Winter Fire (Witchling Series) (36 page)

Decker started forward, a strange feeling sweeping over him.

“Morgan!” Summer cried. She jumped to her feet and started across the parking lot.

Decker reached her before she fell the second time and caught her. Biji barreled into them, almost knocking them both to their knees.

The vehicle slid to a halt on the ice of the lake. Decker held his breath, praying the ice held. All of them froze, as if their movement would cause the SUV to break through the ice.

“Please tell me Morgan isn’t in there,” Beck said from beside him.

“She is,” Decker said.

Beck ran.

“Shit. Stay here, Biji, Summer,” Decker ordered. He released Summer and chased after his brother, not about to let him do something stupid. “Beck, wait!”

His brother ignored him and slid, tripped and ran down the icy slope towards the SUV, which Noah was rocking back and forth by reversing the vehicle then gunning it to try to gain traction on the ice. The chains dug into the ice, causing trenches to form. A minute before Beck reached the dock, the sound of thunder came from beneath the SUV. The ice cracked, and the vehicle dropped into the lake. Currents swept it quickly towards the center of the lake.

“No,” Beck’s stricken whisper mirrored Decker’s stunned silence.

The vehicle bobbed for a moment then began to sink.

Beck lunged for the dock. Decker followed, reaching his twin just as Beck stripped off his coat and prepared to leap into the frigid lake. The SUV was completely gone from view.

“Beck!” Decker shouted, snatching his arm. “Stop!”

“I don’t have much time,” Beck snapped, yanking away.

“No one can survive that,” Decker said.

“She can. She’s fire. She can stay warm until I reach her!” Beck’s gaze was wild and unfocused.

Decker grabbed him again, unwilling to lose his brother over a girl who wasn’t even willing to say farewell.

Beck swung at him. Decker released him and ducked. Beck took a couple of quick steps towards the edge of the dock.

Decker tackled him. Beck gave a startled shout then fought back. More focused on escape than fighting, Beck’s attempts to get rid of Decker were fruitless.

Decker didn’t try to be gentle. He punched Beck hard enough to stop him from fighting. Decker took advantage of the opening to put him in a chokehold, using his body to pin him to the ground.

“Stop,” he ordered. “I’m not letting you kill yourself.”

“NO!” Beck snarled, writhing. “I can –“

“It takes less than sixty seconds to drown in water this cold. You know that,” Decker said calmly. “It’s been twice that. She’s gone.”

“Maybe –“

“She’s. Gone. I won’t lose you, too.”

Beck went limp beneath him. His breathing was ragged and Decker saw tears glistening on his brother’s cheeks.

At that moment, Decker wanted to strangle Morgan. It wasn’t her fault that Beck fell for her, but it was her fault he was hurt. Beck had gone through too much to end up broken.

“I’m going to let you up. Okay?” Decker asked cautiously. “If you try to jump in the lake I will knock you flat.” He released Beck.

His twin didn’t move. Decker crouched beside him, eyes on the lake. It was impossible to tell if there were any heads bobbing in the dark waters, but he didn’t think it was possible even for a fire witchling to survive in such a cold environment for long.

Decker stood and strode to the edge of the dock.

Tell him I’m gone forever. No one can know where I am, Decker.

He didn’t have to worry about telling Beck anything now. The lake took care of that.

Decker paced, remaining between Beck and the edge of the lake, just in case.

He watched the shore nearby. Did he want her to survive or not?

Beck was in such pain, he thought he did.

Without his magick, Decker wasn’t able to ask the water what exactly happened when the SUV sank or if anyone survived. He waited a few more minutes then knelt beside his brother.

“Come on, Beck. We need to get the girls to a hospital and call the police.”

Beck pushed himself to his knees. His eyes were blank, his face pale.

Decker didn’t know how he was going to help Beck through the grief awaiting him. Decker’s own method of dealing with losing Summer had been to surrender to the Darkness. Beck was different.

Seeing his brother’s pain, Decker didn’t care what a soul stone was or what it was capable of doing. Running was cowardly, and no one hurt the people he loved.

