Page 12 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

“Are you sure she’ll be safe here?” Fannar asked Brontes, though his eyes were squarely on me.

“Always,” Brontes promised, his hand resting on my shoulder. “If I can’t be with her, she’ll have multiple guards protecting her.”

My jaw tightened and my fist clenched. I stood a little straighter at their overprotectiveness. I possessed more powers than they did, yet their words sounded as if I was a child that needed to be watched over. As if I wasn’t right there with them.

“I can take care of myself, you know,” I muttered, failing to suppress my annoyance.

“Of course, you can!” Helena chimed in with a cheery, supportive grin. “But we all need to look out for each other.”

“Absolutely.” Fannar gave me a small, apologetic smile. “We needeveryonetostay safe.”

“Fine,” I conceded quietly.

“Okay, it’s settled,” Fannar concluded. “Helena and I will return to the Ice Kingdom tomorrow morning and explain the situation to my parents. Then, we’ll go to Haven Academy to ask Headmaster Moira about Obsidia.”

Helena and I nodded.

“And you’ll call us as soon as you find anything?” Brontes asked.

“Of cour—” Fannar began.

“Wait, call?” Helena interrupted. “You mean you and Gwyneira could’ve called each other this whole time?! What’s with all the snail mail letters then?!”

Brontes, Fannar, and I shared glances at each other.

“I wasn’t going to call the Storm Castle,” Fannar stated. “I thought Gwyneira was being held against her will! They weren’t going to let me speak to her.”

“And I didn’t call the Ice Castle because our parents would’ve never let me talk to Fannar,” I explained. “They would’ve hung up the second they realized it was me.”

Brontes nodded along.

Helena sighed with exasperation. “Man, you Enchanted people make everything so damn complicated.”

I giggled first, followed by Fannar and Brontes breaking into laughter. It filled the room, lightening the unbearably tense atmosphere.

“I don’t think it’s funny,” Helena huffed.

“It’s okay, babe.” Fannar’s eyes lit up as he gazed at her. The corners of his mouth curved into the most loving, endearing smile I’d ever seen on his face, and it made my heart swell with joy.

“Why don’t we start packing?” Fannar suggested.

“Good idea,” Brontes said. “Then, we can enjoy a farewell dinner together tonight, and you two can get some rest.”

“Sounds good,” Helena remarked. “We’ll see ya later.”

As I watched Fannar and Helena leave hand in hand, a pang of sadness squeezed my heart. We had only spent a couple of days together. Who knew when I’d see him again? He probably would be busy once school started back at Haven Academy.

I tried to push those thoughts away for now.

“Hey,” Brontes said gently, embracing my shoulders from behind. “You’re already thinking about missing Fannar again, aren’t you?”

I smiled as I saw the knowing look in his eyes, despite the lifetime I’d spent learning to suppress my emotions.

“He’s not going yet, my snowflake, so don’t get sad until he’s actually gone, okay?”

“Okay.” I lightly grasped his heavy forearms.

The previous conversations about our strategy and planning replayed in my mind. Despite the circumstances, it was nice to feel like I was part of a team, my input valued just as highly as my brother’s or Brontes’s.

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