The Ice Twins - Nikki Jefford Page 0,52

Kaylin had helped raise all of Melarue’s children. They’d watched the boys grow up. Now Melody was the only kid left at home. It would be an adjustment. Peridot and Kaylin didn’t have any children of their own. I could understand why they felt protective of all the Elmray heirs.

Fraya squatted beside Amelia. “Say bye-bye to your Uncle Reed and Uncle Ronin.” Beside her, Alok bounced Titus in his arms. The smiley toddler giggled and waved at the twins.

Raising her voice, as though we were all deaf, Amelia belted out, “Goo-bye, Uncle Weed. Goo-bye, Uncle Wonin.”

The adults chuckled at Amelia’s mispronunciation of each of the twins’ names.

“Don’t worry about us,” Ronin said from beside his horse.

“We’ll be back before you know it,” Reed added. He lifted his foot to the stirrup, then paused when Melody ran up behind him and hugged him around the middle. Chuckling, Reed faced her and put his hand on her shoulder. “It’s a happy day, sis. You can take as long as you want in the bathroom without worrying about me hounding you from the other side.” Melody’s lower lip quivered right before tears streaked her cheeks. A sob rocked her thin frame. Reed drew back in alarm. “Hey, I was teasing. As soon as we’re back, I’ll come by regularly to give you a hard time.” This made Melody sob louder.

Ronin hurried over and tried to hug her, but she batted him away and rushed into the cottage.

“She’ll be fine in a few hours. I’ll go talk to her.” Lyklor nodded at the twins. “Keep each other safe. Don’t go getting yourselves hurt trying to show off. We want you both back in one piece. I’m sure your intended would like you returned without a scratch.” Lyklor flashed me a smile before returning his attention to the twins. “I love you.”

“Love you, Dad,” Ronin said.

“What he said.” Reed grinned.

Lyklor lifted his hand in farewell, then hurried into the cottage.

The twins mounted their horses. They waved to their family and blew me kisses. My heart clenched as they walked their horses across the meadow. The tears were coming. A storm of dark emotions clouded my head. I just had to hold on a little longer. Make myself stay put and not run after them.

Reed looked over his shoulder and smiled at me. A second later, Ronin did the same. I met one twin’s eyes and then the other. In those looks, I felt all the love they had for me. Concentrating on that tenderness allowed me to keep the tears at bay longer.

Reed and Ronin looked back several more times and waved. I waved and waved until they were swallowed by the forest.

“Sana will make sure nothing happens to them,” Ryo said, as though he was trying to reassure himself.

“She’d better, unless she wants to feel the heat of my rage.” Fire erupted in Melarue’s palm, accentuating her threat.

Lyklor ambled out of the cottage, hands in his pockets. “Well, our daughter wants to be left alone. She’s barricaded herself inside her room and refuses to join us for lunch.”

Melarue turned to her sister, Aerith. “Fraya was never this volatile at Melody’s age. Sky give me strength. One moment everything is daisies and rainbows; the next it’s the end of the world—raining tar and pits.”

I sympathized with Melody. Part of me wanted to run wailing straight back to my cottage and hibernate until the twins returned.

“Zelie, can you join us for lunch?” Ryo asked.

“Oh yes, you must,” Melarue said, enveloping me in her smile.

I pulled at my fingers, one of my legs already inching away. I’d used up the last of my bravery for the twins’ goodbyes. I wouldn’t make it through lunch with their family. “Thanks so much for inviting me, but I’m not hungry and I told a friend I’d try to meet up with her later.”

Fraya raised a brow, probably seeing right through my lie. “Good time to catch up with your friends,” she said kindly. “You probably haven’t seen as much of them lately, with my cousins monopolizing your attention. I’ll pop by later this week and check on you.”

I nodded, afraid my voice might betray my emotions. If Melarue saw any outward signs of a breakdown, I feared she’d force me to stay and spend time with the family. Unlike Melody, I couldn’t get away with yelling and storming off. Being a grown-up sucked sometimes.

So I kept my brave face, said another round of goodbyes, walked home in a woeful daze,