Winter Fire (Witchling Series) (9 page)

“What do you mean?” Surprised, Beck searched his brother’s face. “Someone hurt Morgan?” Beck rarely felt angry, even dealing with Dawn. He normally just felt frustrated and disappointed.

But the idea of anyone hurting Morgan infuriated him. He was speechless for a long moment, wondering how she insisted on defending him against Dawn, when she herself was a victim of someone else. Suddenly, he saw Morgan’s words and actions in a different light. Her poor performance in school, the instinct that told him she was running away when she turned eighteen, her insistence that she protect him from someone like Dawn. She didn’t back down from anyone, but he’d thought her fearlessness born of naïveté, not the anger of someone who spoke out of experience and didn’t want to see anyone else hurt.

It’s not right to belittle someone else or to hurt them, just because you’re angry or upset. He had thought her overly passionate about the words and now began to understand why. Coupled with Connor’s anger over the idea of putting her in counseling or sending her home, the picture forming in Beck’s mind made him wish he paid more attention sooner.

“I’m an idiot,” he breathed. “The signs were right in front of me.”

“She’s not easy to read. I have a feeling she keeps a secret really well.”

“I am so sick of women and secrets,” Beck grumbled. “How bad is it, Decker? Will you tell me that?”

“Bad,” Decker replied softly. “I didn’t see everything. Has she said anything to you?”

“She and her brother aren’t talking to me about whatever’s going on. I caused a fight this morning between them. I guess Morgan is rocking out of all her classes, and Amber wants to send her home or put her in counseling. Connor flipped out and then so did Morgan.”

“Any indication whether she wants to stay here or leave?”

“Both,” Beck said and laughed. “She doesn’t want to go home, but I’m pretty sure she’s planning on running away when she turns eighteen.”

“Then I say to make sure she isn’t sent home. If you got her parents names, I’ll check up on them in my own unique way,” Decker offered. As the Master of Dark, he held dominion over all Dark witchlings and was able to check up on any of them he wished without needing an excuse to do so.

“I’ll find out tomorrow and text you,” Beck said, thoughtful. “I think I have an idea of how to get Connor to crack.” He grinned. “He’s a black belt, so it might cost me an arm or leg.”

“You survived me. I’m sure her fire magick will have you on your feet in no time.”

“God, she’s killing me with it.”

“Fire magick has the ability to arouse even the quiet earth magick,” Decker said, grinning.

Beck rolled his eyes again. Decker’s girlfriend wielded earth and air magick, both of which were known to be the calmer elements. Fire was an instigator, passionate and warm, a source of emotion ranging from anger to empathy and love. It could lift spirits and invigorate someone in need of energy; it could also cause desire to burn hotter, more intense. Morgan’s touch had a dual affect on Beck: soothing his agitation and driving up his need to touch her to the point that it was almost painful to refuse.

All while she gazed at him with those huge, innocent green eyes and sweetly vowed to protect him from anything out to get him. He found himself behaving much better than he ever had with any other girl, even when her touch ratcheted up his already high-strung hormones.

 “On another topic,” Decker started. “Have you thought about my proposition to get rid of Dawn permanently?”

“Still thinking about it,” Beck replied. “It’s not an easy decision. How do I tell my kid I had her mom killed off? It won’t matter how bad Dawn was.”

Decker nodded, as if expecting the answer. “She’s a menace, Beck. She’s a threat to you and Summer and anyone else we care about.”

“The question for me isn’t whether I want you to do it,” Beck replied. “It’s whether I can live with knowing I all but ordered a hit on the mother of my daughter. I’m the Protector of Light. I have to believe there must be some capacity for reform. I mean, look at you and our mother and Summer. All of you were given second chances, and you succeeded.”

“I want her dead either way, but I’ll respect your decision.”

Beck glanced at his twin and saw the Darkness flare in Decker’s eyes. He understood why Decker’s flat assertion was so strong. Dawn had tried to get rid of Summer not once, but twice. Dawn was behind Tanya’s death as well. Beck had been casually dating Tanya, more because he needed a distraction and less because he had any intention of being serious about her.

