Spring Rain (24 page)

I can’t have him and the
stone.
Morgan’s fist glowed with fire.
Frustration fed her flames, and they turned purple then white. The
brilliant fire came more readily to her today. She wanted so much
to throw the stone away and for it to be gone forever.

Nothing she ever did
warmed it, not even the purple-white flames that burned the Dark
out of Noah. Thoughts on him, she grabbed her phone. Her mother had
texted twice, and so had Noah. His message was simple.
I freakin’ love you, Morgan!!!!! As a friend, of
course.

His happiness soothed her pain a little. Her
mother had texted to say to let her know if they were going to meet
up for breakfast. Morgan responded quickly then rose. She started
to put on her own clothing and stopped to sniff her skin.

She smelled like Beck. She
didn’t want to ever stop smelling like him.
Better enjoy it while I can, before he figures out I’m still
an issue.
After a moment, she picked up
the t-shirt he’d been wearing the night before and put it on,
hugging herself in it. She put on her sweater, jeans and shoes, all
of which had dried by the fire.

With a deep breath, Morgan left Beck’s room.
She padded down the hallway towards the stairs and to the ground
floor. She heard voices from the direction of the kitchen lined
with a bank of windows streaming in brilliant, morning light. Her
first instinct was to leave quickly through the front door down the
other end, and embarrassment made her blush. She had no idea what
she was supposed to say or do the night after sleeping with Beck.
Would his parents assume they’d had sex if she walked into the
kitchen? Would they be upset? Could she pull off acting normal,
like nothing happened?

She started quietly towards the front door,
not hearing the steps of whoever followed her, but sensing the fire
magick.

“Tell me you used protection.”

Morgan’s fire flared in the air around
her.

The woman behind her, Beck’s mother, laughed
warmly. A pulse of her magick pushed Morgan’s back into her where
it belonged. “Come on. Have breakfast.”

Humiliated, Morgan waited a moment then
turned.

Rania Turner hadn’t left. Small, beautiful
and Dark, she radiated sultriness and shadows. Her blue-black hair
was in a ponytail, and she was dressed casually in jeans and a dark
sweater. There was a smile on her face while the Darkness in her
eyes peered at Morgan with curiosity that scared her a little.

Morgan recalled the twin’s mother had been
the Mistress of Dark before Decker and reached protectively for the
soul stone. Decker had been mesmerized by it to the point it
worried her. She wasn’t going to trust anyone else Dark with the
stone.

But she started forward awkwardly, not sure
how she was supposed to act and whether she should try to lie about
what happened between her and Beck.

Rania led her into the kitchen, where
Michael Turner sat at the breakfast table. He glanced up when they
entered, raising an inquisitive eyebrow at his wife. Morgan had
noticed his subtle earth magick when they met briefly at the
charity ball in December. It seemed stronger now, filling the air,
as if he were aware that having two fire witchling women in the
house meant it was going to take more to stabilize his environment.
His magick was soothing like Beck’s.

“Come in. Have a seat,” Rania said and then
went to her husband, wrapping her arms around him from behind. Her
fire and Darkness quieted immediately, and he instinctively touched
her arm.

Morgan did so.

“You remember Morgan, baby?” Rania asked her
husband. She was amused, and Morgan had no idea why.

“Fire witchling.” Michael offered a quick
smile. “You went Light. Congratulations.”

Morgan smiled, proud of herself despite
knowing she accidentally passed her trial while frying Noah alive.
It still didn’t quite feel … real, as if everyone else could see
it, but she couldn’t yet.

“First in a long time,” Rania added. “She’s
the one, Michael.”

He peered up at his wife,
calm and quiet, though Morgan almost sensed an
I-told-you-so
passing from wife to
husband.

“I know,” he replied.
“Welcome to the family, Morgan.” This smile was warmer. “Our family
motto is
One day at a time.
It’s how we make it through everything. It gets a
little tense living with the Master of Light, Master of Dark, and
the former Mistress of Dark. Add a bit of fire to the situation …”
He smiled ruefully. “You’re exactly where you’re supposed to
be.”

