Page 9 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

“You’ve apologized enough, my love,” Gwyneira stopped him. “If our marriage hadn’t been arranged, we wouldn’t have found each other.” She clasped Brontes’s hand adoringly and turned to Fannar. “I got to know Brontes, and we fell in love. I sent you another letter. I guess you didn’t get that one, brother?”

Fannar’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes softened ever so slightly as he shook his head.

“I invited you to come to the Storm Castle so you could properly meet Brontes,” she giggled at the irony. “I wrote about how amazing he is and how we’d decided to get married by our own choice.”

Her cheeks glowed and her eyes sparkled as she spoke so sweetly about him. She clasped her hands together in delight, and a smile never left her face.

“That’s wonderful, Gwyneira!” I smiled. When Fannar didn’t say anything, I elbowed him. “It’s that wonderful, Fannar? Your sister is happy here.”

“Yes, that’s great,” Fannar managed to say. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

I cleared my throat so Fannar would look at me.

“Oh, sorry,” he said. “This is my girlfriend, Helena. We met at the academy.”

“You’re a Fire Enchanted?” Gwyneira asked and stared at Fannar in disbelief. “I thought interacting with Fire Enchanted was forbidden, let alone dating one.”

“It was,” Fannar nodded. “Our parents tried to kill her, though they won’t admit it. But they’ve accepted her now.”

“Are you serious?!” Gwyneira’s eyes looked like they might fall out of their sockets.

“Yes, she’s even staying at the Ice Castle during winter break.”

“And you’re the Fire Princess?” Brontes asked.

“Nope.” I shook my head, finally piping up. “Just a lowly commoner among all you royals.”

“But Obsidia called you the Fire Princess,” Brontes recalled.

“She did,” Gwyneira agreed.

I shrugged. “She must’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

Fannar thought for a moment. “I heard Headmaster Moira say the lost princess of the Fire Kingdom was found at another academy.”

“Hmmm . . . Perhaps Obsidia confused you for her?” Brontes pondered.

“Probably. I’ve never been to the Fire Kingdom. I’m from the Unenchanted Realm.”

“Really?” Gwyneira gasped. “You have to tell me all about it!”

“Sure.” I chuckled. “As long as you tell me how you have both ice and storm powers!”

Gwyneira giggled with excitement. “Brontes and I are Combined Enchanted!”

“Though I haven’t found my ice powers yet,” Brontes added.

Fannar and I looked at each other. “We’re also Combined Enchanted,” he said hesitantly. “But we don’t have any other powers yet either.”

“And you thought your baby sister was defenseless.” I jabbed Fannar. “She’s got more powers than any of us!”

Gwyneira beamed proudly.

An awkward silence fell over us as we looked around at the damage. Fannar and I had caused so much destruction in our attempt to rescue Gwyneira, even before Obsidia showed up. I glanced at him sheepishly.

“Your Majesty,” Fannar said, looking Brontes straight in the eyes with a sincere expression on his face. “I apologize for the damage to your castle. I understand if you’re angry with us.”

“Please call me Brontes,” he replied as he shook his head and smiled sadly. “No apology necessary. I understand that you were trying to save Gwyneira. Trust me, if I believed she was in danger, I would have leveled this place to the ground.” He glanced at her before turning back to us with a wry smile on his face. “But please don’t destroy my castle again,” he joked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

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