The Dark Pretender

by Nikki Jefford

  Alok deserved a trophy for taking care of the kids. Personally, I enjoyed time away shooting arrows with students or helping customers pick out bows. Luckily, my family was happy to babysit and give Alok and me much-needed date nights. Sometimes the kids stayed over with my parents for the weekend while Alok and I simply enjoyed the calm of having our cottage to ourselves and the delight of one another’s company. Uninterrupted.

  Maybe I should ask Zelie to babysit. She might not mind the tranquility of her cottage after an evening with Amelia and Titus.

  I set the table, and we all crammed together in the glow of the candles. With Titus seated in my lap, I spoon-fed him the mashed apples and pears Alok made from fruit trees neighbors urged him to help himself to.

  Amelia ate half the soup from her bowl, then slid off her chair and ran into the play area adjacent. She pulled a multicolored xylophone from the toy chest and began banging on it with a mallet. I set the baby spoon on the table.

  “Amelia Rose Elmray,” I said sternly. “Get back here. What do you say before leaving the table?”

  Amelia shot me a mighty glare, then went back to striking the instrument.

  I stood up and held Titus to Ronin. “Here, take him.”

  “Why am I always being handed the baby?” Ronin asked as he grabbed hold of Titus.

  Reed laughed. “Next thing you know, you’ll be on diaper duty, dude.”

  When Amelia saw me coming over, she dropped the mallet like it was a burning stick, jumped to her feet, and ran past me to the table, climbing back into her seat.

  “May I be excused?” she yelled, as though volume would make up for the delay.

  “May you what?” I asked, placing my hands on my hips.

  “May I please be excused?”

  I loosened my arms. “That’s better. You can play with your toys after you finish the soup your father made.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Finish your soup, or it’s time for bed.”

  “You’re mean!”

  Reed laughed. “Yeah, Cousin Fraya. You’re such a mean ie.”

  “Don’t encourage her,” I said, rolling my eyes.

  “Amelia, remember the carrots you helped dig up this morning?” Alok asked.

  Amelia’s expression softened at the sound of his voice. She nodded eagerly.

  “I used them in the soup.”

  Amelia’s chin dropped as she stared into her bowl. She grabbed her spoon and lifted a scoop. “Daddy! I see one. I picked this.”

  “That’s right. You’re such a great little helper.”

  Amelia proceeded to finish her soup, then asked to be excused, even throwing in a “please.” Alok took Titus from Ronin and finished feeding him while I ate my dinner.

  “Thanks,” I said to my sweetheart. “I don’t know how you do it all without breaking a sweat.”

  “I’m Fae.” Alok winked.

  Reed and Ronin smirked at the exact same moment. They weren’t the type of twins to talk in sync, thank Sky. They were more like oxygen and fire, constantly fueling one another.

  “You know what they say,” Ronin said.

  “Once you go Fae, you can’t stay away,” finished Reed.

  I laughed and turned to Alok, who was shaking his head, looking so sexy with his proud smile and hair of midnight blue and black.

  Smiling at him, I said, “Not going to argue with you there.”

  ###

  The Royal Conquest Heirs continues with THE ICE TWINS. After crushing on Zelie for years, Reed and Ronin find themselves teaming up rather than competing to win the vivacious elf over.

  Continue reading for a scene between this hilariously loveable ménage à twins!

  THE ICE TWINS EXCERPT

  Zelie

  When I arrived at the Pitch and Roll, I practically had the place to myself. Most folks were probably settling down for dinner with their loved ones. Hmph. I ordered fried pickles and ate them at the counter, smothering each one in generous coatings of tangy dipping sauce.

  Halfway into my second pint of dark brew, the volume in the bar increased as though a mass arrival had been coordinated among the regulars. The din felt like a comfortable blanket. I was so tired of being alone, and the noise gave me a false sense of company.

  I licked my fingers and dried them off with a cloth napkin that had probably once been white but was now a yellowish-cream color. I sipped at my beer, in no hurry to return home too early.

