Autumn Storm (The Witchling #2)(37)

It was going to be harder than he expected to drive a wedge between his twin and Autumn. Decker and Summer had been compelled to one another by more than attraction. If the fateful connection between them remained, Beck faced a decision he wasn’t ready to make.

Autumn glanced at him then back, studying him.

“Mind if I join you?” he asked.

She shook her head and sat up. He unzipped his jacket and tossed it across one chair. He sat on the opposite end of the couch from her, staring blankly at the television for a minute.

“I know that look,” Autumn said.

He met her gaze. She frowned.

“Rough night,” he said and held out a cookie. “Nothing a few cookies can’t fix.”

She gave it a doubtful look. She seemed uncertain for a moment then rose and sat beside him. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head on his shoulder.

He sighed at her calming touch. “Correction. Nothing a few cookies and a pretty girl can’t fix.”

“Don’t ruin this,” she warned him. “You need a hug.”

He slid his arms around her, touched she thought to comfort him when his earth magick told him how much pain she was in. Right now, he hurt, too. He rested his cheek against her soft hair as he thought of what was to come. Her body tugged at his magick, and he let it flow into her. She relaxed against him. Holding her warm body, he was forced to acknowledge how much was on the line for the first time. The urge to protect her rose stronger.

“About visiting the forest after dark …” he started.

“I know.”

“Decker is dangerous, Autumn.”

She said nothing, but he sensed her thoughts. Fear and desire, a potent combination. Troubled for more than one reason, Beck wondered what it’d take to protect her, when what remained of Summer was drawn to Decker. Decker had hesitated too long when Beck tried to warn him away from Autumn. All it took was Decker losing control around her once, and the body pressed against Beck ended up like Summer or the witchlings Decker slaughtered.

Beck wasn’t going to let that happen. There was no one else to defend Autumn and the Light witchlings. It meant taking a stand against his brother, no matter what the consequences.

“Are you okay?” she asked, lifting her head to look at him.

“Not really.”

“I don’t like seeing you like this.” Her large blue eyes were too wise and understanding for her youthful face. “You’re too good for such pain.”

He gave a faint, sad smile and rested his forehead against hers. Normally, he had little restraint when he was attracted to someone. Autumn’s nearness and distinctly female scent made him want more than a hug. One Turner twin already put her through hell, and neither deserved her. He wasn’t sure how to protect her from himself.

Autumn slid down into his arms again, her head against his chest. She was too innocent to know the effect she had on him.

“And you? What could someone so sweet have done to deserve your pain?” he whispered.

“I don’t know. It must’ve been bad. Maybe I really screwed up in a past life.”

“I doubt it.”

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

“I think they’re called choices. Everyone makes choices, and some are terrible,” he said.

Autumn pulled away from him to meet his gaze. “A bad one shouldn’t condemn you,” she said with anger in her voice.

“You’re cute when you’re mad,” he said, smiling at the spark in her blue eyes.

“I’m serious.”

“I know. I like provoking you.”

“That runs in the family, too,” she snapped. “I bet you don’t treat non-invalids like this.”

“Nope. Just you,” he said, grinning. “Decker and I both have an eye for beautiful girls.”

“Beautiful for a cripple.”

“Beautiful period.”

Her flush spread, and she ducked her gaze. “Whatever.”

Beck pulled her against him again, comforted by her nearness. He had no idea what to do about his attraction or how far to go with her. If she was anyone else …if he was anyone else …if so much wasn’t on the line. She trusted him. He ached at the idea of what she’d think when she discovered how many lies he’d had to tell to keep the secret of who she was.

Autumn sighed and wrapped her arms around him. For now, he was content with her in his arms.

They fell silent. He heard her breathing deepen, and her body went limp. Beck shifted them when she’d fallen asleep until he was stretched out on the couch, her body resting on top of his and her legs extended between his. He propped his head up on the couch arm. With one arm draped around her, he grabbed the remote from the stand beside the couch and flipped channels.

He’d be gone before Amber or anyone else stumbled upon them. In the meantime, he liked the feel of her body and knowing this was the first night she’d slept without pain since she went over the cliff. It was the least he could do. It seemed like the only thing he was able to do.

Without her conscious effort to control her thoughts, they slipped free of her sleeping mind. She dreamt of falling off the cliff into Miner’s Drop. His grip around her tightened as he realized the memories were there. She couldn’t reach them, but he saw them. Over and over, she fell, reminding him how badly he’d failed her.