Page 18 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

The door to one of inner rooms swung open, and Helena emerged, her abdomen wrapped tightly in bandages underneath her sports bra. Fannar practically leaped out of his chair, sprinting over to her before I could blink.

“Helena, are you okay?” His hands gently held her arms, eagerness and concern written all over his face. He inspected her from head to toe as if he were looking for permanent damage.

“I’m alright, Fannar,” Helena reassured him softly with a warm smile.

He let out a relieved sigh and cupped her cheeks in his hands. Their eyes locked together with softness and warmth that spoke volumes about the depth of their connection.

“Gwyn! Brontes!” Helena finally exclaimed after spotting me and Brontes.

“Helena, how are you feeling?” I stepped forward to greet her.

“Better now that you’re here!” she replied cheerfully.

“We’re happy to see you too,” Brontes added.

She wrapped me in a tight hug and then immediately pulled away with a pained gasp, clutching her wounded side. “Ow! That hurt.”

“Take it easy, okay?” Fannar said, concern evident in his voice as he touched her arm again.

Brontes chuckled.

“Fannar, your pants,” Helena observed.

Fannar’s leg had been injured during the attack, so one of his pant legs had a slit cut up to his thigh in order for the wound to be treated.

“It’s fine,” Fannar said. “They already healed.”

“If you yank on them, do you think they’ll come off like stripper pants?” Helena teased and then proceeded to laugh loudly at her own joke.

“Not funny.” Fannar’s brows scrunched in disapproval, but a small smile tugged on the corners of his mouth.

I giggled. Helena’s fiery spirit obviously remained intact. I admired her more than ever in that moment—her strength, her courage, her refusal to be broken by any circumstance.

“Headmaster Moira wants to see all of us once you’re released,” Brontes informed Helena.

“Good, I’m so done with this place.” Helena replied, her sassy attitude undiminished by her injuries. “I owe a Cosmic Enchanted an ass kicking.”

Sometimes Helena’s cursing still startled me, since swearing was forbidden in the Ice Castle. I found it hilarious that my reserved, uptight brother fell in love with such an outspoken woman who used profanity whenever she pleased and lived as if rules were meant to be broken.

“Still as stubborn as ever,” Fannar chided. “You still need to be discharged by the nurse before we can leave.”

Helena glanced over at the nurse, her eyes lingering on the nurse’s mantis arms as she flipped through the pages on a clipboard. Helena leaned over to whisper in my ear. “I know it’s mean, but her arms freak me out!”

I giggled again.

The nurse approached us, her eyes on Helena. “You can leave now, but you need to take it easy for the next day,” she warned. “Your wound is healed, but since it was a dark magic burn, you’ll still be sore.”

“Okay, nurse,” Helena nodded in understanding. “Thank you.”

Fannar’s gaze never left her, his concern for her evident in the crease between his brows and the way he hovered close. Relief washed over him when the nurse confirmed that Helena would be all right, and he reached out to place a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Promise me you’ll listen to the nurse,” Fannar urged. His voice held a tender insistence, his eyes locked onto hers.

“Cross my heart,” Helena winked, drawing anXover her chest with her finger.

“You winked!” Fannar protested.

“Fine! I promise!” Helena relented.

---