Winter Fire (Witchling Series) (29 page)

Something wrapped around her waist and hauled her towards the surface. Seconds later, cold air hit her face. Biji coughed up water and strained, terrified of falling back into the gaping hole in the ice.

Her body shook violently, uncontrollably.

“I told you so,” Noah said.

Biji felt herself swept up by strong arms. Noah carried her off the ice with ease and set her down on the bank. His water magick was cool rather than cold, like air magick. It moved through her. Within seconds, the element had collected every last drop of water off her and deposited it into a puddle beside the lake.

She closed her eyes, unable to warm herself, despite the fact she was no longer soaked. She’d never been so cold, even during the winters she spent in England with her family!

Noah touched her forehead. “You need a fire. The resort – “

“No!” she managed through chattering teeth. Biji struggled to push herself up.

Noah pressed her back down to the ground.

“No,” she repeated.

She heard the sound of him unzipping his jacket. He draped it over her. It was still warm from his body heat, but it did little to help her. Biji drew her knees to her chest and huddled beneath it, barely registering the world around her. Her eyes closed. She couldn’t feel her body, and hot tears stung her frozen cheeks. A restless sleep overtook her, one punctuated by flashes of cold and hot. Desperate to help her friends, she fought off the blackness. It finally relented, and her eyes opened once more.

She was mostly warm. Biji stared into the fire for a long minute, disoriented. Her face was hot, but her insides still trembled with cold. The insulation at her back wasn’t a tree like she expected. Noah was holding her against his body, one muscular arm wrapped around her waist.

Biji hesitated to move. She was comfortable and warm. A thrill went through her. So this was what it was like to lie down with a guy.

A Dark guy who happened to be Dawn’s brother. She lifted her head and tried to scoot away. Her body wasn’t quite obeying her yet, at least, not the way it should.

“Just chill,” Noah said quietly. “You’re still shaking.”

“I can’t stop,” she replied.

“You will when your body’s warm.”

Biji summoned her strength and pushed herself up into a sitting position. Almost instantly, she felt cold.

“Like you care. You’re just gonna torture me anyway,” she mumbled. Her toes wouldn’t wiggle yet, so she shuffled on her knees away from him.

“Or maybe I’ll let you fall through the ice on the lake,” he mused.

Biji glanced at him, not appreciating his humor. She settled on the other side of the fire only to start shivering again. Noah stayed where he was on his side, blue eyes on her for a moment before they shifted to the fire.

“You’re Dawn’s brother. You probably made the ice crack,” she said.

“Just so I could get drenched when I went to rescue you?” he challenged. A flash of irritation went through his eyes. Like his sister, Noah was stunning, with naturally chiseled features and an athletic body. A fan of attractive guys, Biji would be drooling, if he wasn’t the brother of her enemy.

“You’re Dark for a reason,” she replied.

Noah glanced at her. “That doesn’t make me bad or don’t they teach you Light witchlings that?”

“You’re holding us hostage!”

“I’m not holding anyone hostage,” he snapped.

“What about Summer and Morgan?” she challenged.

“I should’ve just left you alone by the fire.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because I’m not a dick.”

“But it’s okay to cuff us and throw us in the basement?” she asked, perplexed. She was shaking again. It didn’t help that her air magick was tickling the back of her neck.

“Dawn can be a little overdramatic. She won’t hurt your friends,” Noah replied. He sat, removing his jacket once more. He held it out.

“No, thanks,” she said.

“C’mon. I know you’re cold.”

“You’re wrong about Dawn.”

Noah rolled his eyes. He leaned forward and placed the coat on her side of the fire. Biji eyed it. It looked so appealing and warm.

“Why don’t you have a coat?” he asked.

She glared at him in response.

“Whatever.” Noah studied her then shook his head. “You’re welcome for saving you, by the way.”

“Saving me? So you can what? Drag me back for your sister to deal with?”

His eyes went to the sky. Biji followed his gaze and saw that the clouds from earlier had quickly overtaken the sky. The scent of snow was in the air. She crept closer to the fire. She’d spent three winters at the boarding school, since she arrived when she was sixteen. She knew how rough the snowstorms were.

“We can’t stay here. You want to risk getting caught in a storm?” Noah asked.

“I’m not leaving the lake.”

