Frost and Flame: A Magical Paranormal Romance

By Morgan Moriarty

How does it feel to be paired with your worst enemy?

Victoria, a hot-headed fire mage, is ready to complete the final Trial of mages and graduate from the Arcane Institute. She's been training for this her whole career, and is ready to take on anything.

But when the council pairs her with Samuel, a quiet, nerdy Ice mage, tempers flare as the two butt heads. He's everything that she hates in life, and they've spent their years trying to get the better of one another. And now, they must learn to work together or fail the Trial completely.

And neither one are prepared when sparks fly between them!

Will Victoria and Sam learn to overcome their differences and complete the Trials without squashing the blossom of love?

This magical novella is 30k+ words long and is a fast-paced tale filled with incredible magic, wild monsters, and new love between two enemies! This sweet novella is a standalone story with a HEA, NO cliffhanger, and no steamy scenes. Perfect vanilla romance!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Guerilla Knuckles Publishing
• Release date: May 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201023010

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Victoria had never felt nervous in her entire life. Not once. When she was little, she had an unearned confidence about her that got her through everything. And when she turned 12, the news that the mages of her world had called her to attend the Arcane Institute, the university of students destined to become mages, didn’t frighten her in the slightest. Fire had always formed at her fingertips, and she knew she would be the star of the Institute. For six long years, she had proved herself right.

But the day of the Trials, the last great exam for all mage acolytes, made a strange, anxious flutter appear in her belly when she opened her eyes. 

The feeling was nothing but a flash, vanishing as soon as Victoria’s friends all stumbled into her room, giggling and tumbling over themselves in a frenzied ball of excitement. 

Today is the day! one of them squealed, running to Victoria’s closet to pull out her fancy robe. 

Get up! Get up! Another friend screamed while pulling at Victoria’s arms, I want to do your hair and makeup as a gift!

And we brought breakfast! Three girls walked in, each one carrying a basket of fresh, delicious food. You can’t go through the trials on an empty stomach!

All of Victoria’s feelings flew away as she looked around at her friends. They made a frenzy around her. Some cut up little bite-sized pieces of danish and fruit, while others painted her long nails bright red. Her shoulder-length black hair was curled and fell in waves when one friend was done, and another painted her pale complexion with reds and oranges framing her bright blue eyes. Victoria watched it all happen in the mirror, and gladness took her over as she watched her reflection turn from a sleepy mess of a girl to a beautiful, competent woman. 

She looked on the outside how she felt on the inside, and it was beautiful.

Victoria looked at her friends and her heart felt light. She always knew that she could count on these women. And her friends numbered into the dozens. Victoria had never been alone for more than a few moments in her entire life. She was always popular, with everyone she never met liking her instantly. 

But there was still something missing. She could not quite put a finger on it, but there seemed to be a hole in her heart where something should go. The thoughts kept her awake at night, and she would ruminate on what it was. Victoria was blessed with many friends, and her powers grew stronger every day. Back home, in the little mining town where she grew up, she had a whole family of people who loved and cared for her.

And yet, something still felt empty inside of her.

Never mind, she thought to herself, shaking the thought from her head, I will not think about it today!

Instead, Victoria linked arms with her entourage. And with her friends surrounding her, Victoria made her way to the mage council’s quarters. The council was the head of the arcane Institute. They were a group of the five strongest, bravest wizards in the world, and together, they watched over up-and-coming mages before sending them out into the world. 

And one of their jobs was to watch over the last trials of their training.

Each mage was given a personalized trial, suited to their needs and abilities. As Morgana, the head fire mage on the council, once said, We do not judge a fish by its ability to climb trees.

I wonder what your trial will be? One of Victoria’s friends whispered excitedly in her ear.

Whatever it is, I bet Victoria will be back within minutes, someone gushed beside her, You are so smart and so quick, Vicky! You’ll have no problems for sure!

Oh, totally.

Absolutely!

You’re going to do great!

