Page 58 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

“Gwyneira?” Shock flickered in Obsidia’s voice. “That was you?”

My answer was another bone-jarring lightning blast.

Obsidia steadied herself, regarding me with a new wariness. “I see you’ve finally grown a backbone, little mouse. Pity it won’t save you. Once you’re dead, Brontes will be mine!”

Lightning split the air, its electric tendrils illuminating Obsidia’s twisted grin as shards of ice hurtled toward her like lethal daggers. My heart thundered in my chest, a furious drumbeat matching the frosty tempest I’d unleashed.

“Ah, your anger is simplyadorable,” Obsidia taunted as she effortless deflected my attack.

“Shut up!” I spat, my breath turning to frost as it left my lips. The storm within me seethed, fueled by the desperate need to avenge Fannar and punish our tormentor.

“Gwyneira!” Brontes yelled, scrambling toward me, his hands aglow.

“Stay out of this, darling,” Obsidia ordered as she released a bolt of Chaos Magic from her fingertips, sending Brontes flying back with its force.

“Brontes!” I screamed, watching him spin through the dark void and struggle to regain his footing.

Oddly enough, I was secretly grateful for Obsidia’s obsession with Brontes. She wanted him alive.

“You’ll pay for that!” I roared, my anger multiplied tenfold. I charged at Obsidia, imbued with a strength I’d never felt before. Lightning crackled in my veins as I unleashed a barrage of ice and lightning at her, forcing her to retreat.

“Gwyneira, stop!” Brontes’s voice echoed in my mind, cutting through the maelstrom of my thoughts, but I hardly heard it. All that mattered was the powers coursing through my veins and the need to bring Obsidia to her knees.

Arctic tendrils of rage snaked through me as I unleashed a relentless assault. An electric hum filled the air, alive with the energy of the storm I’d summoned. Bolts of ice-spiked lightning tore through the sky, each strike aimed at our malevolent foe. Blast after blast, I gave her no time to recover or gloat. Each step I took closer to her was punctuated by another jagged bolt of icy lightning.

Sweat trickled down my temple, stinging my eyes, but I refused to give in. This was no time for weakness. I persisted, discharging another torrent of ice and lightning, until I completely lost sight of her, blinded by my own ceaseless lightning.

As my vision cleared, Obsidia floated before me, unscathed.

“Is that all you have, princess?” Obsidia taunted. A black hole swirling from the Black Rose Brooch absorbed my last of my attacks.

A chill of dread suddenly shot through me. I gasped as her hand clamped around my throat.

“Impressive, little mouse,” Obsidia purred. “You’re the first Ice Princess I’ve encountered that isn’t cowering behind someone else. Such a pity I have to kill you, anyway.”

Obsidia’s face filled my vision, luminous yellow eyes boring into mine. “What? No sniveling pleas? No begging for your life?”

“You . . . will . . . never win,” I managed to grumble out, meeting her gaze squarely. If these were my final moments, I would not cower or repent.

Her grip around my neck tightened. “Too bad you won’t be here to find out!” Obsidia sneered, her voice a sinister echo in the cosmic expanse.

Tendrils of darkness began to mar my vision. This was it. I had fought with everything I had. If Fannar didn’t make it, we would reunite soon. I only wished I had more time with . . .

Brontes . . .

A thunderous roar split the abyss. Obsidia shrieked as a massive lightning bolt knocked her backward, releasing me as she reeled into space. I gasped air desperately into my starving lungs.

Brontes lunged forward, murder blazing in his dark eyes. “Get away from her, bitch!”

Another crackling bolt erupted from his palm straight at Obsidia, causing her to back away.

“Gwyneira, are you okay?” Brontes lifted me to my feet and guided us behind the headmaster’s shield.

“I’m fine.” I rubbed my throat, bracing myself to make the next move. “We need to end her.”

“Wait, Gwyneira!” Brontes grabbed my wrist. I whirled around toward him, ready to unleash my wrath. But his eyes locked onto mine, full of fear and desperation, concern etched in every line on his face. “You can’t keep this up! You’ll exhaust yourself. We have to be smart about this.”

My chest heaved as I glanced at Fannar’s battered form. Helena was kneeling over him. It didn’t look good. My heart thumped in my chest like a war drum.

---