Page 59 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

“We can’t let her get away with this,” I gritted through my teeth, despair threatening to suffocate me.

Brontes shook his head. “We won’t, but we need a better strategy.”

His hand encircled mine. His touch momentarily calmed the tempest within me.

“Fine,” I conceded. “How do we take this witch down?”

Electricity sparked from our hands as we stood there, locked in our desperate search for a solution. The taste of ozone lingered on my tongue. Obsidia’s cruel laughter still rang in my ears, her taunts echoing through the void.

“The prophecy,” Brontes muttered, his eyes narrowing as he dug into his memories.

“The one she keeps talking about?” I asked.

“Yes, the Storm of Fire and Ice . . . that phrase. It might be the key!”

“She does talk about it like she’s trying to prevent it from happening.”

“Think about it, Gwyneira.” Brontes glanced at me eagerly. “Storm, fire, and ice—that’s us! Our powers combined!”

“That’s why she’s been trying to get rid of me and Fannar, so there wouldn’t be ice.”

“And she just tried to get rid of Helena so there wouldn’t be fire.”

My mind raced as I stared up at him, uncertainty gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. Was it possible? He seemed so sure, and the look in Brontes’s eyes that made me want to believe him. Could it be true? The idea seemed preposterous, almost too simple . . . yet a tiny flicker of hope kindled within me.

A Storm of Fire and Ice could be our salvation, hidden in plain sight.

“Remember what Headmaster Moira told us?” Brontes continued. “In the face of chaos, unity and balance are your greatest weapons.”

I nodded. “If we’re going to defeat Obsidia, we must harmonize our elemental powers.”

“Right!” His eyes lit up with excitement. “Let’s get Helena.”

We darted toward the roof of the administration building.

“Giving up so soon!” Obsidia cackled from the other side of the shield, her laughter echoing in my ears like nails on a chalkboard.

We had to figure out how to summon the Storm of Fire and Ice. The fate of Fannar and our world hinged on it.

Chapter Nineteen

Helena

Theeeriedarknessofthe void surrounded me, appearing to never end. I tenderly caressed Fannar’s cheek, willing him to open his eyes. His skin was unusually hot to the touch.

Gwyneira and Brontes drifted closer, their faces etched with determination. Stars shimmered in the distance, casting a somber glow on Fannar’s unconscious form. I clutched his hand tightly, fear knotting my stomach. Each second that ticked by felt like an eternity. His labored breathing filled my ears, making the severity of his condition all too real.

“Guys, he’s hurt badly!” I said, panic welling up within me. “We need to get him out of here. Tell Headmaster Moira to take us back to the academy so we can get him to the Healing Center!”

“Helena.” Gwyneira’s soft voice barely cut through the silence. “We can’t.”

“What are you talking about?” I snapped, my grip on Fannar’s hand tightening. “Fannar needs help. I don’t know how much longer he’ll last.”

“There’s something else we need to tell you.” Brontes exchanged a glance with Gwyneira before he spoke. “We think the Storm of Fire and Ice is how we can defeat Obsidia once and for all.”

My heart hammered in my chest as I barely processed his words. “I don’t care about Obsidia! Fannar needs help NOW!”

“This might be our only chance to stop her,” Brontes explained firmly but sympathetically. “Now that Obsidia has fallen for it once, Headmaster Moira won’t be able to trap her in space again. This is our best shot at defeating her with as few causalities as possible.”

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