With another glance towards the center of the lake, Decker helped his brother to his feet and slid beneath one of Beck’s arms to bolster his shaky steps. Decker turned them away from the lake and started back towards the lodge. 

When the rite was over and his magick was back, he’d get some answers. Tonight, he had to take care of his family.

Decker. Sam’s soft summons made him miss a step. Before the yeti was able to say more, Decker’s instincts warned him that something else was up. Sam hadn’t spoken to him in weeks, let alone twice in one night.

“You can wait,” he growled.

Beck was oblivious to the world.

Now, Decker, please. It will help you with Beck.

He sighed in frustration. “I have no magick.”

I’ll bring you to me.

“Give me a couple of minutes.”

Biji stood at the top of the hill, staring at the lake. Summer’s arms were around her. Decker reached them and stretched for Summer, needing her touch to calm his rattled nerves. He wrapped her in his arms for a brief, tight hug. The scent of her blood made him want to seek out revenge on Dawn before going to Sam.

A glance at Beck changed his mind. His twin was like a zombie.

“Take Beck and go to the lodge,” he whispered to her. “I’m going to see Sam, then get help.”

Summer hugged him hard. Reluctantly, Decker released her and stepped away. All three of them were hurting. He didn’t want to go anywhere.

Sam’s white fog was the color of Beck’s. It snatched him quickly and took him to the yeti.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Morgan clawed her way up the bank. Though she saw the blood on her fingers from struggling out of the water, she couldn’t feel anything. She collapsed, struggling to breathe. Her body shook. Noah’s cool magick raced through her body. It swept away the water, but not the chill. At least the pain in her leg was numb.

“Sorry. That didn’t go as planned.” Noah’s breathless voice came from nearby. “You … okay?”

He was supposed to take her to Priest River, where she hoped to catch a bus and disappear. They hadn’t planned on sinking the SUV. If not for Noah’s water magick, she’d be dead.

When she didn’t answer, she heard the snow crunching beneath his shoes. He knelt beside her, pressing her to his back.

“C’mon. Use your magick,” he said quietly. “I know you’re hurt. Focus.”

She closed her eyes and did as he directed. Warmth spread through her body. Flames enveloped her. Noah cursed and sprang away. The ice block in her chest melted, and Morgan sagged, comforted by the heat of her element. Unfortunately, it awoke the pain in her leg, which burned hotter than the flames around her. The fire faded and she felt exhausted.

“You need a hospital,” Noah said, drawing near again.

“No,” she said.

“Look, Morgan – “

“You promised to help me leave,” she said with more force.

“It’s not gonna matter where you think you’re going if you don’t get your ass to a hospital. No one’s going to come looking for you after sinking the truck.”

“Your sister will.” Morgan struggled into a sitting position. They were at the lake, though where he’d told the water magick to drop them, she had no idea. The light of dawn was breaking across the eastern sky.

“Why do you keep saying that?” he asked. “What did you do to her?”

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t go to a hospital around here,” she said. “I have to get as far away as possible.”

Noah was frowning in the early morning light. He stared at the lake, pensive. Morgan checked her pocket. It was empty except for the soul stone and her dead amulet. She glared at it, eyes watering.

She’d never be anything but in-between. The amulet was a reminder of how much she didn’t fit in with the witchlings and how lucky Beck was to not have her in his life,  which one day he would come to realize.

She wiped her eyes. Thinking of him hurt more than her leg.

Morgan threw the amulet. It was everything she failed to be.

He’s in love with her.

Beck would get over her. There were a million blondes waiting to take her place. He had to. She couldn’t bear the thought he’d hurt like she was.

She bent over and clutched her chest. Her fire’s dance was slow and mournful. It barely sparked above an ember. She’d never felt it sad before. Morgan struggled with her emotions and the pain, unable to balance the two.

“I gotta figure out how to get us out of here,” Noah said, standing. “Will you be okay while I find a car or something?”

She nodded. Noah lingered. He wasn’t happy. His pain irritated her magick. He, too, was hurting because he was losing someone he loved. She wanted to thank him, but the words stuck in her throat.

Noah scrambled the rest of the way up the bank.

Morgan clutched her head in her hands.

If you care anything about him, you won’t just walk away,
Decker had said.

