Spring Rain (The Witchling #4)(28)
Noah said nothing. There was a time he’d refuse it, but he was in no position to turn down money when he had no way to support two people let alone himself. He’d been living in a rundown youth hostel for the past month.
“Come on, Noah,” Morgan said without meeting anyone’s gaze. “Let’s get out of here.”
While he’d never had a reason to dislike Morgan, Noah liked her more in that moment than he had to date. She, too, didn’t seem to belong or maybe, seemed far more troubled than the others. She was more like him than she was the others.
He joined her walking down the hallway. “We’ll get some food as soon as we can,” he told her.
Morgan’s gaze flickered to him. She appeared almost haggard now that the others weren’t looking. Accustomed to a high maintenance mother and sister, Noah was sensitive to the subtle change in the looks and moods of women. Morgan was struggling to hang on, either about to cry or pass out.
“I’ll protect you, Morgan,” he said quietly. “I promise.”
“I can take care of myself,” she replied.
He said nothing, aware that she was barely on her feet.
The enormity and importance of his task didn’t settle upon him until they set foot into the cheerful spring afternoon. Noah led Morgan towards where he’d parked his motorcycle, his gaze roving their surroundings.
Whatever the stone did, Dawn had already demonstrated she was willing to kill to get to it. If he failed, Morgan died, and probably, so would Dawn and her baby, if the Masters had to act to stop her. Yet Noah wasn’t willing to give up on his sister completely either.
I need to talk to her one last time. Disturbed by how weak Morgan was, he gave her his helmet and climbed onto the bike. First things first, he had to get Morgan settled somewhere safe and far away from the location where he knew Dawn to be.
Chapter Ten
“I don’t like this. At all,” Beck said and watched Noah roar away on his motorcycle with Morgan clinging to him.
“He’s the best chance she has right now,” Decker replied. “And the last speed bump in case Dawn finds her again.”
“Did you learn anything about the stone?”
Decker was quiet for a moment. Summer took his hand, and Beck waited for a response. “I don’t know for certain. It’s very powerful. I had thought maybe I could take it, but …” He stopped.
Beck understood what Decker wasn’t yet willing to talk about: how far he’d fallen into the Dark when he thought he lost Summer. Like a recovering addict, Decker would remain susceptible to the effects of Darkness for the rest of his life with only Summer standing between him and complete surrender.
“I wouldn’t ask you to,” Beck replied firmly. “We’re going to find a way where no one I care about ends up suffering because of this. I think you’re onto something when you said her family was special like ours. Sam might know why or what trait Morgan possesses that enables her to tolerate the Darkness without falling into it.”
“Worth a shot,” Decker agreed. “You find the fur ball. I want to … research something.”
By Summer’s uncertain look, she liked Decker’s claim as much as Beck did.
“See you tonight at dinner?” Decker asked.
“Eh. I’ll be at the cabin,” Beck replied. “Keep him out of trouble, Summer.”
“Always.”
Distracted by his concern, Beck smiled and strode away, out of the hospital and to a garden area beside the hospital so he could unleash his magick without being seen. His fog swept him away seconds later and left him in northern Idaho, near the tree where he’d been staying.
Sam, he called mentally to the forest creature.
While he waited, he bent to the ground to communicate directly with the Light source beneath the school. Its power and strength reassured him of the progress he had made, and he moved to sit on a tree stump while waiting.
Sam, the yeti charged with helping to managing the balance between Light and Dark, soon approached, his auburn hair clashing with the forest.
“Hey, Sam,” Becks said.
Good morning, Beck. Did you bring your rent? The yeti’s question was accompanied by a chortling laugh.
Beck grinned. “You’re getting chubby. Do you really need more chocolate?”
Winter fat. Will melt in spring like the ice. Sam patted his lower belly. He perched on a fallen log. You are better, but not yet you.
“Yeah. Lots going on,” Beck said, thoughts drifting to Morgan. If he let his mind stay on her, he’d end up confused again and desperate to convince her she was safer with him. “We need to know everything there is to know about the soul stone.”
I have told you all I knew. It is solid Darkness and can hold a soul.
“Okay, then what can you tell me about Morgan’s family. Why they were chosen. If they’re special like mine.”
Sam cocked his head to the side. His ugly face scrunched as he thought. I am asking the others.
Beck waited anxiously. Sam’s connection to the other yetis was telepathic, and if he sought their council, it meant two things. One, there was knowledge and two, it was closely held enough that it wasn’t to be given to the Master of Light without permission from the community. Unlike his twin, Beck was patient with Sam, aware of the creature’s role as a balancer.