Spring Rain (The Witchling #4)(9)

“I’m moving in,” she proclaimed.

“With me?” His smile widened.

“Yep.” She looked around. “Where’s the cabin?”

“No cabin. I’m roughing it.”

Biji’s features twisted into an expression of distaste. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

She sighed. “All right. I’ll stay anyway.”

Beck laughed for the first time in weeks. “What’re you doing out here, Biji?”

“My parents are here for the equinox.” She dropped her possessions on the ground and sat on her sleeping bag.

“That’s a long way to fly.”

“I didn’t make it home for the holidays, so they thought they’d fly out.”

“Cool. I’ve never met them.”

“You don’t want to!” she snapped.

Beck shifted to face her. She wasn’t dressed for life in the wilderness. Her expensive snow boots were fashionable not practical, and she wore a light jacket that wasn’t going to stand up to the night cold. If she was serious about attempting to rough it, she’d change her mind by morning.

“So you don’t want to see them?” he prodded, sensing there was more.

“I do. I don’t want to see him.”

“Who?”

“The guy they want me to marry.”

Beck had heard rumors about her wealthy parents arranging a marriage for her in India. He’d also heard something else. “And you like Noah,” he said.

“I do not like Noah! He’s an ass. He left without saying goodbye and never texted anyone to say where he went!”

“That’s a yes,” he teased.

She glared at him.

“Bad news, Biji. I have to go back to civilization tomorrow anyway. I’m not leaving you in the forest,” he said.

“I’ll find somewhere else to hide tomorrow. Can I stay today?”

“Sure.”

She appeared satisfied.

“If I tell your parents where you are, will they give me an elephant?” he asked, unable to help poking the grumpy air witchling.

“Just try it, Beck,” she warned. “And I won’t tell you the school gossip.”

“Is it about me?”

“No.”

“Hmmm.” He pretended to consider her offer. “Deal. I’ll keep my mouth closed. You talk.”

“Decker and Summer got in a huge fight,” Biji informed him. “Decker doesn’t want her living so far away from him and she said she can do what she wants. And Decker got mad and then Summer told him when he can act like the Master of Dark and not a two year old throwing a hissy fit, she’d talk to him again.”

Beck was laughing hard by the end of Biji’s story. The air witchling had a flair for the dramatic.

“It wasn’t funny, Beck,” Biji protested despite the smile tugging up the corners of her lips. “This happened during a field trip two days ago.”

If there was one thing Beck knew, it was that his brother had met his match in the shy, sweet, yet strong Summer. By now, they’d probably made up and Decker had promised never to act out again. Summer could handle Decker in a way no one else could.

I forgot how much I missed Biji and the others. And laughing. He regained his composure and grinned at Biji. Having her there, even for a day, would brighten his world.

“C’mon. I’ll show you where I’ve been staying.” He stood and offered her a hand, helping her up. “Anything else going on?” he asked curiously and began moving towards the tree house.

Biji recounted school life, from rumors about their friends to the fact the dorms of the Light witchlings were over capacity after his recruiting efforts. He listened absently, enjoying her company despite his desire for privacy.

They reached the tree trunk. He ducked inside, and she followed.

“ … in Nevada,” Biji finished saying. She frowned at the tiny space. “Really, Beck?”

He chuckled. “Yeah. What’s this about Nevada?”

“That’s where Dawn is.”

“Wait, what?” he faced her, startled by the casual pronouncement.

“Decker found her last week. Didn’t he tell you?” Biji put her things down and surveyed her temporary home, unimpressed.

Last week? “No, he didn’t.” Beck frowned. His brother had clearly lied when he visited the day before. He didn’t put it past the Master of Dark to hide his official activities, but he didn’t expect his brother to lie to him about something as important as the fact that Dawn had been found after three months.

“Uh, oh.” Biji was gazing up at him. “Was I not supposed to tell you?”

“I’d be the last to know if so,” he replied. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah. I overheard a meeting of the administrators talking about whether or not you or Decker was stable enough to handle her and if so, what should be done.”

Stable enough. Beck’s jaw ticked. They really did think something was wrong with him despite all his work on buffering and building the Light source. He was beginning to understand how Decker felt since it became clear he was destined to become the much feared and distrusted Master of Dark.

Was it so hard to think he was just doing his job?