Beck was better off without her. She was a curse to the Light. The only way to protect him was to take the soul stone far away, where Dawn could never find it, and it would never hurt Beck again.

“Morgan, it’ll take me a couple of hours at least,” Noah called down softly. “I don’t want to leave you here.”

“I’ll be okay,” she said. “I’ve got my fire to keep me warm.”

“But your leg is –“

“Please, Noah. I need to leave.”

“You can soak your leg in the lake to keep the swelling down,” he said hesitantly. “Do you have enough fire magick to keep yourself warm?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright. I’ll be back as soon as I can. We’re on the east side of the lake near the road. It shouldn’t take too long.”

“Okay.”

He waited another minute then left. Morgan looked up towards the low ridge where he’d been standing to verify he was gone. Her leg was throbbing. Immersing it in frigid lake water sounded appealing, even if it meant getting wet and her clothes freezing.

She struggled to maneuver her worn out, weakened body. Tears sprang free. The slightest movement of her leg hurt.

You survived the lake.

Fevered, Morgan wasn’t certain if she heard the voice or not. She rested on her back. The soul stone was freezing in her pocket, and her fire focused on keeping it from causing frostbite.

She stared at the brightening sky. It smelled like more snow was coming. The gray-bellied clouds weren’t moving.

A tall, blurry figure crossed her vision. Morgan blinked, recognizing the auburn fur.

“Sam,” she breathed.

You cannot involve Noah in this, and I cannot allow Dawn to obtain the soul stone.

Morgan’s eyes watered. Where did that leave her when she couldn’t walk?

“What, Sam?” Decker’s angry voice made her spirits tumble. There was no way to pretend she was dead, if Beck’s brother knew otherwise.

Both of you listen,
Sam started.
Decker, she needs to go away. She’ll need your help and your silence.

Decker was frowning fiercely. “What are you involving me in and why?” he demanded.

Decker’s head was tilted, as if he were listening. Whatever Sam’s response was, Morgan couldn’t hear it. The Master of Dark’s gaze dropped to her and lingered.

“Fine. When this is over, you will tell me what a soul stone is, Sam,” he said finally.

Now for you, fireball,
Sam sounded far more cheerful than Morgan thought their situation warranted.
I can heal minor injuries such as yours. The rest you must do.

He knelt beside her, one furry hand resting lightly on her injured shin. She jerked. Familiar earth magick swept through her.

Morgan lay perfectly still, afraid of causing more pain. Her body fixed itself from the inside out. Her shin, the bruises, her hands. Everything but her exhaustion was restored. Sam stood and stepped away, offering his hand.

Morgan took it and braced herself to feel more pain. He pulled her up. None came, and she tested her legs. They worked. She almost cried out in relief.

You must be gone before Noah returns,
Sam told her.

She looked up at the ugly creature. “Thank you.”

He held out her amulet. She shook her head, throat too tight to speak again.

It belongs to you. It will remind you of Beck, wherever you go.

“Is he alive?” she asked in a hushed voice.

He is and will remain so, if you protect him.

His logic made her resistance crumble. Morgan took it, clenching it in her hand.  Decker stood a few feet away, watching her with a look that said he was doing this for his brother, not her.

“When you asked me to protect him, you wanted me to protect him from … me,” she said to Sam sadly. “Didn’t you?”

Do not ask these questions of yourself, child, Sam answered with gentleness. You must find a way to protect Beck, the Light and the soul stone from those who would use it for Dark purposes.

“I’ll find a better way to protect him,” she promised then faced the Master of Dark. “I’m sorry, Decker. I don’t want to hurt him.”

“I know. I think,” Decker replied. “I also know what pain he’s about to go through.” Worry made the skin around his eyes tight. “Sam says it’s … necessary. For now. I’ll keep your secret, Morgan.”

She nodded. The Master of Dark reached into his pockets, pulling out his wallet with one hand and a cell phone with the other.

“Take these. The phone is Summer’s. I’ll get her a new one. My number is in the contacts,” he said, holding both out. “My credit card has no limit, and my debit card code is written on the back of the card.”

“You really shouldn’t do that,” she said and glanced at him. “Someone might take all your money.”