Victoria nodded, her head high and her eyes shining with excitement. She could almost feel her fire at her fingertips, just itching to get out once more. All night, she had conjured up images of what the Council could throw her way during her Trials. She was skilled at fighting, so maybe she would be sent to the fighting pits to kill demons and horrid creatures from the under-realm. Maybe she would accompany a spy and work with them to free a member of a royal family. Maybe—

But her thoughts were interrupted as someone crashed into her shoulder, throwing her off balance. Victoria called out, HEY! as she fell, with her friends scrambling to catch her from behind. Her shoulder ached, and she struggled to get back to her feet as her gaggle of friends righted her, each one gasping in horror. 

Sorry.

Victoria felt venomous as she looked at her assailant. He stood off to the side, rubbing the shoulder that he had used to hit her, and his face was warming into a bright red color. 

Samuel, Victoria sneered, looking at him, Watch where you are going!

She knew Samuel all too well. The pair had met on her first day at the Institute and she had taken an immediate dislike to him. He seemed like her opposite in every way possible. She was loud in classes, answering questions and always being the first to volunteer. Samuel was quiet, studious, but always right when he corrected her. She excelled in the art of fire magic, setting the world ablaze with her natural talents. Sam? His fingers were as cold as the ice that flowed from him. He had embraced his ice magic so much that he made her shiver when he walked past. And for as long as she could remember, she had crinkled her nose and rolled her eyes whenever he was near. 

I really do apologize, Samuel said, moving to her. His cold aura made gooseflesh rise up on her arms, and without thinking, she stepped backward. 

Keep back, frozen boy, one of her friends said. The friend tried to throw up an arcane shield, but it was nowhere near as strong as Samuel’s ice. He waved a hand, and the shield disappeared like vapors in the air. The other friends tried to protest, but Samuel’s eyes were only on Victoria.

Good luck today in the trials, he said.

Victoria bit her tongue. Her shoulder still ached, and it took everything in her not to give him a sneer and a biting remark. Instead, she just nodded and turned away, leaving him in the wake of her silence. She struggled to get her head back in the game, but her thoughts kept lingering on Samuel and the way he sheepishly looked at her.

But her friends were in her ear, whispering.

That was so awful!

I can’t believe he did that.

Do you think he did it on purpose?

I’ve heard he’s like that. An ice snake in the grass.

Alright, enough, Victoria said. She looked up and saw the gilded door of the Mage Council’s quarters, and her heart fluttered. Thoughts of Samuel and her aching shoulder left her mind as she stared up. 

Are you ready? One of her friends asked, a gleeful smile on her face. The others around her all shined like the sun at their brave, powerful friend, and Victoria could feel their confidence powering her own.

I am! Victoria smiled, feeling that confidence ooze into every fiber and sinew of her being. She took a breath and gave her friends one last look before she pushed through the great wooden door and into the Mage Council’s chambers.

The room was quiet and dimly lit, and it took her breath away to see it again. The Council’s chambers was a place that many students did not see unless they were starting at the Institute or leaving it. Years ago, Victoria had seen the inner workings of the chambers on her first day. She had seen the golden instruments of the mages who came before her, and they had been used to determine her powers. When she was freshly 12 and new to the Institute, this room seemed intimidating. But now? She was 18 and her head was high. 

She looked around to see that she was not alone. Others of her age were trickling in and finding spots to stand along the walls, but she paid no mind to whoever came in behind her. Some of her cohorts looked pale and frightened, while others were studying over notes or whispering incantations under their breath. She seemed to be the only one with her head up and her eyes straight forward, looking at the members of the council. 

After only a few moments, Morgana, the fire mage, stood. Victoria looked up at her with admiration, as her presence was so powerful that a hush grew over the dozens of students who stood in the room. Her hawk-like eyes ran over the room and the faintest of smiles appeared on her thin lips.

Greetings, Morgana called out, her deep, velvety voice echoing through the room, And welcome to the Mage Trials!

A thunderous applause followed, and some students even whooped and cheered. Victoria’s cheeks hurt from smiling and her palms stung as she clapped hard and loud, not stopping until the fire mistress raised her hands again. Silence took over the room, and it was so loud that it rang in the girl’s ears. 

Morgana finally broke through the quiet. As you all know, the Mage Trials are your end of studies" exam, as some