“You froze the pond,” Rani gasped, and took a tentative step closer.
Once she realized the edges were rough enough to provide traction for her sneakers, she walked over to me with more certainty. The closest string light burned a dull gold against the crown of her head, making those fiery highlights pop. Her eye caught on the box lying near the blankets, and her brow rose.
“I finally get to look inside?”
My smile was wide and a little pleased. “Happy birthday, babe.”
She needed no further encouragement. Rani tore into the taped box with gusto and peered inside. Her breathy inhale once she saw the contents went straight to my dick. Finally, tonight’s surprise was revealed. She pulled out the pair of ice skates with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
I patiently waited for her to slip them on and lace them up, then helped her stand and glide to the center of the pond. The branches of the willow reached a quarter of the way across, and I’d placed the largest bulbs on the very end in an effort to stretch the light. The results left a darker patch on the far side, but it was still safe enough to navigate. If anything, the shadows wereintimate and private; a pocket for dirty secrets and mischievous play.
“Have you ever skated before?” I asked, releasing one hand to see how she balanced.
There was a bit of a wobble, but I think it had more to do with a rough patch of ice than her skills on a blade. I pushed a small wave of power all the way out to the edges, smoothing the surface and strengthening any spots that might have weakened since the initial freeze.
Rani felt the burst of magick and smiled. I held her hand as she started a slow glide and followed her as she picked up speed. Rather than keep my grip and hold her back, I let go and reveled in her laugh of freedom. Seeing her at home on the water, open and happy aroundmymagick, I felt like this was a present for me as much as it was for her.
I kept to the middle, spinning to keep her in my sights as she twirled around me. Faster she went. Picking up speed, I watched her make a little hop that stopped my heart before landing on one skate with a rambunctious giggle.
“Okay, that’s enough of that,” I called, but she was already whipping past me, more giggles trailing on the wind.
Theshlickof her blades carving through the ice was as loud as my pulse in my ears. The endless ways she could hurt herself looped in my head as Rani made another circuit.
“Slow down, right now, before I make you.”
She stuck out her tongue, and the sound of her blowing raspberries registered seconds after she passed me.
“Don’t make me melt a hole in this ice!”
Now that she wasn’t afraid of water and I had no worry for her drowning, I’d dunk her ass if it stopped her reckless behavior and kept her from breaking her neck. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea; dunk her, soak her, then take my time warming her up.
When she came back around again, I was ready.
CHAPTER 26
Rani
No one had ever done something like this for me before. I increased my speed, laughing; high on a freedom I hadn’t felt in a long time. The sharp blades of my skates easily cut through the first layer of Ezra’s ice, and the result was a smooth glide that made me feel like I was suspended in midair. I spread my arms and tipped my head back, relishing the way my hair flew out behind me.
The beautiful lights dangling from the tree weren’t strong enough to block out the stars, and out here, there were thousands of them. I had an entire galaxy above me as I soared below. I went faster with each lap around the pond, to Ezra’s eternal dismay. He called for me to slow down, but that bossy tone of his only made me ignore him and push harder.
I was going to fly tonight, and I dared anyone to try and stop me.
“Don’t make me melt a hole in this ice!” Ezra shouted, just as I skated under the willow’s drooping branches.
When I came out the other side, he stood in my direct path, unconcerned that an upturned pair of blades could take his eye out. I pinwheeled my arms and stopped just in time, saving us both some bruising, then stuck my tongue out at him.
“I can’t drown, remember?”
My comment brought an intimidating glint to his eye, and I tried to ease around him to get out from under its scrutiny, but the ice beneath me became suspiciously too bumpy. Ezra gave a misleading half-smile right before he reached out and gripped me by the front of my sweater.
“Right,” he rumbled, and the low tone did something to my insides. “Not drowning. That thing you discovered when youdeliberatelydisobeyed me and took on a whole hunting party of djinn.” He slowly hauled me into the middle of the pond, not once looking away. “I never gave you your punishment for that, did I?”
Oh, fuck.
My stomach flipped, and his eyes lit up likehecould feel it.
“I—I, u-um… You said… But I didn’t—”
