Page 63 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

Obsidia’s body floated limp and motionless, the malevolent glow of her brooch extinguished, her once unruly power now reduced to a wisp of steam.

“Is it . . . over?” Gwyneira asked hesitantly.

“It seems so,” Brontes replied, nudging Obsidia’s lifeless form. “She won’t be harming anyone else.”

I cautiously inched forward, staring in astonishment at her broken figure, a strange mixture of comfort and surprise washing over me.

“We did it,” I murmured, disbelief still evident in my voice.

This was it. The prophecy was fulfilled. Obsidia was truly defeated. After all her boasts of conquest, her physical form would be lost in the unending expanse of space forever. I almost pitied her. She never understood the power that came from fighting for something greater than oneself.

We won. Our kingdoms were now safe. United, not just in power, but in love and trust.

A sense of stark relief and pride settled in my heart, but I couldn’t dwell long on our victory.

“We need to get Fannar to the Healing Center.”

Chapter Twenty

Gwyneira

“Whentwostarsina binary system orbit near each other, their gravitational forces can affect the outer layers of their atmospheres,” I read aloud from a book titledThe Orbit of Binary Starsat Fannar’s bedside. “In some cases, these close binaries can transfer mass between them, allowing them to reach stages of evolution that single stars cannot reach.”

Glancing up from the book, I realized Fannar’s eyes had drifted closed, his chest rising and falling with each steady breath. With a soft smile, I closed the book and set it aside. In the tranquility of sleep, the lingering toll of his injuries was less obvious on his face.

The soft orange glow from the crystals cast a warm light over the Healing Center as I sat in a carved wooden chair, surrounded by a gentle symphony of beeping monitors. The tranquility of the room enveloped me as the sweet scent of lavender and rosemary caressed my senses. A gentle hum of energy vibrated through the air, blending with the sound of Fannar’s breathing.

I pressed the back of my hand to his cheek lightly. His skin was cool now, the fever finally broken. It had been touch and go there for a while after the battle with Obsidia. I shuddered remembering how weak he’d been, how the light in his eyes had dimmed. But he was ever resilient, and with the care of the academy’s healers, he slowly recovered. We had almost lost him, but he was still with us.

The past few days, Helena and I had barely left his side, taking turns watching over him, reading to him, entertaining him, making sure he ate, and simply just being there. I knew that our doting could be a little overwhelming and even embarrassing to Fannar, who remained the stoic prince despite his brush with death. But I could tell that he truly appreciated our love for him as he gathered his strength, even if he didn’t say it out loud.

Now seeing him resting peacefully, his face smooth and untroubled, my heart filled with gratitude for having been able to be part of my brother’s healing journey. The nurse said he should be discharged soon, right before winter break ended and Brontes and I would need return to the Storm Kingdom.

Fannar stirred, his icy blue eyes blinking open. He looked at me, a frown forming on his brow.

“Why’d you stop reading?” he asked, his voice still groggy from sleep.

I giggled softly. “You fell asleep, my dear brother. I didn’t want to disturb your rest. Besides, it seems that you don’t share my enthusiasm for binary stars.”

“What do you mean? I obviously find it fascinating.” Fannar gave a faint smile. “But it was nice to hear your voice. It’s . . . comforting to know you’re here, sister.”

“I’m glad I’m here too.” I squeezed his hand. “Helena will be here soon. You can ask her to read more to you.”

Fannar let out a chuckle. “If she reads that, she’ll fall asleep sooner than I will.”

I laughed in agreement, my heart swelling with relief at seeing him regain enough strength to laugh. “It’s funny how you two are so different. But in many ways, you’re perfect for each other, you know. You’re both incredibly strong . . . and incredibly stubborn!”

“Tell me about it,” Fannar said with a scoff.

“You know, after you were hurt, she refused to leave your side, even when it meant risking letting Obsidia win,” I recounted, my admiration for her growing with each word. “She was willing to sacrifice everything for you, brother. Brontes and I had to convince her to finish the fight.”

“I know.” He had heard the story before, but he still stared at me, the vulnerability clear behind his eyes. “I can’t believe she would do that. I mean, I’m mad she would consider it—risk the whole realm’s safety for me. But . . . I can’t blame her either. I’ve never met anyone like her.”

“Neither have I,” I agreed, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. “Do you think Helena’s the one?”

Fannar didn’t hesitate, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Yes, I do.”

I beamed, feeling a surge of excitement for their future together. “That’s wonderful, brother! She will be such an amazing Ice Queen. Unique and powerful, unlike any in our kingdom’s history.”

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