Our trek back home was silent except for the occasional crackle of ice on our skin when our power surged. I knew my twin suffered as much as me, but I was too consumed by my own hurt to ease his pain.

As we moved through the forest, I cast glances around. I’d followed Fenris to the shore, determined to make him see my way. Despite my anger, I’d been hopeful, and I’d passed my favorite spots with the idea of showing them to our skaoi. I’d even imagined my bonding, overwhelmed with joy that it would include my twin, and I’d never have to choose between him and the woman the gods chose for me.

I’d been stupid.

Fenris was right, and I hated him for it. The tether holding me to my eldest brother snapped, leaving me adrift. Even Raynor was lost to me. Emerging from the trees as the sun began to set, we met our mother at the door of our home.

“Idiots,” she cursed at us through clenched teeth. “This is a blessing. A skaoi is a gift from the gods, and you are fools to discount it. She is meant for you. For all of you.”

“She’s human,” Raynor whispered. I glanced at him, but he stared at the ground. I’d never seen my brother unhappy.

“So what?” Mother snapped. “There are three of you. You can protect her.”

“And our children? What of them? We don’t live forever,” I retorted, and Mor’s face paled. I hadn’t meant to remind her of the death of our father, but merely the fact that we wouldn’t be around to protect our children, or our children’s children, against those who sought to hurt them.

“Jötnar are set in their ways, but we aren’t unyielding. We can change.” My mother threw up her hands. “Our ancestors lived among humans for generations! Still do if the stories are true. So, we chose to live away from the humans. Perhaps it is time for us to reevaluate our place in this world.”

“I won’t have the woman I bond with test this theory of yours. Better she live away from us than die by our sides.”

Mor stared at the ground and shook her head sadly. “You’re fools. I’ve raised fools.” With that parting shot, she walked back to the cabin, yelling over her shoulder, “Fools sleep outside!”

None of us said a word in argument. My skaoi’s scent drifted through the open door when my mother went inside. It would have been intolerable to spend the night surrounded by that scent. As it was, the small tease had the ice inside me rushing over my skin, and it was only through force of will I was able to compel it back.

Wordlessly, my brothers and I tramped to the gardens behind the house. Mor had turned the soil, but it would be weeks before she put seeds in the ground. Despite the spring weather, there was the promise of a hard frost in the air.

Raynor lined the fire pit with kindling and pine boughs, and Fenris lit the fire. By tacit agreement, all of us stayed in skin, as if we feared changing forms would make it easier to give in to what we all wanted.

Staring into the orange flames, I imagined my life as it could have been. For one, I’d have learned my skaoi’s name. At least I had held her in my arms. Raynor and I had embraced her together. Lifting my hands to my face, I could smell her beneath the salt of the ocean and the hint of snow. It would wear off eventually, and all I’d have would be my memory.

Glancing at Raynor, his face shadowed in darkness, I reached out along the link we’d always had and came up short. Something was in the way of our connection, a barrier that had never been there before. I pushed against it, testing its strength, but it didn’t budge.

Fear gripped me. Was I to lose my twin as well as the bride chosen for me by the gods? Perhaps it would have been better if I had never learned of her existence. If I’d spent my life with only my brothers for company. My eyes closed with that as my last thought: being alone forever wouldn’t have hurt as much.

Jolting awake, I burst to my feet. Inside my chest, a web extended, like ice forming across a still pool of water. Watching with wide eyes, it grew to encompass Fenris and my twin before snaking under the door and inside my house. I felt the moment it touched my skaoi, connecting me to her and yanking me forward. My brothers were on their feet as well, the line reeling us in like fish on a hook.

All our concerns from earlier, none of it mattered compared to the link between me and the woman inside. Fenris was first through the door, and Raynor and I tumbled behind him, pushing and shoving in our haste.

Mor smiled when she saw us.

“Betha.” She glanced toward the woman who regarded us with wide blue eyes. On her head sat a crown of snow, each flake unique and perfect. Betha. She was mine. I rolled her name on my tongue, loving the way it sounded. Bay-tha. It was as beautiful as she was.

And then Mor went on. “Meet your husbands.”