Page 64 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

Fannar nodded, a tender smile touching his lips. “Thank you for convincing her to fight. I know it wasn’t an easy decision for you either.” He squeezed my hand, his voice raw with emotion. “I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am of you, sister,” he said, his voice raw with emotion. “And of Brontes too. You all showed incredible bravery and courage.”

“Thank you, brother,” I replied, touched by his words.

“My baby sister defeated a Cosmic Enchanted!” Fannar declared triumphantly. “And pretty soon, you’re going to be the Storm Queen.”

Just then, the door burst open, and Helena rushed in. Her face lit up when she saw Fannar awake.

“You’re up! How are you feeling?” Helena asked breathlessly, hurrying to his side. Her fiery curls bounced around her shoulders as she peered down at him, her green eyes filled with concern and love.

Fannar’s face softened. “Much better, thanks to you both.” He took Helena’s hand in his.

I smirked at them. “Fannar wants you to read more from this book about binary stars.”

“Really?” Helena’s expression dropped as she held out her hands to take the book. “Oh. Okay . . .”

“I’m just kidding!” I giggled.

She flashed a big grin. “Funny.”

“I’ll give you some time alone,” I said. “See your later, brother.”

“Thanks, sister.”

As I left the room, I glimpsed Helena leaning down to kiss Fannar tenderly. My heart warmed by their obvious devotion and knowing my brother and I had both found happiness.

The brisk wind whistled through the courtyard, rustling the leaves and tossing my long white hair across my face. We stood in a semi-circle around Headmaster Moira, her long black dress whipping around her in the breeze. Our eyes fixed on her as we awaited the reason behind this impromptu meeting.

She surveyed the four of us with a stony expression, her lips pursed, as if she had something she wanted to say but couldn’t quite bring herself to do it. Finally, she cleared her throat and spoke.

“I have called you all here today for a reason,” she began, her usual calm voice tinged with unease. She gingerly opened her hand to reveal the Black Rose Brooch. Its onyx petals glimmered in the faint light. “I’m afraid the Black Rose Brooch may still pose a threat.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“What?” Fannar exclaimed.

“Shit,” Helena cursed.

“But I thought we destroyed it!” Brontes said.

The headmaster shook her head. “Its power has merely been suppressed. Given time, it could regenerate.”

My stomach twisted. After everything we suffered at Obsidia’s hands—the battles, the destruction, almost losing Fannar—the lingering threat of the brooch still loomed over us like a dark cloud. My hands trembled at the thought.

“So what can we do?” Fannar asked.

“I’ve been thinking about it for the past few days.” Headmaster Moira’s gaze firmly locked onto the evil artifact in her hand. “I suggest that we break apart the Black Rose Brooch and scatter the pieces throughout the Enchanted Realm. This way, it can never be reassembled. But I want your agreement since it was the four of you that worked together to defeat Obsidia.”

The headmaster’s words hung in the air, and we all looked at each other, our faces mirroring the same sentiment: determination to destroy the Black Rose Brooch once and for all.

“Sounds like a solid plan, Headmaster,” Brontes spoke first. “Whatever it takes to protect the realm.”

“Agreed,” I added. “We can’t let anyone else suffer because of that cursed brooch.”

“Yes.” Fannar nodded, his expression resolute. “We’ve come too far to let that thing fall into the wrong hands ever again.”

“Do it!” Helena slammed her fist into her palm.

Headmaster Moira gave a satisfied nod. “Excellent,” she said. “Be ready, students. Magic is capricious, and I can never say how it will turn out.”

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