Spring Rain (The Witchling #4)(68)

“You have nothing to fear, Morgan,” he said and circled the car.

“She has a whole lot to fear, kid,” Gordon snapped. “We’re the least of her worries.”

Sensitive to Morgan’s fire, Beck sensed the surge of magick warning she was about to react and probably take out everyone around her in the process. If she used her magick with the intention of harming someone, there was a chance her hard won Light status would turn Dark.

“Don’t touch her, Gordon,” Connor snapped, his magick rising.

“Go inside, Connor,” Beck ordered him.

The situation was ripe for igniting, and Morgan’s magick was hard enough for her to control without acting out of fear.

Connor didn’t leave, but fell silent and kept his distance.

Gordon reached for one of Morgan’s pockets. She wrenched away, and he raised his hand to slap her.

Something within Beck snapped. He reacted faster than any of them could see. Lightning ripped through the air and struck Gordon in the chest, driving him back while Morgan yanked out of his grip. She backpedaled into Beck, and he gripped her arms to steady her. She was breathing hard and trembling, her magick frantic within her. He calmed her the best he could before stepping in front of her, between her and Gordon. He gripped her wrist, the direct contact giving him better access to calming her magick.

“This ends now, Gordon,” he said firmly. “You will never –”

Gordon started towards him, cursing. Beck slammed him back against a tree, along with the other two with him.

“You will never come anywhere close to Morgan again,” Beck finished with calmness he didn’t feel. “And if you do, the Master of Dark will be the least of your worries.” He released the magick, and the three dropped to the ground.

Gordon was looking at him anew, as if he, too, was surprised the Master of Light had any sort of power. Grimly, Beck realized it had been too long since there was someone in his position, long enough that the Dark witchlings had grown bolder. Maybe Decker is right to kill so quickly. He had the urge to sic his brother on Gordon and his henchmen and an even deeper need to protect Morgan and finish them off himself.

Recalling Sam’s warning and the trembling woman behind him who was already traumatized, Beck drew a deep breath. “Leave now.” He pointed to their van.

There was a brief pause where he thought he might get to fulfill the protective instinct before Gordon moved towards the van. The other two followed. Moments later, they rolled down the driveway.

Morgan pulled away from Beck, and he snagged her around the waist as she started to run. He wrapped both arms around her shaking frame. “It’s okay, Morgan,” he whispered, breathing in her scent.

“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry!” she gasped. She tugged at his grip.

Beck forced himself to calm down so he could calm her as well and push soothing earth magick towards her, suppressing her out of control fire. He felt her yield and melt into him, panicking nonetheless, but trusting him to keep her together where she was ready to combust.

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Beck whispered and shifted her to face him. He hugged her hard.

Morgan trembled in his arms. She didn’t speak for a long moment, and he simply held her, grateful she was safe and well.

“Beck,” she said in a stricken whisper. “Gordon wanted me to kill you. He told me to put the soul stone at the heart of the Light.”

He listened, Sam’s warning about the forces that wanted to overthrow the Light returning to his thoughts. Dawn’s cause had united a tiny faction of unhappy Dark witchlings. He began to think the storm coming wasn’t caused by one, but by the magick of several people like Gordon who wanted the Darkness to rule.

“I was going to do it until I found out it was you,” she rushed on. “He said he’d kill my father. But when we met … when I …” Her words choked her, and she stopped.

Her confession sparked both new anger at Gordon and a deeper understanding of the level of her suffering. Beck rested his chin on top of her head, unable to fathom what she had been through the past few years. “Morgan, I understand,” he said gently. “You did nothing wrong.”

“But I was going to!”

“But you didn’t,” he said with a small smile. “Is your father okay?”

She nodded. “I’m so sorry.”

“I’m proud of you, Morgan,” he whispered, aching for her. “You’re so strong, so sweet. So good.” He lifted her chin and gazed into her green eyes. There were tears on her cheeks, and the mask had slid away to reveal her pain. “I swear, on my soul and my life, no one will ever hurt you again.”

Her lips parted in a soft sigh. “I believe you.”

He kissed her gently then hugged her once more, uncertain if he had ever felt so blessed in his life. He held the heart and trust of the damaged, beautiful woman in his arms whose fire had driven him crazy since shortly after meeting.

The distant rumble of thunder worried him. The storm was closing fast, and Morgan couldn’t cross onto the Light campus where she’d be safe. Gordon and Dawn were on the outside, and both had a reason to track her down.

“I need to get you somewhere safe,” he said and called for his fog.

“No.” Morgan drew a deep breath, struggling to steady herself. “Sam … Sam taught me how I can protect your baby, but I need you to help me. I think the same binding spell we use on the stone will work for your baby. Five elements, two Masters.”