The Ice Twins - Nikki Jefford Page 0,60
frosted trees and through the snow to the domed structure made entirely from ice blocks.
“You didn’t do this?” Zelie asked.
“Manmade,” Ronin said. “It’s the only hotel made entirely of ice.”
Zelie’s eyes widened. We steered her to the arched entrance that led into a bar with ice stools carved around a sweeping counter. Purple, pink, and blue lights glowed from the ice crystal chandeliers suspended from the ceiling to the clear glossy floor, shining through the icy architecture.
A woman with short dark hair mixed drinks from behind the ice bar and served them up over the glowing counter to patrons bundled in thick jackets, fur hats, mittens, and scarfs.
“Is this the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?” Ronin joked.
Zelie craned her neck, taking it all in. “Most definitely.”
Ronin took Zelie’s hand. “Wait until you see the bedroom.”
We located the manager and were escorted through an icy hallway to an arched doorway covered by some type of hairless animal hide. The manager held it aside for us to enter. We had to duck our heads to walk through the low opening. The room inside was sparse, with a large bed carved out of thick slabs of ice and lined with posts that glowed purple along their bases and white at their domed tops.
“Wow,” Zelie breathed.
From the doorway, the manager said, “Let me know if you need any more furs or blankets. Enjoy your stay.” He let the animal skin fall back into place.
Zelie walked around the bed, each breath fogging the air. She ran a gloved finger over the smoothly polished ice framing the bed.
“Cold enough for you, Zelie?” I asked, arching a brow.
“You must feel right at home,” she teased back.
Ronin jumped onto the thick pile of blankets on the ice bed and tucked his legs in beneath him. “Don’t worry, Zelie; we’ll keep you warm.”
“And if that doesn’t work, there’s always the hot springs,” I added.
Ronin
Early spring. Pinemist.
Sweet baby blue Sky above, I’m a father!
While my mate took a nap in our bedroom, I cradled our newborn son in my arms. Reed sat beside me on the sofa, staring at little North. He’d been born with a tuft of black hair and deep brown eyes.
“There’s no mistaking who his father is,” I said. Reed and I looked at one another and said in unison, “Us!”
We laughed silently so as not to wake up North.
I bent down and kissed our baby’s soft head. “I love this little dude so much.”
Reed rubbed North’s tiny fingers, looking him over with the same fascination as I did. “The day North was born was the best day of my life,” my brother said.
“Same here.”
Zelie shuffled into the living room in her nightgown and slippers. Her hair was a beautiful mess that she pushed away from her shoulders.
“Hey, you’re up,” Reed said gently. He stood and had our mate take his spot beside me on the couch. Reed grabbed a footrest and set it in front of Zelie. Once her legs were propped up, he put a fuzzy blanket over her.
Zelie looked over at North nestled in my arms. “My dark-haired little angel is sleeping soundly again.”
Reed lifted Zelie’s legs to sit on the footrest, placed her ankles in his lap, and started massaging her feet. “Don’t worry. If he’s too well-behaved, Ronin and I will teach him how to get into trouble.”
“Phew, and to think I was worried.” Zelie chuckled softly. She reached out her hands. “Here, let me see him.”
My heart tugged inside my chest as I handed him over to his mother. Zelie would always have dibs when it came to baby cuddles.
As though reading my mind, Reed nodded at North with his head nestled against Zelie’s breast. “We’re going to need at least two more of those—one for each of us to hold.”
“I agree,” I said.
“Good,” Zelie said with a smile, “because I want five.”
And like that, my heart filled with the warmth of possibility.
“Princess,” Reed drawled, “your wish . . .”
“Is our command,” I finished.
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BLOOPERS
“Why do you smell life cherry blossom and vanilla?”
(Life, how sweet it smells.)
Ronin worked his magic on the next puddle. I ran ahead of him toward a hug pothole filled with water ahead.
(How about a huge hug . . . after you finish freezing all the puddles.)
Dressed and ready for Ren’s proposal, I tied