  Pint glasses scraped against the scuffed bar as they slid their way to thirsty patrons. The crowd here was older. Perfect. I didn’t need any of my old classmates lingering at the pub, watching me wallow.

  I lifted the pint to my lips and took another sip.

  “Bull’s-eye! That’s game,” a familiar sounding male voice spoke over the collected ruckus.

  “Enjoy your victory while it lasts. I plan to win the next three.”

  “In a row? Dream on, bro.”

  “Oh, I’ll do more than dream.”

  A glance over my shoulder confirmed that Reed and Ronin Elmray were present. The twins stood in a dark corner across from a dartboard. Their thick black hair was short but tousled and slightly wavy over their foreheads. Striking brown eyes peered from beneath sweeping black eyebrows that ended in sharp points. Their faces were tanned a healthy light bronze that could only come from significant time spent outdoors in the sun. Being able to portal anywhere in the elven realm—or any realm—had its advantages.

  While my head was turned away from the counter, my empty plate and napkin were cleared. There was no way for me to sneak past the twins playing darts by the entrance.

  Ugh. I should have kept my mouth shut about the breakup when I’d seen Melarue. So embarrassing. Did Lark know?

  I turned back to my pint. I’d just have to wait the twins out. What were they even doing here? Maybe this was a pit stop on the way to or from visiting Alok and Fraya.

  One of the twins gave a whoop. I looked over in time to see dark hair sweep to the side of a smooth face as one of the males jumped gleefully into the air while the other folded his arms and scowled. Looked like Ronin was winning. At some point, years ago, I’d developed a knack of telling the twins apart without hearing them speak. They each had small tells in their expression. Reed was more of a brooder, while Ronin wore a smile as easily as a king wore a crown.

  “If I win again, victor takes all,” Ronin announced.

  “Not all,” Reed grumbled.

  Reed had an especially deep scowl that he’d perfected as a child. It had made me giggle as a girl. Tonight, it sent a shiver racing across the pub to rush up my neck. My buzz must have been kicking in, because I felt a flush beginning to warm over my cheeks.

  Since I had nothing better to do, I turned on my stool to watch the twins play out the remainder of their game. Ronin looked me in the eyes and grinned. I lifted my pint in salute, then set it back down. Reed stormed to the board and yanked out all the darts. He returned to the shadowed corner, studied the board for several seconds, then threw the first dart. He came close to the bull’s-eye, but his lips remained pressed together firmly, only the hint of a smile edging the corners. When he won the game, he smiled smugly, with no whooping, before swaggering to the board to retrieve the darts.

  There was a steady confidence in the way Ronin faced the board and rolled up his sleeves. A muscular arm shot out, launching the dart at his target. Somehow, I ended up fixated on the smooth plane of his arm. It was almost as if the twins had fully grown into adult males overnight.

  Reed took his turn next. His dart hit an outer circle. He gritted his teeth and resumed folding his arms while Ronin threw his second dart. At the conclusion of the game, Ronin fist-pumped the air. Reed gave him a ghastly scowl, then stormed out of the pub and into the night. I expected Ronin to follow him outside, but he headed my way instead.

  I smiled at Ronin’s approach. His eyes glittered when they met mine.

  “Someone’s a sore loser,” I said, nodding in
the direction of the door.

  Ronin’s smile grew wider. “I don’t blame him for being upset.”

  “It’s just a game,” I said.

  Ronin leaned against the counter beside me, his eyes taking on a mischievous gleam that reminded me of Reed. Even his smile turned wicked. “It’s the prize that has him out of sorts.”

  “Oh, yeah? And what high-stakes reward were you guys playing for?”

  Ronin shot me a secretive smile. I lifted my brows, waiting for him to tell me what he’d won over Reed. The twins and I weren’t exactly friends—they were so much younger—but I had known them since they were babies. So why did Ronin seem hesitant to confide in me?

  I leaned in closer. Ronin’s gaze dipped to my lips and lingered there long enough to drag the buzz in my brain down to my belly, and lower still the longer he looked.

  “Come on, Ronin. Spill.”

  His eyes lit up. “You know it’s me?”

  “Of course.” I made a little huffing noise.

