Page 8 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

“Over our dead bodies!” Fannar declared, his powers shimmering around him like icy armor.

“Oh, dear Ice Prince, it will be.” Obsidia stared us down with fierce intensity, her eyes blazing with anger. “I’ll be even more powerful. You, your precious sister, and your Fire Princess will all die by my hand. And Brontes, my love, you will be mine again.” She looked at Brontes one more time as she retreated into the portal. “Until we meet again, my king!”

And with that, the portal vanished in a burst of darkness, leaving nothing but an eerie silence in its wake.

“Brontes!” Gwyneira cried and ran into his arms.

Ash and a few small cuts littered the Storm Prince’s tanned face, and dust from the fallen stone walls speckled his long, wavy black hair. But none of that mattered. His dark eyes brightened as soon as he heard his name leave Gwyneira’s lips. He opened his arms wide and cocooned her in a fierce embrace. Brontes was an intimidatingly large man, and Gwyneira appeared so small compared to him, much younger than eighteen. Her delicate features gave her an aura of ethereal innocence.

Brontes held her protectively as he stroked her long white hair and kissed her forehead.

“Are you alright, snowflake?” he asked Gwyneira gently, cupping her face in his hands.

She nodded, wiping away tears from her eyes with trembling fingers. “I-I’m fine,” she said softly. “What about you? I was so frightened for you and Fannar.” She snuggled into his chest.

Hmmm . . .Gwyneira certainly didn’t look like she needed rescuing.

I waved my hand to extinguish the remaining smoldering fires around us, and my knees buckled underneath me, exhaustion taking hold as the adrenaline faded.

“Helena!” Fannar rushed to my side, concern cracking his normally passive expression as his eyes met mine. “Helena, are you alright?”

“Never better.” I forced a smile. “Just tired.” I touched Fannar’s swollen face. “Are you okay? You took quite a pummeling from the Storm Prince.”

Fannar smirked. “You should see the other guy.”

“Funny.” I smirked back.

Gwyneira looked over at me and Fannar hesitantly, Brontes’s arms still wrapped around her. “Thank you for protecting me, Helena.”

“Anytime.” I smiled genuinely this time.

“Your Majesty!” a voice shouted.

The hallway was now clear of smoke and flames, allowing the royal guards to take their positions around us. They had their swords raised and ready to protect their prince.

Brontes held up his hand and waved them off. “Stand down,” he said. “The enemy is gone.”

“But what about these intruders?” the captain questioned, glaring at Fannar and me.

“He’s my brother,” Gwyneira replied.

The guards hesitated before sheathing their swords and bowing in respect.

Then, Brontes’s eyebrows knitted in a scowl. “Though . . . whydidyou attack us in my castle?”

“Not yet, Brontes.” Gwyneira touched his chest to calm him. “I think proper introductions are in order first.” She gestured dramatically toward Fannar. “Your Majesty, this is my older brother, His Royal Highness Fannar, Crown Prince of the Ice Kingdom.” And then, she looked at Fannar but gestured with a curtesy to Brontes. “Fannar, this is my fiancé, His Majesty Brontes, King of the Storm Kingdom.”

“Your Majesty.” Fannar bowed his head in reverence.

“King?!” I unintentionally exclaimed out loud.

“Yes, we staged a coup against his parents, so Brontes is king now,” Gwyneira continued. “I told you in my letter, Fannar.”

“No, your letter begged me to come save you because you didn’t want to marry a monster,” Fannar expressed confusion and a tinge of frustration. “That’s why we came to rescue you.”

Brontes stiffened, frowning. “I apologize for the kidnapping of your sister. It was my parents’ doing, and I had no say in it.”

“Technically, it was an arranged marriage her parents agreed to, so it wasn’treallyakidnapping,” I pointed out, but no one cared.

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