“You really think you’ll survive a night here with no jacket and a small fire?”

Biji glanced around. Most of the wood was wet, which meant he’d used water magick to dry the logs before lighting them.

“We’ll stay until you’re warm; then we’re going back,” he replied firmly.

“I don’t need your help,” she said. “I’m waiting for Beck and Decker.”

“Beck,” Noah repeated, gaze darkening. “I’ve got a few words for that idiot.”

“Your sister manipulated him!”

Noah rose, abruptly agitated. Biji sensed his anger and assumed it was because he was protective of his sister, though she didn’t deserve it. How was Dawn able to fool her own family?

She studied him. He was troubled, his gaze stormy. He stopped pacing and stood with his hands on his hips, his back to her. She calmed some and let her eyes roam over his body. He had a runner’s body: tall, lean with thick thighs.

“Do you really …” she stopped, aware of his agitation. “What do you think happened to make your sister Dark?”

“Being Dark doesn’t – “

“I know,” she said quietly. “You’re right. You didn’t have to fish me out of the lake. I’m glad you did.”

 Noah glanced at her. She waited for him to speak.

“She said she went Dark to save her baby,” he replied. “I can’t fault her for that.”

Biji’s jaw clenched. She calmed herself.

“I was there,” she said. “That’s not what happened. Summer saved her baby. Dawn went Dark trying to kill Summer. Your sister’s lying to you.”

Noah faced her. His grey gaze was as hard as ice, but he didn’t look surprised at her version of events.

“You know this, don’t you?” Biji asked.

“You’re Summer’s friend. You’re supposed to say that, like I’m supposed to defend my sister. No matter what she does.”

“I’m not lying to you, Noah.”

He looked away. Biji wobbled to her feet. She tested her legs. They still hurt.

“Noah, she’s going to hurt my friends.” Her legs wouldn’t support her if she tried to run. She had to convince him to leave her here, so she could get help.

He shifted again, running a hand though his blond hair.

He glanced at her. “If you can walk, we’re going back,” he said.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“You’re light enough to carry.”

“Try it,” she ordered.

“Come on, Biji. Don’t be ridiculous. It’s suicide to stay out here tonight.”

“Then leave! You can drag my frozen body back there tomorrow.”

“What is wrong with you?” he demanded. “You’d rather die of exposure than go somewhere warm and safe?”

“Yes, I would. I know what your sister is capable of, and I’d rather freeze to death,” Biji replied calmly.

He was staring at her. “I’m not leaving you here.”

“Okay, then how about this,” she said. “You go back and see what your sister is going to do with my friends. I’ll wait right here for you to find out and come back. If you’re right about her, I’ll go back with you. If you’re wrong, then you leave me alone.”

“That’s stupid.”

“You know you’re wrong about her.”

“Fine.” He was angrily. “Stay here. I’ll be back in an hour to take you back.”

“Whatever,” she replied. “Take your coat.”

Noah glared at her. Without another word, he spun and left. The coat stayed next to the fire. Biji waited until the sounds of him retreating faded. She snatched his jacket and huddled into it. It smelled like him, an odd mix of ocean and man. She breathed in the scent, unable to characterize it exactly, except that it was a rich, cool, sweet scent.

Her body didn’t stop shaking. She moved as close to the small fire as she could tolerate, not wanting to think about what might’ve happened to her, if Noah wasn’t there to drag her out of the icy water. She’d be dead already.

He really was oblivious to his sister’s depth of darkness. Or maybe, he didn’t want to know how mentally damaged she was. With three sisters, Biji understood how intense family loyalties could be.

Snow began to fall. She glanced at her fire. Flames were melting the snow. Her phone was still dead.

Biji placed her hands and feet closest to the fire. She could barely feel her toes. She’d warm herself up and leave before Noah had a chance to return. He was as brainwashed as the others. He knew his sister was a mess, but wouldn’t admit it. If he wasn’t too angry to leave her to the elements, he’d come back to drag her to the resort. 

The snow fell harder. Soon, even the fire wasn’t able to burn the sheet of flakes pouring down on her. Snow edged the wood in the fire. Biji huddled in the thick coat, grateful for its warmth, but worried it wouldn’t be enough to help her get to the Turners.