He couldn’t say the same for Morgan. Hell, he already felt more for Morgan midway through their first date than he had any other girl except Dawn, who he foolishly thought himself in love with at one point.

He wasn’t that blind now. He knew what Dawn was, and he knew Morgan was nothing like her. He now had the extra benefit of the senses he inherited upon becoming the Master of Light, the ones that were able to determine one’s character. He didn’t feel the Dark touch that Decker did about Morgan, but he knew her heart to be good.

Unlike Dawn, who was rotten to the core.

“Ask me after the baby is born,” Beck said at last. “I need some time to figure things out.”

“Alright. Just know you only have to say the word. Or better yet, just stop saying no.”

“I know. When you and Summer have kids, you’ll understand.”

“If,” Decker grimaced. “We’re waiting until she turns eighteen to have sex again. It’s going to kill me first.”

“Ouch. That’s like, what? Four or five months?”

“Eight months, one week and three days.” Decker held up his smart phone. “I have a count down.”

Beck burst into laughter, as entertained by the idea of Summer turning his brother down as he was his brother watching the seconds tick by. During his dark period when Summer was believed to be dead, Decker had slept with multiple girls a night to try and drown out the Darkness that wanted to consume him. Only Summer’s touch was able to quiet his mind, and he hadn’t been able to cope without her.

“She’s worth waiting for,” Decker said. His eyes found Summer in the crowd, and his irritation softened into tenderness.

Beck’s fit of laughter trickled off.

“If Morgan can put up with you long enough, you might find out what that’s like,” Decker said. “She’s not like the normal girls you date.”

“I know that much,” Beck agreed. “I don’t want anything serious. I can’t afford it right now.”

“Right.” Decker rolled his eyes.

“Damn. I shouldn’t have asked her out tonight,” Beck murmured.

“Why did you?”

Beck grappled with an answer that made sense.

The flash of her red hair down the boardwalk drew his attention. One look at her reminded him why. Not even the newest arrival – a tall, blonde girl – captured or held his attention like Morgan did. There was something more than physical attraction between them and had been since the day they met, a realization that startled him.

Beck shook his head. “I feel like I had to. Like, she’s already … mine.”

“Good luck with all that,” Decker replied. “The last thing you need is her stirring things up with Dawn or distracting you from the Light.”

“I know that. I’ll keep my distance. Somehow.”

“No, I mean, good luck, because if it’s like it is with Summer and me, you’ve got no choice. You have to learn to juggle her and the rest of life.”

“Like you’ve managed to do that!” Beck said sarcastically, aware of how naturally conflicted Decker was about everything in life.

“I haven’t yet, but I’m working on it,” Decker retorted. “She’s the only part of my world that makes sense.”

Beck knew as much. Summer stabilized Decker and his world. The bond between them was beyond anything Beck ever witnessed, outside of the relationship between their parents. Yet, no part of Beck welcomed such a relationship in his life. At least, not until he was standing on his own two feet, capable of protecting her, without a laundry list of issues weighing him down.

“I don’t need that,” he murmured. “I guess I should fix it now. I can say something came up and send her home in your car.”

“Whatever. You’re too nice.”

 Sometimes, Beck wished he could be more like Decker and react without restraint. Instead, Beck tried to do what he thought was the best for the Light.

“Besides, you’re not about to ruin my date night,” Decker added.

“Yeah.” Beck’s thoughts were elsewhere, mainly on how he was going to let Morgan down easy.

“I’ll text you later.” Decker moved away, attention on his Summer.

Beck watched the crowd part for his twin, whose Dark power was felt even by normal humans. Beck’s magick drew people to him while Decker’s repelled them.

He rested his hands against the cold railing in front of him then leaned over it to see the lights rippling in the water. The sound of the river bumping against the dock, combined with the mesmerizing dance of the lights reflected in the water, soothed him some. He roused himself after a few minutes, the night chill sinking into him. His thoughts went first to Morgan to warm him and then to the bonfire. He knew which one he wanted; he also knew which one he’d end up going to.

