Autumn Storm (The Witchling #2)(60)

The apparition wasn’t leaving. It wasn’t exactly offering her any help, either. Autumn barely registered Dawn’s words, her head pounding. If she was meant to die here, why were there memories struggling to tell her what happened? Why did it matter?

Two figures appeared down the corridor from the direction of the school. Dawn waved for them to hurry. After a few deep breaths to stabilize the pain, Autumn recognized Alexa, the girl with blue eyes who had been in their room with Dawn. The Dark teen with her was unfamiliar, a tall guy close to Alexa’s age.

“What took you so long?” Dawn demanded.

“Chill, Dawn,” Alexa said. “We were thinking. We need to do this different this time.”

“What? Why?”

Alexa glanced at Autumn. She didn’t speak again until she was close enough to whisper to Dawn.

“Decker’s totally lost it. He’s …” her voice lowered even more.

Autumn strained to hear but was unable to. She saw the unease in the Dark witchlings; it was no longer a secret that Decker had lost control. They were afraid, and she couldn’t help feeling hopeful. She was scared of him, and he’d shown more restraint with her than anyone. If they feared Decker enough, they wouldn’t hurt her.

The earth could swallow them. Autumn considered the idea then recalled the Light Laws. She wasn’t allowed to use magick to hurt someone. What option did that leave her?

Her eyes went to the three. The Dark teens were hesitant, with the guy frowning. Dawn wasn’t backing down. With nothing but her mind to use, Autumn had to act soon.

“They said Decker’s killing Light witchlings,” she said loudly enough for them to hear. “He’s not waiting for them to turn Dark. Just –“

“Shut up!” This came from Alexa.

“It’s the truth,” Autumn insisted. “He kills with his hands and a knife. It’s not a quick death.”

The two Dark teens stared at her. She guessed they’d heard similar rumors.

“Ignore her. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” Dawn said. “Stick to the plan.”

“She does know, Dawn. I’ve spent like, every night this week with him, until he kicked me out yesterday,” Alexa said, eyes pinned to Autumn. “You’re the blondie he and Beck were fighting over. So, I guess Decker won you, or he wouldn’t have kicked me out.”

She and Dawn exchanged a look that made Autumn uneasy.

“Told you it wasn’t Tanya,” Dawn said.

“What happened to Tanya?” Autumn asked.

“Nothing yet, right?” Dawn prodded.

“A little late for that info,” the guy said.

“Yeah, we took care of that yesterday,” Alexa agreed. “Dammit, Dawn, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know! You said you were certain it was her after the messages he and Beck sent each other.”

“It made sense. This one and Tanya looked a lot alike.”

Dawn shook her head. Autumn listened, horrified that they’d mistaken Tanya for her. She doubted the other girl was alive but was afraid the truth would shred her remaining calm.

“You got sloppy again,” Dawn said to Alexa. “You gotta focus better.”

“It’s kinda hard.” Alexa reddened. “I mean, Decker kept me pretty busy this week. You came by. You know. He’s insatiable.”

“Sex is a tool to get what you want, Alexa. This kid will get me a trust fund.”

Their squabbling made Autumn nauseous.

“I’ve got a shot with Decker. I’m not gonna screw this one up,” Alexa said. “I don’t want a trust fund. I just want him.”

Autumn hesitated. “You’re one of many,” she said. “But I think you know you’re not the only one, don’t you?”

Alexa’s gaze narrowed.

“We went through this last time,” Dawn said and rolled her eyes. “Are you really backing out?”

“Yes,” the guy said.

“No,” Alexa answered simultaneously.

“You just said –” the guy looked at Alexa.

“I changed my mind.”

Autumn cursed under her breath. That wasn’t exactly what she intended to do. She hadn’t realized she almost had Dawn alone again. Not that those odds were much better, when the girl was armed.

Or maybe, they were. Autumn’s gaze went to the apparition. Decker killed Summer when she went Dark. He sensed when someone went Dark; it was his duty. If Dawn screwed up bad enough, Decker would come. Autumn wasn’t sure that was much better than her current situation. Then again, she recalled the way he’d touched her, the look in his eyes.

Some part of him remained. But dared she risk bringing the rest of him into this?

None of them would leave alive. Her gaze went to Dawn’s stomach, and she wanted to scream in frustration. No, Decker was not the solution she needed. Maybe the threat of him was enough.

“I told you it was just like before,” Dawn said to Alexa. “Summer came between you two and now Autumn is between us and both of them.”

“Why does this keep happening?” Alexa muttered.

“You gotta fight for what’s yours. Like I told you. It worked for me and Beck.”

“The first time,” Autumn said before she could stop herself. “You said he didn’t go back to you after that.”