You don’t even know
me.
Morgan wasn’t certain how to respond.
They were serious about welcoming her, as serious as Beck had been
about forever. The sense she had a place in life, a
home
, complete with a
family waiting for her, rendered her speechless. It didn’t seem
right they’d just accept her, not after her past and the cold stone
burning a hole in her pocket, a constant reminder of how different
she was.

His parents watched her for a moment,
waiting for her to say something, and she finally forced herself to
talk. “I’ll take care of Beck. I swear it on my soul. I’ll protect
him from everything,” she managed.

Michael smiled, and Rania laughed.

“I believe you,” Michael said. “Grandpa
Louis went to town. There’s a small spread over there if you’re
hungry.” He indicated the buffet tables along one side of the
kitchen. “We’ve got house guests for the equinox, so there’s
plenty.”

Morgan went, more because she felt too
awkward sitting there while they watched her than because she was
hungry. She was too anxious to be hungry. As if feeling her frayed
nerves, Michael’s earth magick increased and seeped into her,
easing her tense muscles. She shook out her shoulders and piled a
plate high with food. The use of her magick the night before,
coupled with the night with Beck, left her ravenous.

Returning to the table, she was somewhat
relieved to see Rania seated and flipping through screens on her
iPad while Michael was reading from his Kindle. Morgan ate
quietly.

“What was your trial?” Michael asked after
giving her some time to eat.

Morgan swallowed, face hot again. Rania was
studying her, the sparkle in her eye making Morgan think she
already knew.

“I burned a Dark witchling to a crisp,”
Morgan replied. “Torched the Dark right out of him.”

“I didn’t know that was possible,” Michael
said. “Amazing. He’s okay?”

“He is now. Beck had to … ah … un-melt him.”
Morgan replied.

“You’re as strong as Tranin.”

At their quiet, Morgan sneaked a glance to
see them exchanging a look she couldn’t decipher. “I don’t know
about that,” she said, glad they hadn’t lectured her about burning
someone up. “But I can help Beck after …” Her hand went to her
pocket.

“Leave it there, sweetie.” A flare of fire
accompanied Rania’s soft warning. “The Darkness beckons to anyone
who might free it, and a Master or Mistress of Dark is the least
stable of all the Dark witchlings.”

Morgan nodded. “It hurts the Light,” she
whispered, stricken. “I can turn Dark to Light but I can’t go near
Light. I can’t help Beck.”

“You can help him,” Michael replied.
“Sometimes it’s not the way we want to help those we love, but you
can help him.”

“I want that to be true,” Morgan said and
pushed the remaining sausage around on her plate with a fork. Her
thoughts went to what Beck had revealed last night. “I need to talk
to Sam.”

“I’ll take you out to find him,” Rania
offered.

Michael glanced at her, then back. “Maybe I
should do that. My morning is open.”

The two exchanged another look, and Morgan
had the sense this time it was a disagreement. Rania relented with
a small sigh. “He’s right,” she said to the unspoken battle. “You
shouldn’t be alone with any Dark witchling while you carry that,
Morgan. Keep that in mind.”

Michael leaned over to kiss his wife then
stood. “You ready?” he asked.

Morgan nodded.

They left the house and started down the
driveway towards the road leading around the lake. The rain had
stopped though it was cloudy and their path muddy. Michael’s magick
remained strong, and Morgan relaxed, her fire happy to settle after
the long night with Beck.

“You, uh, have any questions for me?”
Michael asked as they walked. “About our family, the school.
Anything?”

“Not really,” Morgan replied.

He glanced at her. “Beck’s a good kid. He’s
made some mistakes, but he’s coming into his own. I’m really proud
of him. Happy he found his counterbalance.”

She wasn’t certain if she should laugh or
not at his amused tone.

“Really. Welcome to the family. It’s
incredible to find a Light fire witchling and even more so that
you’re going to protect Beck. He’s always been a little too
trusting, wanting to see the good in everything and everyone. I
think he’s wiser now, but just in case …”

“I’m here.”

