The Ice Twins - Nikki Jefford Page 0,39
my head to take it all in and commit the glacial palace to memory.
Reed and Ronin waited patiently for me to step into the ice cave. I threaded an arm around each of them, and together we walked through the lit-up passage. Our breaths fogged the air.
The cavern led into the dim open hall surrounded by stark white trees, deep blue lighting, and fluffy fake snow that lay half an inch thick on the floor. Glittering snowflakes dangled from the ceiling all around. Love seats and chaise lounges upholstered in white velvet were tucked strategically between thick clusters of trees, giving couples a semi-private retreat if they so desired.
From a platform made to look like an iceberg, musicians played an enchanting melody while a fleet of servers handed out flutes of bubbly wine and finger food. I suspected the waitstaff, like the guards who had helped clean up, were from Faerie. They were all dressed in form-fitting white body suits, faces painted white with electric blue makeup surrounding their eyes. Every one of them had white hair, or perhaps wigs, with a spray of silver shimmer.
A male server drifted over with a tray of small glasses filled with light blue liquid. “May I offer the princess a blueberry shot?” he asked.
My mouth gaped open at being addressed as a princess. Before I could stutter a response, Ronin grabbed one of the pretty little drinks off the silver tray and handed it to me. “You have to try at least one. They’re delicious.”
I took the shot from Ronin, waiting to taste it until the twins had their own. They threw them back and gulped them down in one go.
“That’s how it’s done,” Reed said with a wink.
“Well, okay then.” I did the same, tossing my head back to down the fruity, boozy yumminess. Smacking my lips afterward, I said, “You were right. Yum. Yum.”
A female server appeared to whisk away our empty glasses. I looked around and saw my classmates were plucking drinks and delicacies off trays and gobbling them up with bright-eyed delight. A couple arriving behind us gasped, “Oh my winter Sky, this is incredible!”
My heart swelled up with gratitude at what the twins had accomplished in two short days.
As I turned to them, emotions swirled through me like a happiness blizzard. “Thank you so much for making this happen.”
“We did it all for you,” Reed said huskily.
My eyes dropped to his lips—lips that grinned like he knew how much I wanted to drag him and Ronin over to a velvet chaise lounge and make out with them both, privacy be damned.
“Well, well, well. Someone certainly pulled off a last-minute save.” Thessalia swept over on the arm of a tall blond male with a chiseled chest, partially revealed through a thin white shirt with a wide V-neck. He looked vaguely familiar.
Most of the females in attendance were wearing gowns adorned with flowers. Like me, Thessalia had managed a last-minute wardrobe switch. She looked stunning, as always. Tonight, she’d arrived in a white sleeveless gown that fit her delicate frame like a glove. A glittering diamond choker circled her slender neck. An array of sparkling pins shimmered from her updo, and a sumptuous white cloak trimmed in fur draped over her shoulders, cascading to the floor.
She stole glances at Reed and Ronin, but the twins kept their eyes on me. Their attention filled me with goodwill. Whatever had or had not happened, I wanted all of my classmates to enjoy tonight—including Thessalia.
“This is Reed and Ronin,” I said, indicating the twins. “They constructed the ice palace with their elemental abilities.” I grinned proudly.
Ronin sidled up beside me, smiling as though I was the sun in his sky. “You want snow in summer, just say the word, and my brother and I will make it happen.”
“That’s right, anything you want, Princess. We’re at your beck and call,” Reed said in a husky timbre.
Thessalia cleared her throat and turned to the blond wall of muscle at her side. “This is my date for the evening. You might recognize him: Dattoron, current realm-wide archery champion.”
Yeah, only because Fraya had retired. I wasn’t impressed, but I pasted a polite smile over my lips.
“Nice to meet you. Enjoy your evening.” I grabbed the twins and pulled them with me to a male server holding a tray of thinly sliced cold cuts and deviled eggs. I wasn’t shy about eating in front of my dates, and I wanted to get dinner out of the way so