Spring Rain (The Witchling #4)(76)
“Release,” Beck directed her.
Whitefire smashed into him. Beck caught it and turned it on the room trapping them. Morgan began to burn white, protected by Summer’s earth magick. Within seconds, the room exploded into rainbow colors.
The connection with Morgan severed, Beck’s eyes opened, then closed when he was blinded by the fire consuming them. Morgan was awake and tense in his arms, and he sought to see what she did, to focus the wild fire against their enemy. He watched in awe as her magick chased Bartholomew’s Dark soul through her body. He took over guiding the magick.
The pulse of cold from the soul stone in her hand tickled the side of his mind. Joined with her still, he was able to feel what she did, and he urged her fire towards the soul stone, herding Bartholomew with it.
Dark and Light swirled within Morgan, battling for control. He sensed Decker’s fire feeding Morgan, along with Summer helping stabilize her since Beck’s magick was concentrated in guiding Morgan’s.
With nowhere else to go, Bartholomew escaped Morgan’s body and retreated into the soul stone. A flare of cold Dark magick passed through Morgan and Beck before it subsided.
Gasping, Beck opened his eyes. Morgan was shaking, and her fire began to calm. He pushed soothing earth magick into her, and she relaxed against him. Summer withdrew and flung her arms around Decker, whose magick quieted instantly.
Breathless and exhausted, the four sat in quiet for a moment, recovering from the battle with Bartholomew.
Beck had Morgan’s closed fist in his and twisted her wrist over to gauge whether the soul stone was secure. Her white fire was concentrated on her hand.
“Hey, Noah,” he called, twisting to see the two witchlings beside Dawn. “We need water to bind this.”
Noah rose, his features tight, and knelt. He clasped both hands around Morgan and Beck’s and focused his cool water magick into the binding spell around the stone. He leaned back, and they both observed the flow of magick surrounding Morgan’s hand.
“Summer!” Biji called. “Decker! You have to get Dawn to a hospital.”
Morgan shifted in Beck’s arms. “Go.”
His gaze went to Dawn. The woman was starting to seize.
“I’m okay,” Morgan assured him. “Go save your baby.”
The words terrified him. Beck released her, paused to ensure she was really okay, then crossed to Dawn. He picked her up carefully, allowing his healing magick to flow into her, and looked once more at Morgan.
His counterbalance smiled. Summer was seated beside her, and Beck summoned his fog to sweep them away.
Chapter Twenty Five
Morgan watched him go and sagged when he had disappeared.
“Is it holding?” Decker asked, eyeing her hand.
She peered at the black stone visible through her fingers. It felt … alive. Knowing it contained a soul, she wasn’t about to let her magick settle, no matter how tired she was. “I think so. What happens now?”
“No freakin’ idea,” he admitted. “Everyone all right?”
Morgan blinked, aware of her surroundings once more. Biji and Noah held hands and stood a couple of feet away.
“A few more Dark witchlings showed up. We detained them for you,” Noah pointed to several Dark witchlings pinned against the canyon wall by ice and air. “Without violence.” His gaze went to Biji.
She grinned. “You can be trained, I suppose,” she allowed.
Morgan smiled. Biji was blushing while Noah raised his eyebrows.
“Decker, you need to fix this rain,” Summer murmured with a frown, gaze on the sky. The black fog had thinned out, but the clouds were still pouring down Dark-infused rain.
“Biji, Noah, you guys wanna help?” Decker asked, looking up.
“Yes!” both exclaimed.
Morgan watched them step away. Summer appeared exhausted as well, and the two exchanged a long look.
“So … this is what it’s like to be part of the family,” Morgan said somewhat awkwardly.
“Yeah.” Summer smiled. “How does it feel to belong?”
“Good.” Morgan’s throat felt tight. She cleared it. “You all were in my head.” She felt a little raw realizing other people might have seen parts of her even she didn’t know existed.
“Don’t worry. We didn’t learn any secrets. We were trapped with you,” Summer said.
A tornado of Darkness whipped the air of Miner’s Drop. They both turned to see the funnel created by Biji and Noah darting from the canyon into the sky. It began to suck in the clouds, swallowing them whole. Decker was at the center of the funnel, barely visible through the swirling Dark.
“Is it always like this?” Morgan asked.
“No. Well, sometimes,” Summer replied. “I think we should talk to Sam about the soul stone.” She pointed towards the ridgeline, where a flash of auburn stood out among the Dark and snow. “Can you walk?”
Morgan stood shakily. Her legs were wobbly. The effort of maintaining fire magick around the soul stone was draining her quickly. She and Summer hiked out of the center of the ravine, away from the tornado gobbling up the clouds, and to the ridgeline where Sam awaited them.
He offered a smile. You did it.
Morgan sighed, and Summer nodded her head.