  “How can you tell?”

  “You’re the sweet one,” I answered. I thought Ronin might take offense to that, but his smile widened.

  “You think I’m sweet? How sweet are we talking? Strawberry sweet? Blueberry? Grape? Mango? Or all-out sweetberry sweet?”

  I laughed. “You’re ridiculous.” He was also suddenly very close, inching in with each mouthwatering fruit he’d mentioned, skillfully positioning himself near me as our conversation continued. I couldn’t help noticing that Ronin’s sleeves were still pulled up above his elbows and that one of his legs was now touching mine.

  I cleared my throat. “Seriously, what did you win?”

  The shady ambiance of the pub made his eyes appear hooded. “I won the right to buy you a drink,” he answered huskily.

  I blinked once. Was Ronin Elmray flirting with me? I’d always thought of him as Lark’s younger brother. His self-assured smirk said he was no longer young or little.

  “Then I suppose I’m the real winner,” I said carefully.

  I was so not going on a rebound with Ronin . . . or Reed. It didn’t matter who’d won their silly little bet. For starters, they were seven years younger. Secondly, I ran across them in Pinemist regularly enough to make anything overly friendly lead to a whole lot of awkward. I mean, sure, Ronin was really cute and playful and a heck of a lot more fun to be around than Ren. Sure, his body pulled at mine with an electric force that had me tingling in places that hadn’t tingled in far too long. But no, Zelie. No. Not happening. What would Fraya and Alok think of me robbing the cradle with their cousin?

  Sweet mango, why was I even thinking about this so hard?

  “Is that a yes?” Ronin asked, managing to lean in even closer.

  “That’s a yes . . . to the drink.”

  His smile didn’t waver as he lifted his chin to the bartender. “Good sir, please fetch this lovely female a drink on me—whatever she desires.”

  For someone full of ice magic, his words sent tendrils of flames licking through my body. I pursed my lips at Ronin before turning to the bartender. “I’ll have another pint of the same.”

  Ronin rubbed the counter with one finger. “And I’ll have whatever she’s having.”

  The bartender grunted before moving down the bar.

  Ronin’s leg still touched mine.

  “Why don’t you take a seat?” I suggested.

  Ronin jumped onto the stool in a flash. He turned his seat to face me and set his arm on the counter, looking perfectly at ease hitting on an older female. Apparently, I couldn’t call one twin less cocky than the other.

  “Tell me about Sterling Pond,” I said.

  “Sterling Pond?” Ronin’s dark brows drew together.

  “Freezing it over. Amelia breaking through,” I prompted.

  Ronin winced. He pulled his eyes off mine, watching the bartender filling glasses at the other end of the bar. “Lapse of judgment.” He drummed his fingers on the counter.

  “Must have been Reed’s idea,” I mused aloud.

  Ronin looked at me with a frown and shook his head. “Mine, actually.”

  I gaped at him. I was so sure it had to be Reed who’d suggest something as hazardous as freezing an entire lake. Ronin was usually the one who eagerly followed along.

  “Not my finest hour,” Ronin admitted. “Thank goodness Amelia was fine. I mean, she got her clothes wet, but they’re dry by now, I’m sure. Won’t be trying anything like that again. Anytime soon,” he amended.

  I liked that he didn’t blame his brother when he easily could have. Like I said before, sweet. “Sweet as a mango,” I said aloud.

  “Huh?” Ronin cocked his head.

  “A mango,” I repeated. “That’s how sweet you are. One mango has around forty-five grams of sugar. It’s got one of the highest contents of natural sugar in a fruit.”

  Ronin’s grin lit up the room. “I would have liked having you as a teacher.”

  Stars above, I didn’t need my brain going anywhere near a teacher-student scenario with Ronin. Luckily, the beers arrived, giving my mouth an excuse not to respond. I moved from sipping to drinking past the frothy layer on top and swallowing the cool brew down in gulps. Ronin didn’t touch his half-pint. The way he watched my throat as I drank sent all kinds of invitations on overnight delivery to every part of my body.

  “Do you come here very often?” I asked after polishing off a third of my beer.

