Chapter 8 Frostbound Bonds

Nocturna had accepted her—at least for now. But as Rene stood in the heart of the city, surrounded by wary stares and lingering doubt, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

That was when she heard it.

A tiny, muffled voice from behind her.

"…Big sister?"

Rene turned sharply.

And then—two identical figures crashed into her.

She barely had time to react before two small bodies wrapped around her waist, squeezing so tight that she nearly lost her breath.

The weight. The warmth. The familiarity.

She knew these boys.

Even if she didn't remember them completely, she knew.

Slowly, she pulled back and looked down.

Two identical faces stared up at her—pale skin, silver hair that fell in soft waves, and piercing silver eyes that shimmered like frozen stars. Their expressions were cold, unreadable. Emotionless.

Until they saw her face.

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, their eyes lit up like twin flames. Their icy masks shattered.

And they smiled.

"Rene!" one of them gasped, his small hands clinging to her cloak.

"You're back!" the other whispered, eyes wide with wonder.

Rene felt her throat tighten. She didn't need to ask their names. She knew them—deep in her bones, in the echoes of a past that had been stolen from her.

Her little brothers.

Her twins.

She dropped to her knees, gripping their tiny shoulders as if making sure they were real. "You guys…" Her voice wavered. "You're mine?"

They both nodded in perfect sync.

Nyra stepped forward, her expression softer than usual. "They never stopped waiting for you."

The twins beamed up at her, their cold exteriors melting away as they practically vibrated with excitement.

"You don't remember us?" one of them—perhaps the older of the two—tilted his head, his voice quieter now.

Rene hesitated.

But before she could answer, the other twin huffed, his small arms crossing. "Doesn't matter! We remember you!"

And then, in an instant, they tackled her again.

Rene barely had time to brace herself before they clung to her, small fingers gripping onto her cloak, their giggles muffled against her.

She had no memory of them.

But that didn't change the fact that they were hers.

(A Glimpse of the Past)

That night, as Nocturna settled into an uneasy calm, Rene sat on the balcony of the tower Nyra had led her to. The twins sat on either side of her, their tiny fingers toying with the fabric of her sleeves.

"You left," one of them mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

The other twin shot his brother a glare. "Not on purpose."

Rene swallowed. "I… I didn't mean to."

They both nodded. As if they understood more than they should.

Then, one of them raised his tiny hands, ice forming at his fingertips. A delicate snowflake hovered in the air before settling into Rene's palm.

The twin who made it grinned, watching her reaction. "You always liked our snow."

The other twin huffed. "She liked my ice better."

Rene blinked at them, then burst into laughter. They're competitive.

She had so many questions.

How had they survived alone for so long? How had they grown up without their parents?

Had they missed her as much as she now ached for them?

The only thing she knew for certain was—she wasn't leaving them again.

Ever.

To Be Continued….....