“Yeah, though in my experience, fire element
means you’re as likely to run as you are confront someone.”

Morgan flushed.

“It’s okay,” he laughed. “Rania ran from me
when she learned I was her counterbalance. She was gone for a year.
Came back, ran after we were married and she got pregnant. She’s
run a few times, but she always returns. Decker wasn’t as bad,
though he ran more often, just didn’t go as far.”

“How are you not angry?”

“Earth witchlings are patient. We often
understand the meaning of something before the other elemental
witchlings do,” he said with a shrug. “The combination of fire and
earth always works. Every single time.” He was quiet for a long
moment. “It’s none of my business, but Decker shared with me what
you went through. I just want you to know Beck would never hurt you
and you’re safe here. No matter what or who comes looking for
you.”

“Dammit, Decker!”

“He means well.” Michael sounded amused.
“You a runner, Morgan?”

“Yeah,” she murmured, calming as his earth
magick swelled in intensity around her.

“As long as you come back.”

She considered. She didn’t know how she was
still there let alone whether or not she was coming back once she
left to protect Beck. Beck’s laid back nature came from the man
beside her, and she met Michael’s gaze.

“I don’t want to run,” she admitted. “I
don’t want him hurt, either.”

“You have a tough choice to make. Either
way, whatever you decide, you will always be his, and he’ll always
be yours. It’s the nature of the bond you share. Rania and I have
pretty much seen it all at this point.” He paused at the edge of
the driveway facing the forest. “Summer went through a lot to be
with Decker. If you haven’t talked to her about it, you should
before you run again. I think it’ll help you understand what’s
happening between you and Beck. In the meantime,” he flashed a
smile, “We’ll always be here for you.”

Her brow furrowed. She didn’t quiet
understand why it sounded like they were accepting her – a stranger
– as a permanent part of their family.

“Sam’s that way.” He pointed into the
forest. “Come back to the house when you’re done so I can make any
arrangements.”

She glanced up at him. “Arrangements?”

He chuckled. “It’s a lot to take in. Rania
and I decided we don’t need a wedding ceremony to adopt the
counterbalances of our sons. I’ll get you anything you need. A bank
account, car, whatever.”

Her jaw dropped. It took her a moment to
reply. “I don’t want your money, and I don’t need help from
anyone!” she snapped.

“It’s Beck’s.” He winked. “Think of it as me
providing you the means to protect him.”

“Absolutely not! I’m not a gold digger like
Dawn, and I don’t need charity!” No part of her understood why
Beck’s billionaire family was talking like they were either married
or she was being adopted. She had her own family, however poor and
dysfunctional they were, and she certainly did not need charity
from his parents to make her way in life. Overwhelmed by the speed
with which everything was happening, she purposely ignored the fact
she’d been using Decker’s money for the past few months. She left
Michael standing on the road while she strode into the woods,
saying hurriedly, “I’m going to find Sam and get some air.”

Morgan calmed after walking in the quiet
forest. The trees made a path for her, and she followed it,
trusting them to take her to Sam. She glanced up periodically from
her phone, where she’d sent Summer a text asking about the
counterbalance thing and why Michael Turner seemed to think she was
moving in.

Before Summer had a chance to respond, Sam
appeared.

Morgan tucked the phone away and prepared
herself for more bad news. “Sam, I need to talk to you about this.”
She held out the stone.

I was expecting
you.
He eyed it without reaching for
it.
I had forgotten how dangerous it
is.

She pulled her fire magick from the depths
of her being to surround the stone, hoping to lessen its effects on
the forest creature. “Beck said I might be able to bind it.”

Yes, it is possible.

“What exactly will that do?”

It will hide it from the senses of
others.

“But it won’t necessarily stop it from
hurting the Light.”

It will not.

Morgan bit her lip, throat tightening. “Then
how can I be with Beck?” she whispered the question she feared
voicing to anyone else. Her hand lowered, and she tucked the stone
back into her pocket.

It cannot affect him, but it can still harm
the Light.

“I know. I can’t help him purify Darkness,
can I? If I can’t go near the Light?”