  “First time,” Ronin said, not sparing a glance around the Pitch and Roll. He kept his full focus on me the same way he had on the dartboard. It was intense and arousing.

  Gah. There I went again. This was my last beer. I was cutting myself off. Not that it was a school night. Summer break, Zel. Best time for a holiday fling.

  I drank down the rest of my beer and smacked the empty glass on the countertop. Ronin had yet to take a sip of his. For him, it wasn’t about the beer. Nope, he was drinking me in with his eyes. Not once had Ren looked at me the way Ronin did now. I needed to run for the hills before I made a worse mistake than the twins freezing the pond. Me, I’d be plunging right into the icy depths, enjoying every goose bump that rose to my skin. The thought of Ronin’s icy fingers on my flaming body made my nipples tighten to jagged peaks.

  “Thanks for the beer. I’d say congratulations, but I’m sure I enjoyed your prize far more than you.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” Ronin drawled.

  Since when did Ronin Elmray drawl? Eep. Seriously, I had to get going before I started ogling him back. We didn’t need both our hormones raging out of control. I was older. I knew better. Not to mention he was half Fae. Fraya had made some not-so-subtle hints as to a Fae male’s libido on a few of our gals’ nights out. I could feel the flush spreading over my skin at the thought of a passionate night with an eager young half-Fae.

  “Good night,” I all but gasped. My body, however, wasn’t moving, as though it hadn’t gotten what it wanted and was refusing to obey the commands from my head.

  “I’ll walk you home.” Ronin slipped off the stool in one fluid movement.

  “Umm.” Oh, stars. My palms were sweating. “That’s okay. I can get home on my own.”

  “I know you can. That doesn’t mean you should.”

  The wrinkles in Ronin’s forehead showed his concern. It was clear to see the honorable intention behind his offer. If he’d smiled slyly, it would have been easier to laugh him off with a firm no. Instead, I nodded.

  “You can walk me to my cottage.”

  I had to admit, his attention was flattering. Males didn’t typically pay close attention to me, especially not ones as hunky as Ronin Elmray.

  Pitberries. Did I just place Ronin in the hunk category? Get a grip, Zelie!

  He followed behind me. When we reached the opposite end of the pub, Ronin’s arm shot alongside my hip to pull open the door for me.

  “Such a gentleman,” I teased, my heart skittering from the light brush of his hand.

  The night ai
r slid over my skin. It felt easier to breathe in the open. My heart rate steadied, and a sense of calm washed over me. Whatever Ronin’s motives, it was well-mannered of him to walk me home.

  My cottage wasn’t too far off, but the warmth of Ronin’s presence beside me made me slow my steps. Once we reached the first quiet lane, I put my hand out to stop Ronin.

  “Listen to all the frogs,” I whispered, briefly closing my eyes. The lane was dark. Elf families were tucked in for the night, sleeping soundly, but not the frogs. I loved the steady chirp of their chorus filling the dark sky.

  “Reed and I have noticed them getting louder over at our place too.”

  “You’re a fair distance from your neck of the woods,” I noted as Ronin fell into step beside me. “Maybe I should be the one walking you home.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I’m older.” I glanced over in time to catch Ronin’s smirk.

  “Is that all?” he asked.

  “Well, I’m also wiser.”

  “You won’t hear me arguing.”

  I laughed and searched my mind for more. After looking him up and down, my gaze rested on his arms. “I suppose I’m not stronger,” I acknowledged.

  Ronin put his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “Being wise is better. You can outsmart everyone else. You’ve got knowledge. Perspective. You’re more experienced.”

  My cheeks flamed at the last part as my mind swirled straight to the sexual connotation of experience.

  I faced forward, unsure whether I would feel relieved or disappointed to reach my cottage. I planned to say goodbye at my little picket fence painted alternating shades of teal and purple. But before I could get the words out, Ronin was swinging the door open on its hinges. He walked into my yard and held it open.

  I entered and gave him a pointed look. “Well, here we are. Thanks for the drink and escort home.”

  “I’ll walk you to your door,” Ronin said, heading up the stone path before I could protest.