Autumn Storm (The Witchling #2)(15)

Being at a football game on a Friday night on a date … This was how life should be. Except for the weird superpowers the kids at their school had. She smiled to herself, amused. It was so much better than sitting in a hospital bed waiting for the last round of drugs before bedtime.

Three guys who looked more like college students than high school were walking towards her. Autumn pressed herself against the wall as they passed, but her cane tripped one. He stumbled then turned and stared at her.

“What the hell! You tripped me?” he snapped. His eyes were glazed, unfocused, and she saw one of them shove a bag of what looked like weed into his pocket.

“Sorry,” she murmured and hurried away.

He snatched her before she’d gotten a few steps.

“Look, bitch, you don’t just go around tripping people!” He shoved her against one of his friends as he spoke.

Autumn’s breath caught. They all had the same glazed, drugged look she used to have after taking her pain meds.

“Look, I’m sorry I-“ she started.

“Maybe you should teach her a little lesson, Mark.” The next one shoved her.

“I just might.” The original guy grabbed her again.

“Maybe you should let her go.” The fourth voice was a low growl and came from behind her.

“Look, Mark, someone thinks they’re gonna be a hero.”

The nearest lights on either side winked out, leaving them in the dark.

She heard a footfall a moment before the sound of someone’s fist smashed into the face of another. Autumn was flung against the wall, and she landed in a heap, unable to see much of what happened in the dark of the walkway. There was a lot of scuffling and cursing, the sound of flesh-on-flesh blows then sudden silence.

The light nearest her turned back on. A hand was extended in front of her. Autumn stared at the dark jeans of the teen, startled she didn’t see someone close enough to touch her. She took his hand, and he pulled her up. Cool electricity spun through her and sizzled in her blood, setting it afire.

His magic’s invasion was too intimate. She yanked away and looked up. The night clung to the guy before her, obscuring the true size and width of his frame. He was athletic, with a swimmer’s wide shoulders, muscular chest and lean legs. His features were chiseled, his penetrating gaze as dark as the night. His magick was compelling but terrifying, like the devil offering a deepest wish without revealing the price. He stood close enough for his cool shadows to caress her heated skin. His scent was a heady combination of man and night.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Overwhelmed by his presence, she took a step back and turned to leave.

He was in front of her again. Her breath caught. She shouldn’t find his sensual darkness appealing. She shouldn’t feel intense desire coiling in her lower belly and flying through her blood. Standing toe-to-toe with him, she shouldn’t feel truly alive for the first time she could remember.

He held her gaze, and she heard her own uneven breathing.

“Are you okay?” His voice was unexpectedly soft.

“Yes,” she replied.

His gaze grew more intense. “Who are-“

“God, Decker, don’t scare this one away!” Beck’s voice came from behind her. The guy before her looked up, and she realized how similar his features were to Beck’s. “Decker, meet Autumn, my date. Autumn, my terrifying brother, Decker.” Beck was tenser than she’d seen him yet.

She’d felt a connection to Beck the first time their eyes met. It made sense she’d know his twin, but she didn’t. It wasn’t like meeting someone like Jenna, who she’d never known. It was more like the disturbing feeling she got when she walked near the forbidden path at the school. There was a strange block with Decker, too.

“You shouldn’t let her walk alone after dark,” Decker said.

“I know that,” Beck snapped.

The two brothers glared at each other. Beck held two beverage carriers. His gaze went to the three guys Decker had hit then to Autumn.

“You okay?” he asked, concerned.

She nodded and bent carefully to retrieve her cane. Beck was tense, his gaze riveted to his brother.

“You okay, Decker?” he asked.

“Last one standing, as usual.”

Autumn wasn’t sure if she should smile at the wry comment or not. She feared looking up at the dark-eyed twin in case she fell again into the strange spell and ended up in his arms this night instead of Beck’s car, where she belonged. There was something about Decker that made her body sing, and it scared her. If she remembered Biji’s name, she should remember a feeling that strong!

Yet there was a hole in her memory when it came to Decker.

“I’ll call you later,” Beck said. “We’ve got people waiting for their cocoa.”

He stepped aside, so she could go ahead of him. Autumn did without looking at Decker.

“What happened?” Beck asked after a few steps.

“I don’t really know. Those three guys were walking down the sidewalk. I moved so they could pass but bumped one. He just went crazy,” she said, shivering. “I think they were on drugs. They pushed me around a little, until your brother stepped in.”

“You’re sure you’re ok?”

“I’m fine,” she said, smiling up at him.