front door, feeling a small pain of sadness as they departed, taking their jubilant banter with them. Nerves got me next. I paced the living room, slapping at my hands to keep from reaching up and messing with the tiara after Melody had set it just right.
I tucked my skirt in carefully to sit on the sofa and grabbed a scarf I’d started knitting a couple weeks ago. The needles clicked together, then went silent as I stared at the square of red and brown in my lap.
The knock at my door was a relief. I jumped up like my cottage was on fire, lifted my skirts, rushed to the door, and pulled it open.
My throat went dry at the sight of the twins standing outside in tailored suits. One twin wore dark gray slacks, a fitted white shirt, and a steel-blue tie that matched my dress. The other twin had on steel-blue slacks and a gray tie over his white button-down.
They were clean-shaven, black hair brushed into a dark shine, with strands that teased the edges of their ears and jawlines. The twins took me in, their brown eyes traveling up and down my body in appreciation.
“You look beautiful, Zelie,” Ronin said. He’d worn the steel blue slacks with gray tie.
“The two of you clean up well yourselves,” I said.
Reed swept his arm toward the lane. “Your chariot awaits.”
My mouth gaped open as I looked past him and saw the shiny white carriage on the other side of my picket fence. A liveried driver in blue and silver sat on top, holding the reins of two stunning white horses.
Reed offered me his arm. Walking with him to the carriage felt dreamlike, with the stars appearing in the dusky sky. I kept expecting to trip over my own feet, but it was like I was floating with him toward the lane. Ronin walked ahead of us and opened the door for me. He took my hand gently in his as he helped me step up and into the carriage first.
I settled onto the cushioned bench, tucking my skirts in to make room. But Reed and Ronin sat opposite me, grinning across the tiny space between our benches.
“You really went all out,” I said, lifting my head to look around the posh interior of the carriage.
“Wait until you see the ballroom.” Reed’s proud grin had me wondering what I’d find at Daisywhirl Hall.
The twins didn’t say much on the ride to the hall. Without their usual banter, I sat on the edge of the bench, anticipating my first look at what they’d arranged for the reunion ball. One thing was for certain—Reed and Ronin had gone above and beyond anything I could have ever asked or expected.
Ronin pulled the curtains closed over the windows as we neared the hall. Once the carriage rocked to a stop, Reed said, “Close your eyes.”
I met his gaze and held it for a couple of heartbeats that fluttered in my chest when our eyes locked. Then I did as he requested and lowered my lashes.
When the door opened, it felt as though cool air swept over my ankles. I kept my eyes closed, allowing Reed and Ronin to guide me out of the carriage.
“Keep them closed.” Reed spoke so close to my ear, his lips touched my lobe.
I shivered. “Is it just me, or has the temperature drastically dropped?”
Nice save, Zelie. Blame the shivers on the abnormally cold evening.
“Open your eyes, Zelie,” Ronin said, his voice rising in excitement.
My eyes opened, and my vision filled with a castle at least three stories high, made entirely from ice. Pale blue and purple light glowed from somewhere within the clear and white structure, illuminating a tunnel leading in.
“Oh, sweet frozen berries,” I said in wonder. “Did you make this? How?” I rushed on to ask.
Ice magic was by no means foreign to me, though my mom had used it sparingly, at least around me. She saved her skills for thwarting ogres.
“Talent and determination,” Ronin said.
The twins shrugged.
“It will all melt by tomorrow afternoon,” Reed said.
“I still can’t believe you did this. Did you encapsulate the entire hall in ice?”
“Just the front entrance,” Ronin said. “But you’ll love the inside. We got help from Dahlquist. Reed and I had our hands full with the ice palace. It was especially challenging in the warmer season, but we managed to keep the air surrounding the hall chilly enough to hold form as we built.”
“It’s a work of art.” I lifted