Page 46 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

Brontes motioned toward me. “Gwyneira could teach us.”

I stiffened suddenly. “Me? Really?”

“You’re the most adept of all of us. And you might end up being the crux of the plan.”

“How couldIpossibly be the most adept of us?” I stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re the only one who can control both of their powers,” Brontes pointed out. “Helena and I can’t summon ice yet. Fannar hasn’t been able use fire again since the Ice Kingdom attack. You’re the only one of us who can do both easily. Not to mention, you knew how to use them skillfully enough to defeat my parents! That might make you the main attacker in our plan.”

I . . . am the strongest of us all? Even stronger than Helena? Even stronger than my brother?

“That’s right.” Fannar’s eyes widened, recalling the story we had told him when we first reunited. “How did you learn how to use your powers, sister?”

Suddenly, both Fannar and Helena looked at me—atme—with riveting awe, filling my chest with a warmth that rose to my cheeks. I’d always been talked down to, dismissed. Having people I admired look to me for answers was completely new.

“Oh . . . well,” I stammered, “the servants at the Storm Castle used to play games with their powers . . . and they wanted me to play, so . . . well, I just played with them.”

Fannar’s mouth hung open in a shocked expression, his eyes stared at me in disbelief. He appeared astonished, unable to process what I had just said. His posture was as still as a statue as he stared at me with an intense gaze. “And you learned how to use your powers just like that?”

“Uh . . . yes.” I shot a quick, anxious look at my brother and saw that he still seemed thoroughly bewildered. “Sorry,” I said, purely out of instinct.

“Don’t apologize! I’m so proud of you,” he beamed, placing his hand on my shoulder.

I stood in shock as my brother’s words sunk in. He was proud of me. His eyes glowed with admiration, and his smile stretched from ear to ear. My heart swelled with indescribable joy. Tears pooled in my eyes as I tried to swallow past the lump of emotion in my throat.

As I stood frozen, Brontes smiled softly, knowing how much this moment with my brother meant to me. “Gwyneira, you’re stronger than you believe you are. So, will you teach us?”

I hesitated for another moment before nodding. “I’ve never taught anyone how to do anything before, but I’ll do my best.”

“Good.” Brontes nodded. “So I think that learning ice would be the smartest option for us right now, since it’s the one element that we all share.”

“Sounds good. I don’t even know where to begin with ice.” Helena giggled.

“Neither do I.” Brontes chuckled lightly. “Depending on how this goes, Fannar and I can come up with our battle plan.”

Fannar nodded firmly.

“Great!” Helena crowed. “Let’s get to it!”

Chapter Fifteen

Helena

“Summoningicetakesinnercalm,” Gwyneira said, her soft voice floating through the gym. “No strong feelings, only tranquil stillness.”

She inhaled deeply, her delicate features smoothing into neutrality. With a graceful sweep outward, her hands summoned a glossy sheet of ice across the floor.

“Now you try,” she encouraged.

Fannar kept his distance across the gym, pummeling a punching bag with icy shards that glinted under the harsh lights. The rhythmic thud of his blows set an urgent tempo.

“How’d you make it snow before?” Brontes asked eagerly, leaning toward Gwyneira. “I gotta try that!”

She giggled, the sound high and melodic. “Baby steps first! Just the basics.”

Brontes scoffed good-naturedly, his dark eyes glinting with humor.

“Eyes closed now,” Gwyneira instructed gently. I let my lids sink shut, enveloping me in darkness.

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