Spring Rain (The Witchling #4)(12)

The second floor, he soon learned, had an inner hallway and doors on either side. There were bunk beds in each, a private bathroom and study areas along with a central common area at the middle of the dorm.

“Fantastic,” he murmured. “Dad did awesome in so short a time.”

“He did. He also said you have to approve everything before we can open it.”

Beck nodded, expecting the news. His father had pushed a lot his way since he turned eighteen, slowly turning over responsibility for the Light witchling students where it belonged, with the Master of Light. Beck had little business experience and no administrative knowledge, so he relied heavily on both his father and Amber to help guide his decisions.

“We have the building inspector’s approval?” he asked.

“Yep. New blueprints filed with the county and all paperwork in the main office.” She grinned. “Do you want a ribbon cutting ceremony?”

“Not if people are triple bunked. Open this wing up,” he replied.

“But we should do something,” she prodded. “This is the first time the school’s expanded in two decades at least.”

“I hadn’t thought of that. I guess it is pretty cool.” Beck smiled and looked around the common living area with its large television and multiple couches. “Could we open them today and then have something on the equinox?”

“Sure. Ribbon cutting and cake on the equinox then your parent’s gathering after. I’ve already drafted a release to go out to the witchling community writ large about the expansion. I emailed it to you for approval.”

“You haven’t been waiting long have you?” he asked, sensitive to his struggle with his new role.

“No.” Amber was too sweet to say if she had, and Beck made a note to check his email daily from now on in case she needed something. A lot of what she did on the administrative side – he should be doing more of.

Why did it always feel like he was not quite living up to who he thought he should be? Amber didn’t seem disappointed, and neither did his parents. But no Master or Mistress of Light had existed in over twenty years, so no one knew how much he was dropping the ball.

“You’re making real progress, Beck,” Amber said.

It doesn’t feel that way. He offered a smile, unwilling to ruin her optimism by voicing his own frustration. He was making progress, yes, but it was grueling and nowhere near what he thought it should be.

“Looks great, Amber,” he said. “Any issues?”

“We need another teacher.”

“I’m working on that one.”

“And …” She drifted off, worry flitting across her feature before disappearing. “Decker is good about policing the Dark students who get too close to the school, but a few students have reported something odd going on in Miner’s Drop.”

Miner’s Drop was on the side of the school opposite where Beck was working on growing the Light. He rarely went there anymore, mainly because it held nothing but painful memories, of the night Summer jumped into the Drop and the suffering of his brother that followed.

“Odd how?” he asked with a faint smile. “Not just kids learning to use their magick?”

She rolled her eyes. “We’ll table that comment for another discussion. Some kids are just …” she sighed. “Anyway, it’s not that. It’s more sophisticated use of magick. Students or witchlings with training who know how to control their elements.”

“Dark students are permitted to practice in the forest. Did you tell the Light students to stay out of the woods?”

“Of course. But it’s not practice, Beck. It’s … Dark.”

He studied her. The idea of Dark witchlings camping out and devising spells so close to campus didn’t sit well with him, but it wasn’t exactly illegal either. The forest belonged to the elements and therefore to any witchling who wanted to visit. “I’ll check it out,” he said.

“Thank you.” She appeared relieved. “How are you, Beck?”

“Good, thanks.”

“I can feel the work you’ve done. It’s amazing. Do you need any help?”

“I don’t think so. I think it’s just a matter of time.”

“Well let me know if you decide you do.” She smiled and passed him, headed towards the stairs. “If you’re good with the dorms, I’ll open them up today. Wanna take a look at the other dorm and new fitness center?”

“Sure.” He trailed her out of the first dorm building, toured the second, and finished his inspection with the remodeled fitness center. His father was a marathon runner and workout fanatic; the equipment was top of the line. His eyes skimmed all of it and settled on the wrestling mats where he’d once challenged Morgan to a match.

His blood warmed at the remembrance of her soft skin and fire. She could fight well, compliments of an overprotective brother with several black belts. He’d won only by dragging her to the ground where she couldn’t use her size and speed to best him. He smiled at the memory of her raw sex appeal and quick anger. She was too na?ve to know why every guy in the gym had wanted to wrestle her that day. A combination of the natural, burning sultriness characteristic of fire witchlings and her beauty had stopped even him in his tracks.

“Beck, you coming?” Amber called from the doorway.