Autumn Storm (The Witchling #2)(49)

“I didn’t make a bad choice,” she said. “I got hit by a car.”

Maybe the elements knew you needed to live.

“Maybe. They didn’t have to hit me with a car, if that’s the case.”

They have their ways. I do not always understand them either.

Autumn snorted. She didn’t like that answer. “During my worst days, you know what I thought?”

He shook his head.

“I thought – there’s gotta be a reason.”

Is there?

“I’m not sure yet. I think sometimes that bad things just kinda happen. Maybe there is no greater purpose or reason to it. You get hurt and move on.”

Possibly. Sometimes we may not be meant to understand the reasons.

“That’s kinda depressing.” Tired of trying to make sense of the world, she looked around. Sam had no books, games or televisions in his dwelling. “What do you do out here all day?”

I watch the world.

“Doesn’t that get boring?”

Never. Monday, I saw horrible things that made me doubt you humans. And then I saw you meet the doe at the edge of the forest, and I smiled. Human nature doesn’t let me get bored.

“She was beautiful, Sam,” Autumn murmured, recalling how soft the doe’s fur had been. “Decker walked back with me. I’ve never walked that far without my cane. I don’t think I would’ve made it without him.” Conflicted about the teen, she fell silent.

Caring for him does not make you bad.

“I’m not so sure.”

Trust your instincts and the elements. They will guide you.

She nodded.

Wind howled past the opening of the dwelling. They both glanced towards it.

The storm comes. You will have to leave now or risk being caught here at night. By Sam’s smile, he knew why she rose so quickly.

“Definitely not doing that,” she said. She wanted to fall into Decker’s shadows too badly. She wasn’t going to make it easy for him to claim her. He’d have to earn her by doing what was right.

She wasn’t sure he could.

Autumn shook her head. She’d been upset about him almost since arriving to the school. Sam cocked his head to the side, listening to something she couldn’t hear. She waited.

Beck is almost here. He will take you back.

She crossed her arms, irritated. “I don’t need help making it back.”

Sam grinned. I know. He’s trying very hard to do his duty. It is not easy for him.

“I guess.”

“Sam?” Beck called into the tree. He entered a moment later, covered in snow. His eyes widened when he saw Autumn, and he froze.

“I know, it’s storming, we have to go,” she said. “Thank you for talking to me, Sam.”

You’re welcome.

“Do you eat mashed potatoes?”

I don’t know what those are.

“I’ll bring you some.” She turned to Beck, whose mouth was slack. “Come on.”

He moved as she approached, saying nothing. Autumn walked by him to the entrance of the stump. Air magick kept the cold and snow out. It was almost pure white out, the snow falling in thick sheets.

As she watched, the air cleared a path for her. Autumn was several steps out of the dwelling when she noticed Beck hadn’t followed. She waited for him to emerge. After another long minute, he did. She started away, when he caught her arm.

“You nearly gave me a heart attack,” he said, concern on his face. “What’re you thinking, wandering in the forest in the middle of a storm?”

“I was thinking I wanted to find Sam, and I did.” She pulled out of his grip. His soothing aura draped over her like the cold air that greeted her when she left the dwelling. She wanted to be angry at him but couldn’t.

He gave her a long look then shook his head, offering his arm. Autumn took it grudgingly. They walked down the path cleared by magick while snow accumulated quickly around them.

“I almost called my parents to help me find you. Trust me, you do not want my mom hunting you down,” Beck said.

“I’m okay,” Autumn replied. “I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can. I’m a little edgy anyway.”

She looked up at him, noticing the dark circles beneath his eyes and the tension in his body. She wondered if Decker hurting Light witchlings was the reason Beck was worried. At once, she felt guilty about her attraction to Decker while judging Beck so harshly. He had a lot on his shoulders.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah.” He smiled. “Thanks.”

A gust of wind blew snow into their faces. Autumn shielded her eyes then sucked in a deep breath. Air magick swirled in her body. She asked it to protect them from more gusts. To her surprise, a bubble formed around them, preventing wind and snow from reaching them.

“It’s like a reverse snow globe,” Beck said, fascinated. “Neat trick.”

The sound of branches snapping made them stop in place. A short distance ahead, a tall tree was splintering under the weight of snow. It bowed dangerously. Beck pulled her into his body to keep her from walking forward.

“Screw this. We’re taking the short cut,” he muttered.

Autumn was about to ask him what that meant when the world fell white and quiet, as if they’d walked into a cloud. When the cloud cleared, she stood in a huge kitchen facing a wall of windows through which there was nothing visible but thick snow. She turned to see stainless steel appliances, long sheets of marble counters and aged wood cabinets.