refused to help them with their elemental abilities. If she was already that closed off, she’d never accept them as suitable in-laws.
All I knew was that they made me feel treasured and happy.
I’d always cared for the twins the way I cherished family; now they had taken up permanent residence in my heart.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ronin
We danced with Zelie through the night and into early morning. Outside the windows, darkness held strong over the skies when we took our leave of the winter ball.
Melting ice dripped from inside the cavern on our departure. Zelie gave a startled little squeal when it splattered over her arm.
I touched the side of the sloping icy wall and conjured up arctic energy to reinforce the structure to ensure the remaining guests had safe passage on their way out.
Inside the carriage, Reed loosened his tie and pulled it off his neck. “We have one more surprise for you, Zelie, but first I need to cover your eyes.”
She raised both brows and chewed on her lower lip. Staring at her mouth stirred a hunger in me that was hard to control. I wanted to freeze the outside of the carriage in sheets of thick ice, trapping the three of us inside with only each other for warmth.
“Do you mind if I take the tiara off first?” Zelie asked.
“Not one bit,” Reed answered.
She tried pulling the jeweled headpiece gently from her hair, but it was tangled. Zelie pulled harder.
“Here, let me help.” I delicately unwound Zelie’s hair from the tiara. “Looks like Melody did a fine job welding this thing on your head.”
Zelie laughed. Once I’d freed her from the tiara, she thanked me and leaned her back toward Reed. My brother secured his tie around her eyes, knotting it behind her head.
Outside the carriage, the horses clomped over the lane headed toward our family’s land and the portal access we had in the fields near the cottage. Hopefully, Melody didn’t spot us and come running out. We hadn’t told her about this part of the evening.
A slight tremor entered my fingers. I looked at Reed, who flashed me a reassuring smile.
We were taking a chance, one that felt destined. Reed and I wanted Zelie for keeps. Everything felt like sweetberries with her around.
Zelie circled her arms around her waist, shivering slightly.
“Are you cold?” I asked.
“Just a little. Not bad,” she answered.
“Not for long,” Reed said.
Zelie’s cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. Reed and I stared at the beautiful female in the lovely steel blue gown our sister had found. It was the perfect choice, just like Zelie.
Once we reached the field outside our family’s cottages, Reed and I hurried Zelie out. I created a portal while Reed escorted Zelie through. I followed on their heels. Wind rushed through my thick black hair, warming up at the end of the vortex that deposited the three of us in the foyer of my parents’ Titan Beach condo.
Reed removed the makeshift blindfold from Zelie’s eyes.
“Wait. What are we doing here?” she asked, tilting her head at the tall ceilings.
“You were cold,” I answered.
“So you portaled me to California?” She laughed. “You could have fetched me a cloak, you know.”
“Come on, Zelie. What’s better? A cloak or California?” Reed asked.
She looked at him with rounded eyes. “You guys are bonkers.”
My brother shrugged. “As long as we’re here, we might as well go for a dip in the Pacific—we’ve got the whole beach to ourselves.”
“I’m wearing a dress.”
“Don’t worry about the gown,” I said. “Come on.”
We opened the sliding glass door to the outside patio, taking a moment to remove our shoes. Then Reed and I each took a hand, escorting Zelie to the lazy lull of the surf.
The moon, recently full, cast silvery light over the gentle waves. Stars spotted the sky. Lights much closer to home dotted the streets behind the darkened condos.
When our feet touched water, I released Zelie’s hand and stripped down to my briefs. Reed did the same.
Zelie’s eyes widened more. “What are you doing?” She looked from me to Reed.
My brother grinned. “Keep the dress on.”
Taking her hands, we waded into the warm Pacific waves. Ocean water soaked the tulle on Zelie’s gown, traveling from the hem up to the fabric around her knees. When we were a little over waist-deep, Reed turned Zelie to face him. We stripped out of our briefs, letting the ocean take the garments in its current. My brother’s hands returned to Zelie’s waist. As soon as he started kissing her,