The Ice Twins - Nikki Jefford Page 0,48

and got dressed in the bathing chamber. It was market day, and I’d had the bright idea of sneaking out for freshly baked sugared buns to enjoy with sweetberry tea. I also hoped to run into Alok. He went to market every week. I hadn’t had a moment alone with my cousin since sharing our news. It would be nice to get any advice he had to offer on keeping a mate happy long-term and raising children.

“Communication is key,” my father Ryo had shared.

Ronin and I asked Zelie what kind of living arrangement she wanted after the three of us became mates, if she wanted to keep her teaching job or live off our generous royal stipend from the Dahlquist treasury, whether she wanted to have children, and if she would rather wait or try for a family immediately.

One of the many qualities I loved about Zelie was that she said exactly what she desired.

Zelie wanted us all to live in her cottage, to continue teaching until she became a mother, and to try for a baby as soon as possible.

Ronin and I had already moved in. The three of us were practically inseparable and didn’t want to wait until our ceremony to live together. Plus, it made sense to spend every night with Zelie when she was eager to get a start on our own family. She’d stopped drinking tinctures and was already brainstorming baby names with us. Seeing her glow with happiness made my chest swell with pride. Far from being scared of taking our relationship to the next level, Ronin and I were in a continual state of pleasure. We’d grown up not wanting for anything, including love and attention. Our children would know the same affection and adventure we had experienced.

Tiptoeing past the bedroom, I crossed the living area, eased the front door open, slipped outside into the early morning sun, and closed the door behind me carefully.

I whistled a tune as I strode toward the colorful picket fence leading to the lane. My next note was cut off when I saw the white-haired female staring me down from the opposite side of the gate, hands on her hips.

It was Zelie’s mother. Mrs. Sana Omarel.

Her watchful, slightly narrowed, mistrustful eyes were ones I remembered well growing up. She’d always intimidated me, though Lark had usually been the focus of her ire. She used to follow his every move whenever she brought Zelie over to play. She’d watched Lark like he was a snake waiting to strike the second she took her eyes off him. That same look was now aimed at me.

Uh-oh.

“Hello, Mrs. Omarel.” I straightened my spine, hoping she would see me for the grown-up I’d become and not the troublemaker she no doubt remembered from youth.

The fierce female stood tall and lean in her snug trousers, tunic, and leathers. Her white hair hung in two tightly woven ropes over her shoulders. She looked ready for battle.

“I have heard the news that you and your brother wish to marry my Zelie,” she said curtly.

More like my Zelie. But now didn’t feel like the time to be impertinent.

“Your daughter has made us extremely happy by consenting to be our life mate. We’ve loved her for many years and will continue to give her the royal treatment.” The chilly air coming off the female made it impossible to even fake a smile.

“The royal treatment.” Mrs. Omarel sneered. “What a waste.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Excuse me?”

She turned her palm skyward, fingers sparking blue as a marble-sized ball of ice appeared, hovering an inch above her hand. The ball grew rapidly until it had grown to roughly the size of a baseball. The thing was solid ice, not the harmless snowballs Ronin and I liked to create and throw at one another.

Eyes on me, Mrs. Omarel kept the lethal-looking ice ball floating in her palm. “You and your brother were blessed by Sky Mother and gifted the power of cooling magic.”

I folded my arms, knowing an insult was coming. The fact that she hadn’t called me by name convinced me she wasn’t sure which twin I was, nor did she care.

A new ice ball formed in Mrs. Omarel’s left palm, identical to the one in her right. “You could use your elemental abilities for good, but instead you build silly ice castles. I spoke with Ren. He told me you’ve been abusing your powers.”

I bristled.

“Your mother begged me to teach you. I should have answered her plea from the