I’ve survived worse
, she reminded herself, recalling the years she and her family spent on the streets of India, before her father’s company made it big. Summer and Morgan were relying on her. Hopefully, the storm kept Dawn from going to the resort tonight, and Biji had a chance to bring help.

Biji watched the fire die slowly. She swallowed hard. Not that she wanted to return to the resort, but even if she decided to seek shelter in one of the abandoned rooms, she had no idea which way to go. Snow blanketed Noah’s footsteps, eliminating the option of following him.

Biji rose. It was snowing enough that she barely saw the trees nearest her. She couldn’t stay put; this much she knew. Her best chance was to find the Turners or shelter of some sort, before she got too cold again.

Shoving her hands into the coat Noah left her, she started towards the lake once more. She didn’t dare risk wandering into the forest without the lake to guide her. She’d end up in Canada.

She reached the bank of the lake. She couldn’t move fast enough, and it didn’t take long for her limbs to start losing feeling again. Tears brimmed in her eyes. She drew a shuddering breath but forced herself to continue as long as she could go.

Chapter Twenty

Morgan was sinking into her fever. She shook her head again, struggling to stay focused. Her shin was on fire. Summer’s pain patch had worn off too fast.

“Morgan,” Summer called.

“I’m okay,” she mumbled.

“She needs a doctor,” Summer said to their captors.

“No way we can leave in this storm,” one of them said. They’d traded playing on their smart phones for cards. Neither bothered looking up.

“Can I give her a pain patch?” Summer asked.

“Stay in your corner.”

Morgan rested her head against the wall. It was cool while her body burned from the inside out. Her magick wasn’t helping; it was actively trying to figure out how to help her, resulting in even more fire in her body. Her eyes closed for a moment. She roused herself again, and when she opened her eyes, there were five Dark teens in the room, not two.

She pushed herself up. She was sweating, and she felt nauseous. Focusing on the five, she tried to figure out how much time had passed.

Noah, Jason, the other teen boy.

Dawn. Alexa.

Morgan looked twice. Was it her mind or did the shadows seem twice as thick around Dawn as they did the others?

Her gaze swept around the room and settled on Summer, who was pale. Biji wasn’t there, but Noah was. Fear made Morgan more aware of her surroundings. What happened to Biji? Was she okay?

She cursed herself for not being able to focus. Gritting her teeth, she shifted her hurt leg. Pain tore through her, but it penetrated the cloud in her mind. Her gasp drew the attention of everyone in the room, including Dawn. Morgan’s thoughts sharpened.

Dawn trailed off mid-sentence in a quiet talk with one of the boys, Jason. She left Jason and approached Morgan. Morgan’s fire stirred, and she suppressed it. Pain throbbed. She practiced breathing the way Beck had taught her, needing the calm to keep her magick in check.

“Hang in there,” Dawn said. “I can’t have you dying on me like Tanya.” The words were accompanied by a wry smile. She knelt beside Morgan, her next words quiet enough that only Morgan heard them. “Not yet at least.”

“I know my fate,” Morgan said. “Let Summer go.”

“I can’t do that. I promised Alexa a chance for revenge. Summer stole Decker. You stole Beck. We’re going to make things right,” Dawn replied. “When you’re out of the way, I’ve got a shot with Beck. We’ll become a family.”

“That’s insane,” Morgan scoffed. “You have to know that.”

Anger flared in Dawn’s eyes. She rested a hand on Morgan’s shin. Morgan tried hard not to flinch.

“Maybe so,” Dawn said. She leaned on the hand on Morgan’s leg.

Agony shot through her. Morgan gave a strangled cry, her world growing black. Cold energy jarred her awake. It was familiar, like that of the stone. She shook her head, unable to focus with the pain arcing through her body.

“But if he won’t do the right thing, I’ll get rid of him,” Dawn added.

Morgan glared at her. The Dark girl lifted her hand, and Morgan sagged against the wall. Sweat was dripping down her face.

“Although, it sounds like you might’ve killed Beck.” Dawn rose as she spoke.

Morgan’s defiance shattered.

“Morgan wouldn’t do anything to hurt him,” Summer said stubbornly.

“Is that true, Morgan?” Dawn asked with a false smile. “Alexa, check their cuffs.”

Morgan felt Summer’s gaze on her but avoided it.

“Tell her what you did, Morgan,” Dawn taunted.