Beck debated on what to do about Morgan. The timing for a girlfriend - let alone finding his counterbalance – was awful. Morgan was sweet and sensitive. She deserved better than to be drawn into his drama, especially if she had already been hurt by someone. He didn’t trust himself getting serious with any girl. Maybe after the baby was born or he had dealt with his issues, he’d consider asking Morgan out again.

If he could keep away and didn’t end up inviting her on any more dates.

“What is wrong with me?” he muttered, irritated that his judgment failed him again this night. He straightened suddenly. “Speaking of crappy decisions …”

Beck sensed Dawn. He took in his surroundings with a sharp gaze, seeking out the Dark girl. It was also to give him time to avoid her, if possible. There were mutual restraining orders that mandated they have no contact, though she was able to break court orders at will while he got slammed the one time he sought her out. His father warned him to stay on the high road. Beck resigned himself to being the better person, because his unborn daughter was at risk. Dawn was using the baby as a tool to manipulate everyone, and there was nothing she wouldn’t risk to keep the advantage on her side.

The idea she might hurt her own baby out of revenge had crossed Beck’s mind more than once over the past few weeks. It made him sick – and overly cautious about giving Dawn a reason to do anything of the sort.

She was easy to spot. Tall, lithe, beautiful. Dawn was blonde with the bone structure and body of a natural born model. She drew attention wherever she went. He fell for her the first time they met at the witchling boarding school three years before, not even caring that she dated his twin first. Or cheated on both of them more than once. Their on-again, off-again relationship wasn’t healthy, he knew now. He had done his own part to make it dysfunctional by dating and sleeping around during their constant, periodic breakups.

Any affection for her died with Tanya. The only emotions he felt towards her now were anger and regret.

Beck glanced around to see where Morgan was, not about to drag the girl into this mess. She was far down the boardwalk, walking with Summer and Decker. Satisfied she wasn’t in danger, he pushed away from the railing and crossed his arms, waiting for Dawn to find him.

There was no other reason she just happened to be there at the same time he was. He knew very well that she had someone at the Light campus feeding her information about what he did. He’d told a few guys at dinner he was coming here tonight, though he left out with whom.

Her movements traced by Darkness, Dawn spotted him and moved through the crowd to reach him. Her stomach was showing the signs of being in her second trimester, though she still wore the tight, designer clothing she was known for. Her hair was up in a bun, her chiseled features done up in makeup.

“You didn’t answer my text,” she started out, stopping in front of him.

“We have court orders requiring us not to contact one another,” he reminded her.

She ignored him. “If you had, I would’ve told you what the lawyers are bringing up tomorrow.”

“I’ll find out tomorrow.”

“What is wrong with you, Beck?” she demanded. “Don’t you care about any of this?”

He sighed. At one point, he had born through the verbal barrage he knew was her way of trying to manipulate him out of guilt. After everything she had done to those he loved, she had the nerve to accuse him of not caring?

“It’s not like we’re having a daughter together or something,” Dawn snapped. “You act like you care in front of the judge and then you totally ignore me.”

“Because that judge told me to,” he said with patience he didn’t feel. “You were there. You heard him.”

“You’re making more excuses for not doing what you should. As usual. I thought you’d learn a few things, but you were born to be irresponsible.”

Beck clamped his mouth shut. He drew a deep breath. She was right about him being irresponsible. It was how he ended up here.

“Anyway, daddy’s attorneys are seeking full custody.”

“I’ll let the lawyers figure that out,” he said. “But we both know that won’t happen.”

“The courts up here almost always rule in the mother’s favor.”

“Almost,” Beck pointed out. He stopped himself from saying more, suspecting she wanted him to slip up so she could run to her lawyers and say he was being a dick.

But god it was hard! As long as she kept her anger focused on him and didn’t threaten any more Light witchlings, he was able to bear the brunt of her craziness. In fact, he made himself that deal recently. He was sacrificing himself for the Light witchlings.

She was an air element, and her Dark magick flared in the air around her. She wasn’t able to do anything to him, even intimidate him. The Master of Light was beyond the reach for Dark witchlings to hurt. Even if they could, they wouldn’t try. Decker’s rampage of killing Dark and Light witchlings left the witchling society as a whole far more respectful of the Laws of Magick.