice and help my class with our reunion ball in two years.”

“For you, I’d consider it,” I said with a smile, my mood lifting back up thanks to Meara. Her sweetness had that effect on folks. Well, most folks. Probably not Thessalia, but the prickly blonde wouldn’t know what nice was if it kissed her on the mouth.

Meara set her stack of notebooks on a table.

“What’s all that?” I asked.

Meara lowered her lashes. “Uh, just some curriculum changes Principal Lemonwick wants me to review for next school year.”

“Getting you to do his job, is he?” I snorted.

I thought I’d get a chuckle out of my friend. Instead, she rubbed her nose and looked at her feet. “It’s not like I have much else going on in my life. I thought Nonie might want to take a trip together, maybe tour the sunflower fields of Goldendale, but she doesn’t like to leave Pinemist.” Meara darted a glance over at the spot where her sister Nonie stood setting out plaster mushrooms over construction paper.

Although Nonie was my age, we’d never been close, as she liked to keep to herself. My heart went out to her, though. She’d lost her mate, Horith, prior to Winter Solstice. Her mate had been stomped on while battling ogres in Elkcan. Poor guy. My mother was the one who had recruited him in a continuing effort to keep the ogres from spreading their havoc into neighboring Bluespark and our own beloved town. She was always entreating elves with elemental magic to join the front. Unluckily for Horith, he’d had wind powers. In the end, his gusty abilities hadn’t saved him from being flattened into an elven pancake. I grimaced.

Nonie set a red paint can on the table, followed by a black one and brushes.

“I’d better help her,” Meara said. She hurried over, saying, “You need to stir the paint first. Here, let me help.”

The two sisters looked sweet together bent over the mushrooms.

I headed out, finding my heart beating with excitement as I zipped down the roads toward my cottage. At home, I changed into my blue dress and brushed out my thick shoulder-length brown hair. Ren didn’t