The Ice Twins - Nikki Jefford Page 0,35

either. Their relationship was looking about as romantic as the one I’d had with Ren.

As my ex circled a puddle, part of me hoped he’d put aside being a forecaster for three seconds and step into detective mode. Maybe he could help me prove that this wasn’t the work of wild animals.

I started sweeping toward him, watching Ren crouch over a puddle, then stand and stare at a broken window.

“So, what kind of animals do you think did this? A flock of flying squirrels pelting the windowpanes with acorns?” I joked. “Maybe they wanted to get inside to run around our papier-mâché trees.” A chuckle tickled at the back of my throat. Better to laugh than cry.

Ren looked at me all serious. “Zelie.” He sighed. “This isn’t a laughing matter.”

“But it is rather extraordinary, don’t you think?” I pressed. Come on, Ren, you’re a smart male. Supposedly.

When he glanced at the window and nodded, I thought perhaps he would finally reach an educated conclusion. “It is peculiar that the rain blew in from a southwesterly angle here at the hall when it came straight down in most parts of Pinemist, which leads me to believe there is a microclimate in this region I wasn’t aware of until this morning.”

I grasped the broom handle in my fist and hit my head against it.

Ren paced along the windows, stepping carefully over broken glass. “Such a wind pattern isn’t typical with the tree coverage outside the hall. It’s as though it swooped down from the sky in an L formation before reaching the windows, though the glass must have first been broken by wild animals for the rain to blow inside.”

Ren was still nattering on about wind and rain patterns after I set the broom down and walked out. He probably wouldn’t notice I’d left for several minutes.

Shoulders sagging, I trudged home, feeling lower with each step. I didn’t look up until I reached my gate. My heart stalled at the sight of Reed and Ronin, backs pressed against either side of my front door, their arms folded.

CHAPTER TEN

Zelie

“Did you really think you could run away from us that easily?” Reed asked.

“This isn’t a good time.” I gripped the back of my neck and squeezed my eyes shut.

“Zelie, what’s the matter? What happened?” Reed’s arms loosened to his sides as he leaned in. His soft words and close inspection of my face pulled at the tears swarming the backs of my eyes.

Ronin hurried over and took me in his arms. “It will be okay, Zelie.” A tear rolled down my cheek. I was being ridiculous. I wanted to laugh. It was just a stupid ball. Who cared if my entire class now hated me? They should take a trip to Elkcan and see what it was like to have real problems.

But the truth of the matter was, I did care. There wasn’t a lot of excitement in Pinemist. We weren’t Fae royals who could just zip off to exotic locales with the wave of an arm. Each graduating class of elves waited ten years for their reunion ball. It was an evening of celebration, merriment, and socializing, a chance to revisit those carefree memories from childhood.

The reunion ball was an elven tradition that spanned decades.

It didn’t matter whether the hall had been torn apart by rabid squirrels or a vindictive blonde elf. When I volunteered as lead organizer, I had promised an evening of enchantment to our entire class.

I’d let everyone down. I’d failed them all.

I cried into Ronin’s shoulder, wetting his shirt. Reed closed in until I was sandwiched between them, secure inside their princely cocoon. The twins held me while I cried. The feeling of warmth and safety they projected made it hard to break away, but I couldn’t stand around blubbering like a baby all morning.

I sniffled and swiped at my cheeks. “It’s okay,” I said. “Just a hiccup with the reunion ball I was in charge of planning, but I’ll find a way to fix it.”

“Not without our help,” Reed said, tucking stray strands of hair behind my ear. The light touch of his fingers as they brushed over the pointed tip made my scalp tingle.

“Tell us everything that needs to happen,” Ronin said.

Where to start? I swallowed down a crazed laugh. Reed and Ronin watched me with patience and determination as though spoiling for a challenge.

I told them the gist of it, leaving out my suspicions. Even if Thessalia was guilty, I didn’t want Reed and Ronin turning