Winter Fire (Witchling Series) (19 page)

“I need more Light. Sam, I’m losing ground at the school,” Beck said quietly.

I felt it.

“I have to figure out how to stop it. Is there a way for me to access Light memories, the way Decker can Dark memories?”

I don’t know. You will have to ask the earth. It has been showing you Light witchlings?

“Yes, and I’m rescuing those I find.”

Ask it to do the same with Light memories. It might take you awhile to learn to understand them, though. Perhaps the two visions you had are memories.

“They felt more like warnings.”

Sam frowned.
If so, you must find out what they mean.

“If fire witchlings can withstand the Dark, can they help me protect the Light?” Beck asked, mind drifting to Morgan.

In theory. There has not been a Light fire witchling in over five hundred years. Fire repels Darkness and is one of the two purifier elements. It would be a perfect complement to the strength and power of your earth magick.

“But fire witchlings and their hot-headed decisions tend to make them go Dark.”

Fire feeds from and to emotion. It does not understand logic or rational thought. It simply reacts. It’s instinctive, pure and primal.

“That’s the problem.” Beck felt a tremor of fear slide through him. He didn’t want Morgan to go Dark. Seeing her temper, he realized there was a possibility she would. If Dawn pushed her too far, and Morgan used magick in response …

Her heart was so good. Didn’t that count for anything?

If she chooses Light in her trial, she will help you save the Light.

“If she doesn’t?”

Sam shrugged.
Decker can stop the Dark from growing. You must stop the Light from retreating.

“It sounds so easy when you say it that way. But it feels impossible,” Beck said with a frustrated sigh. “I’ll chat with the earth about Light memories.”

Remember. Earth is the oldest and most powerful of the elements. Fire is the only element that cannot exist in isolation. It needs a foundation. It needs earth and air. Likewise, earth cannot purify like fire and water can. You can overpower Dark and create new Light, but fire can help you turn Dark into Light.

“Decker needs Summer to stand between him and the Darkness. I need Morgan to create Light. Is she … if she passes her trial, I mean … my uh, counterbalance?” Beck asked the dreaded question.

That depends on her.

“So I do have a counterbalance?”

Every Master has the potential for a counterbalance. It does not always happen that way, though.

“I understand...but I have faith.”

Your faith holds your family together.

Beck smiled. “Like my dad.”

You’re slow but you can be taught.
Sam laughed.

“Slow!” Beck exclaimed. “Bad yeti!” He grinned at the ugly creature and rose, wanting to talk to the earth about Light memories. “Thanks, Sam. I’ll tell Summer to bring you treats.”

Chocolate,
Sam corrected him.

“Chocolate,” Beck repeated with a snort. “Take care.” He left the cozy alcove and went back to the forest. His thoughts grew heavier as he walked. He wanted to believe that Morgan was able to choose Light in her trial, but he was afraid of what happened if she didn’t. It wasn’t just because she couldn’t help him create Light, it was because he didn’t know how he’d be able to walk away from her, if he had to.

He centered his thoughts. It was impossible to guess how a trial like hers would go. It was likely going to be rough, if Summer’s was any indication of what an in-between soul went through. He didn’t ask, but he guessed by the way Sam was talking that Morgan’s had already began.

Morgan didn’t believe in herself. She was damaged, and Beck didn’t know how to change that. He’d learned from watching Decker spiral into Darkness that someone who didn’t believe they had a chance would find a way to make their reality match their hopelessness.

Beck leaned against a tree, taking comfort in the tiny voice of its spirit. The tree was happy. It eased his worry.

Morgan needed him, if she was going to have a chance to choose Light. He had no idea how to help her. When he figured it out, though, he’d know how to help his daughter, when the time came for her trial.

He was looking forward to seeing Morgan tonight at the fundraiser dinner while dreading the idea of her leaving campus. Alexa had tried twice to hurt her. Unable to know when she was in danger, he was afraid of what happened if he didn’t find a way to keep her safe.

Beck made his way through the forest and returned to the dorms. He walked by Adam’s room, stopped then retraced his steps and knocked.

Adam opened the door.

“Hey, how’d it go?” Beck asked.

