Autumn Storm (The Witchling #2)(30)

She breathed deeply and focused on regaining her composure and strength for the walk back to the school. Her head was killing her. Lack of movement and the chill rendered her left leg stiff. Grimacing, she stretched and bent it until it warmed.

She faced the canyon again, eyes going to the place where she’d seen the dark-haired girl’s body. No one at the school spoke about what happened. Even the apparition hadn’t told her exactly what occurred. Autumn considered suicide first but changed her mind. The apparition had been sad but not regretful.

No, the dark-haired girl didn’t kill herself. Someone else pushed her over the cliff. Autumn’s thoughts turned to Decker, who admitted to giving no one a second chance.

Her headache grew worse. Autumn felt a trickle of blood from her nose. It was hot against her cold skin. She dabbed at it, then wiped it away. Sometimes that happened, when the headaches were strong enough to make her nauseous.

Right about now, the journey back to the school seemed too long for her to make it. A familiar sense of despair rose within her as tunnel vision formed from the intense pain in her head. She hated the helpless feeling that crept over her. As strong as she’d made her mind, her body was frail.

The longer she stayed on the cliff fighting her memories, the worse her migraine became. Autumn lowered herself to her knees and placed the cane across her lap. One of her nurses had been into New Age healing and taught her to meditate when these spells came.

Squeezing her eyes closed, Autumn concentrated on taking deep breaths. She tried to distract herself from the pain by tracking the air magick zipping through her. The earth’s gentle warmth crept through her legs.

“Not so tough now.” Decker’s voice was soft. She didn’t sense the otherworldly presence, only him.

Her heart flipped at his unexpected return. “You pissed enough to get your gun?”

“I use my hands, sometimes a knife, to kill.” He crouched beside her, close enough for her to feel his warmth.

Alarmed, Autumn kept her eyes closed, needing to ignore him to maintain what was left of her resolution not to pass out or throw up.

“C’mon.”

Her eyes flew open as he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground with ease. Cradled against his chest, she almost panicked at the force of his magick washing over her, through her. She’d felt his fire before; this time, it was accompanied by an equally powerful, cool magick. Water. Whereas Beck’s earth magick slipped gently between her and the pain, Decker’s met it head on. The result was a flash of agony before the fire and water consumed it.

She gasped at the sensations, grateful that, this time, there was nothing sexual in his touch.

“I don’t need help,” she said, pushing at him. “I’m fine.”

“Right. So am I.”

She was about to object again when the world fell dark and silent around them. Just as quickly, the fog lifted, and she stared, disoriented.

They were in the foyer of the school. A fire crackled in the hearth beneath the dark television. Its scent and warmth had never been more welcome to her than right now! She relaxed, relieved to be back.

Decker set her down on the couch and stepped away. The fire flared as he drew near. Autumn looked at it, unsettled to see the flames reaching for him. Though they no longer touched, his magick remained, keeping her pain in check. She stretched her leg, unwilling to let him see how relieved she was for his help.

“All you have to do is ask,” he said. “Beck and I won’t tell you no.”

She eyed him, recalling how Beck saw her thoughts when they touched. Her face grew warm.

“About your pain. It’s easy for us to help it,” he clarified, amused. “Unless you’ve got another reason you want me touching you.”

“I don’t need your help.” With a shake of her head, she focused on moving her leg. Both twins needed to learn boundaries.

“You know what your problem is?” he asked, amusement gone. “You’re unwilling to ask for help, even when you really do need it.”

“Whatever.”

“You started this game by calling me out on the cliff. I’ll finish it, whether or not you want to play,” he warned.

“I see arrogance runs in the family,” she retorted.

“That’s what happens when you poke a caged panther.”

She looked up, startled. “And that’s why I don’t want either of you touching me!”

Though he smiled faintly, the wariness remained in his gaze. Autumn rolled her eyes at him and focused on her leg.

“If you won’t listen to Beck, then listen to me,” Decker advised. “The forest is mine after dark. Stay out.”

“A warning?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“You’re giving me a second chance.” A smile tugged the corner of her mouth.

He paused. “Looks like it.”

“So … I won this round,” she said, unable to help the note of triumph that crept into her voice.

“Seriously? Do you have any idea who you’re messing with?” he asked, surprised. “You realize if you step into the forest after dark again, I’m keeping you.”

“Keeping me?” She snorted. “I’m not the lost puppy you and your brother think I am.”

“Think more along the lines of playing with fire and being consumed.”