Autumn Storm (The Witchling #2)(68)

What did you think it took to free you? Bartholomew was calm. If they live, you will always have a reason to return. We cannot let them live.

“No! I won’t let you hurt them!”

Decker gave a frustrated cry as the reality of what Bartholomew said sank in. He’d gone blindly down this path, wanting nothing more than the pain to end. He’d killed Dark witchlings then Light witchlings. As a finale, the Darkness wanted him to kill what remained of himself: those he loved. Bartholomew was right. Without Beck and Autumn, Decker had no reason to challenge the Darkness for his body.

His vision clear for the first time since Summer died, Decker didn’t believe what he’d done. He’d never meant for either of them to get hurt. He’d been vulnerable after Summer’s death, and the Darkness pounced, convincing him the path to eternal peace was simple, that no one else he loved had to get hurt if he surrendered. It offered to protect the world from him, when he needed to protect the world from Darkness.

Furious, Decker strained, but the earth wasn’t done with him yet.

The earth’s memories expanded. He saw Dawn bring Autumn to the field at gunpoint. The earth showed him how Autumn had used air magick to defend herself and how she was injured. He saw Dawn go Dark and himself appear soon after, followed by Beck.

Decker watched with apprehension as Darkness fought his brother. Pride filled him at the sight of Beck stepping up to protect Autumn and Dawn, though he knew he was outmatched. Beck fell, and Autumn took his place to defend those who couldn’t defend themselves.

Even him. She sought to protect him from himself.

And he’d hurt her.

Near frenzied with emotion, Decker thrashed in place, unable to move. Summer was gone. Autumn was his second chance. Although he wasn’t certain he was ready, he knew he couldn’t forsake her and Beck to the Darkness. He’d failed Summer. He wasn’t going to fail Autumn. He had to fight the Darkness at least long enough to save them.

With a sob, he realized Summer’s memory was best honored by doing what was right, no matter how hard it was or how much it hurt. Hadn’t Autumn told him the same?





Chapter Twenty





Autumn’s body was hurting, her vision blurring. How much blood had she lost? Or was this hypothermia? Wobbling, she made her way to Beck and sat beside him on the stone. Her hands quivered as she touched his face. He was alive. His breathing was steady, if shallow.

“Beck?” she called, tapping his face.

He didn’t awaken. Autumn tried to pull earth magick to help heal him, but the magick within her was depleted. She went through his pockets. He didn’t have a phone … Dawn did.

“Hang in there,” she whispered and stood. In a half-hobble, half-trot, she made her way across the clearing to Dawn.

The earth rumbled. She froze, scouring the field for a sign that Decker escaped. She didn’t see him. She bent over Dawn. The girl’s face was clammy. Autumn’s hands went to the pocket where she’d seen her place the phone.

It wasn’t there. Frantic, Autumn patted down Dawn’s jeans and jacket. She looked towards the blood-streaked snow marking the place where they’d rolled. The phone had fallen out at some point. She hesitated. She had to go for help. It was her only option.

Hot-cold magick washed over her.

Autumn straightened, her heart stopping. The ghost of Summer was at the edge of the forest again. Autumn wanted to scream at her to help. She turned to face Decker and involuntarily took a step back at the intensity of his magick. She couldn’t see his eyes to tell if his trip into the earth had done anything to make him become human again.

She’d wanted time to get help or a miracle. She’d gotten neither. And now, she didn’t have the strength to protect anyone. She’d made the wrong choice. She’d failed. She was too weak to save either of the twins. After all she’d been through, her pain conquered her, like Decker’s had defeated him.

She sank to the ground, exhausted. When tears rose this time, she didn’t fight them.

The Darkness crouched in front of her. His hand went to her throat.

“Please let him go,” she whispered.

“You plead for his life instead of yours.” The voice was soft, lethal. The inhuman edge was still present, and her hope tumbled.

“Some things are more important than what happens to me.”

“Like Decker.”

“Yes.” She thought he heard a human note in his voice and sought his gaze. It was too dark. “He deserves a second chance.”

“There are no second chances.”

“Yes, there are. He ... he has one now.” The desperation in her voice made her tears flow more. Was he able to hear her, wherever he was? “Beck is hurt. He needs his brother.”

His hand remained on her neck, tight enough to terrify her without constricting her breathing. His magick flowed through her unchallenged. She willed herself not to beg for her life. She’d fought too hard the past few months to go out pleading.

The Darkness was silent. Her strength began to slip. She wiped her tears then reached out with shaking hands. Autumn touched him tentatively with her fingertips. He didn’t move. She took his face in her hands as she had after the long walk up the driveway. He’d returned to her then. Was there enough of him left to return to her now?

“Please come back,” she whispered.