“She’s funny but she said yes,” Adam said. “Morgan’s going to the fundraiser with me.”

“Awesome, thanks. I owe you one.” Beck started away, happy his plan worked.

“Wait, Beck,” Adam followed him onto the wooden walkway that ran down the front of the boys’ dorms. “Can I ask why you want me to take her?”

Beck hesitated. “I’m worried about her.”

“You couldn’t ask her?”

I’m not taking the chance someone dimes me out to Dawn.
Beck kept his initial response to himself while trying to figure out what to say. He was afraid of leaving Morgan alone on campus and even more afraid of Dawn discovering he’d asked the fireball out on a real date. Too many people would be at the dinner for them not to mention him arriving with Morgan on his arm.

“You’re awesome, Adam. I appreciate it. Someday, I’ll tell you,” he said and smiled. He left before Adam could ask him anything else about it.

How bad was it that he didn’t feel like he could trust anyone on campus anymore? He didn’t know what Dawn’s plan was in sending Alexa twice to confront Morgan. Decker said there were three other Dark teens with Alexa the second time.

What happened if there was a third encounter?

Beck entered his room, troubled.

No one was going to hurt his Morgan. She was already in danger. Maybe pushing her away was no longer going to work. Embracing how he felt about her was difficult.

Was there a way to do both? To be with the girl he was falling for and keep her safe?

Chapter Thirteen

Morgan was muttering irritably under her breath when the valet opened the car door. Adam was nice, but awkward, saying nothing to her after he told her she looked nice.

The ski lodge was large and made of logs with warm light splashing from the brightly lit interior onto the snow outside the windows. The night was cold enough that she used her fire magick to keep her warm. Valets took Adam’s car and parked it on one side of the dark drive.

Adam offered her his arm, and she took it. Together, they walked into a bustling foyer filled with women in black or beige dresses and men in tuxedos. A wrought iron chandelier was bright overhead, the stone floor and log walls rendering the massive space warm and inviting. Morgan admired the natural décor of the foyer. The sconces on the walls held real live flames, and the sight of them and the blazing hearths eased her tension at being surrounded by so many strangers.

She felt a little underdressed. Her prom dress seemed a little cheesy compared to the elegant black gowns of the women around her. She’d worn her hair down in an attempt to keep her shoulders warm, and the riotous curls were tumbling everywhere.

“Those are Beck’s parents,” Adam said, pointing to one side of an open set of huge doors.

Morgan rose onto her tiptoes to see where he indicated. A tall, lean man and small woman were on one side of the door with the twins, greeting people as they went into the ballroom, where dinner would be served.

Her gaze lingered on the twins. Decker appeared irritated, though Summer looked serene and open as she greeted guests alongside the family that had welcomed her as one of their own. Beck’s infamous smile was wide and friendly. He seemed so confident and self-assured. Morgan didn’t feel that way, even when she won sparring matches. What did it feel like not to live in fear?

Better, what would it feel like, being with someone who really could handle the mess that was her life? She didn’t know if Beck could – or would want to – but he was always so sure of himself. It would be nice to trust someone like him, knowing he wasn’t going to hurt her the way others did.

He was there alone. No date. Why hadn’t he asked her? Morgan shook her head to clear it of the stupid thoughts. Beck wanted nothing to do with her and already made her cry, even if he didn’t mean to.

“Those are my parents,” Adam said, pointing somewhere else. “If we avoid them, we can sit in back and escape early.”

She laughed.

“Too late,” he said and sighed.

His parents were waving. They started towards him. Both were tall and slender. His mother wore a navy blue cocktail dress and strands of pearls while his father was in a black tux with a cummerbund that matched his wife’s dress.

“Is this beautiful young lady Jenna?” his mother asked.

“Oh, no,” Adam answered quickly. “This is my friend, Morgan. Beck asked me to bring her.”

Morgan glared at him. “Because apparently, I can’t get a date on my own.”

“I doubt that, sweetie,” his mother said. “You look gorgeous.”

Morgan blushed, uncertain why the compliment made her happy. She wanted to interrogate Adam about Beck asking him to bring her but couldn’t in front of his parents.

“Will you be sitting with us, Adam?” his father asked.

