Spring Rain (The Witchling #4)(26)
“I got that feeling, too.” Beck shifted towards the direction of Decker, who led the blond haired Noah down the hallway. “I’m just not sure if I can trust him or not.”
Chapter Nine
Noah could guess what the Light twin thought of him by the look on Beck’s face. It was more than the fact that he was a Dark witchling; it was their past between them, namely Dawn and how Beck knocked her up then dumped her.
As much as Noah regretted severing ties with his sister, he was just as angry about someone leaving his sister in the situation she was in – pregnant, single and vulnerable to the Dark that had consumed her.
“So, what’re you doing in town?” Beck asked with forced friendliness.
The Light twin was different than Noah recalled. Leaner, as if he’d lost a little weight, and wary where he’d once been open and trusting. There was an edge to him that was new. It didn’t take much for Noah to figure out what happened after the incidents in December. He’d been unwittingly drawn into the lives of the twins and Morgan in a way he wasn’t yet able to extricate himself. At least, not until he saw his sister removed of the Dark soul possessing her and Morgan safe.
“Keeping an eye on Morgan, like you should’ve done,” Noah replied coolly. He had less patience than normal thanks to one eye that was swollen shut and the accompanying headache from his run in with Troy the night before. He’d been knocked out by Dawn’s guys, but not before he managed to drain the water from Morgan’s bathroom. He hadn’t known what happened until he, too, woke up in the hospital earlier.
Red crept up Beck’s neck. While Decker was known as the one to snap at the drop of a pin, Beck appeared ready to take his brother’s place as the temperamental one. Before Beck could say or do anything, Morgan’s door whipped open.
“I’m no one’s responsibility!” the fiery witchling snapped and glared at both of them. The pupils of her pine-colored eyes danced with fire, and her form was outlined by tiny orange flames.
Beck rubbed the back of his neck, the muscles of his jaw ticking, and Noah stayed quiet.
“Any idea where your sister is?” Summer asked, her earth magick flowing around them in an attempt to keep everyone calm. She had the same effect on him that she did everyone, and Noah’s tense stance relaxed. Decker wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her head.
“No,” Noah lied. “I found Morgan by tracking her phone.”
“Is that legal?” Beck asked.
Noah shrugged. “My dad runs a technology company. We have connections.”
“You couldn’t do the same for Dawn?”
“No. She’s … just gone.” Noah didn’t know what his sister had done to prevent Decker from tracking her. It was not possible in the modern age for her to completely disappear and not leave an electronic trace, which was how he’d found her general location. But he couldn’t reveal that to the two men likely to kill her. “And so is everyone with her. I found Morgan about a month after she got here. Had to fix some … business concerns at the company first. Dawn hasn’t tapped into what’s left of her trust fund or anything.” He cleared his throat and felt his cheeks grow warm. It was common knowledge his family was teetering on financial ruin, and alluding to the fact the family funds were frozen was embarrassing. “I haven’t seen Dawn here but noticed one of her Dark witchlings follow Morgan home twice this past week.”
“She came into my workplace,” Morgan murmured. “I wasn’t there. One of the guys told me.”
“So we know she’s here. Decker …” Beck looked at his twin.
“I know. I should be able to track her or one of the others.” Decker frowned. “Morgan, I had a thought about the soul stone. Could I examine it?”
Morgan glanced between them before nodding reluctantly.
“Hey, Red,” another male voice said from down the hallway.
Everyone turned to face the human teen who stopped a short distance away. His gaze swept uneasily over everyone before settling on Morgan.
“And you are?” Beck asked.
Morgan shot him a look.
“Stu. Morgan’s friend.”
Beck shook his hand. “I’m Beck. Also Morgan’s friend.”
Morgan eyed Beck and stepped between them. “Hi, Stu,” she greeted him.
“I heard about your apartment building and the boss said you didn’t call in. We were worried.”
“That’s sweet. Thanks.” She offered a wan smile.
Beck was bristling, and Noah bit back a laugh.
Sensing the tension in those around her, Morgan left the group and joined Stu, leading him back down the hallway and talking.
“Ha!” Decker snickered. “The look on your face, Beck.”
The Master of Light rolled his eyes.
“Maybe before you disappear again, you should say hi to Biji,” Summer said to Noah.
He ducked his gaze. “She doesn’t want anything to do with me.” Beautiful, sweet Biji had been horrified as much by him kissing her as by how he used violence to help her friends. The Light witchling was too good, too innocent. No matter how much he’d always been attracted to her, he wasn’t willing to take the chance she rejected him. He was bad for her and they both knew it. Better to take away the temptation and avoid her.