“Um, no. We’re sitting with some friends from school,” Adam replied. “Is that cool?”

“Yes, that’s cool.”

A high-pitch chime sounded.

“Time to head in,” his mother said, motioning Morgan forward. “Are you new here?”

“Yes. I’ve been here a little over three weeks,” she answered.

“It takes some getting used to, doesn’t it?”

Morgan walked side-by-side with Adam’s mother while Adam and his father followed, talking quietly. Distressed, Morgan realized that the Turners were going to greet everyone, even as the masses were working on filing into the ballroom.

“Yeah,” she answered, distracted. She was on the side closest to the Turners and wished she could think of an excuse to switch places with Adam’s mother.

“Witchling magick is strong in our family, though it skipped my generation entirely,” she continued.

Ever alert to pain, Morgan’s attention shifted to Adam’s mother. Sadness was in her voice.

“But your son has it,” Morgan said. “I’m certain he can do amazing things.”

“Some are amazing. Some are downright awful. When he threw temper tantrums as a child, he would make it rain in the house.”

Morgan laughed at the image that formed in her mind.

“Mom!” Adam hissed, face red.

“He flooded the ground floor once. You remember that, Adam?” his mom continued.

“I was like five,” he mumbled. “She acts like it was last year.”

“The year before he came here, he got his heart broken at Homecoming. He swears he can’t cause a tornado, but it was the wrong season for us to have one. Took out every last float that year.”

Morgan covered her mouth with her hands, trying hard to stifle her laugh. Adam was beyond embarrassed, and she pitied him. His mother was clearly proud of his magick.

“Alma, always a pleasure.”

Too entertained to know how far they’d progressed, Morgan looked up into dark eyes with a familiar shape to them. Beck’s father was hugging Alma, Adam’s mother.

“Who’s this young lady?” he asked, pulling away.

“Morgan. Apparently, she wasn’t able to find a date, so your sweet Beck set her up with Adam for the evening,” Alma replied. “She’s too pretty for this to be true.”

It was Morgan’s turn to flush. She looked hastily down the line at Beck. His features seemed a little pinker, but he continued talking to the couple in front of him.

“Michael Turner,” Beck’s dad said, holding out his hand to her.

“Morgan McCloud,” she mumbled.

“So you’re the fire witchling.” The woman beside him was beautiful, with dark eyes and skin, long hair, and thick shadows clinging to her every move. She wore a velvet dress.

“I … I guess,” Morgan stammered, uncomfortable under their intent gazes.

“I’m Rania.” The woman’s touch made her shiver. It was cool then warm then cool, her magick piercing rather than subtle, like her husband’s. “Welcome to the school.”

“Mom, you’re holding up the line,” Beck teased.

“It’s my dinner, son,” she snapped.

“It’ll be cold by the time you’re done talking.”

“Just get this over with,” Decker muttered.

“Thank god they’re almost out of the house, right, Rania?” Alma asked. The two women kissed each other on the cheeks.

“Hi, Morgan!” Summer grinned. She flung her arms around her.

“Hi, Summer,” Morgan answered.

“I’m glad you’re here. The boys are driving me crazy,” Summer whispered. She released Morgan. “You should hang out with us some time.”

“Wait about eight months,” Decker replied. He rested one hand on Summer’s hip and offered the other to Morgan.

Summer blushed, and Morgan looked between them, not understanding the statement. She shook his hand and moved on.

Beck offered his hand, smiling broadly. He winked at her, his blue eyes sparkling in a way that made her pulse soar.

“Stop being an ass, and I’ll consider shaking your hand one day,” Morgan said and crossed her arms.

Decker laughed, and Summer giggled.

“Fire witchling,” Michael Turner murmured, amused.

“Ah, young love,” Beck said with an exaggerated sigh. He clutched his heart as if wounded. “The boy pines, and the girl burns his heart to the ground. Get it? Pines? Like the tree? I’m earth magic and -”

Morgan shook her head and walked by him into the dining room. She smiled only when she was certain none of them could see.

“I am so sorry about my mom,” Adam said, joining her. “She just says the lamest things.”

“She’s cool,” Morgan replied. “No worse than Beck.”