Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(18)

“She’ll keep you warm at night,” Decker said.

Morgan flushed. Beck winked at her, and Summer smiled.

“You got a minute?” Decker asked.

“Yeah, sure,” Beck answered.

Morgan glanced up at him then at Summer, who moved away from the Master of Dark.

“We’ll take a walk,” she said and held out her arm cheerfully. Something about the pretty girl made Morgan relax. She looped her arm through Summer’s, and they walked down the boardwalk, away from the twins.

Morgan took in the lights, comforted by Summer’s warm magick.

“I know I’ve seen you around, but you haven’t been here long, right?” Summer asked.

“About three weeks,” Morgan replied. “I got here with my brother, Connor.”

“I’ve met him in magick class.”

“Yeah, he’s the ideal student.”

“You don’t sound happy about that!”

“Apparently, I have issues adjusting.”

“You’re not what I expected.”

At the puzzled note in the girl’s voice, Morgan focused on her.

“Beck normally chooses stupidly,” Summer said and rolled her eyes. “But you’re … cool.”

Morgan laughed. “Because I’m not a hot model?”

“Oh, no,” Summer said quickly. “Because he swore off girls a few weeks ago, and he was serious this time.”

“Not that serious, if he’s here with me.”

“Morgan, his last girlfriend got killed.”

Morgan stopped walking with a gasp. She stared at Summer, not expecting the news.

“They weren’t serious. In fact, they just started dating,” Summer continued. “But there were some other circumstances behind what happened to her. He swore off all girls, so if he’s here with you…”

“He fell off the wagon,” Morgan said promptly, still panicked by the idea that this was a real date. One that meant something.

Summer smiled, but didn’t object. They started walking again, and curiosity drove Morgan to ask more even though she didn’t really want to.

“What happened?”

Summer hesitated. “It’s a rather long story. Do you know about Dawn?”

“The blonde girl he knocked up?”

She nodded.

“Not much,” Morgan admitted. “I overheard her threaten him when I arrived.”

“Yeah. She’s Dark. She’s bad, Morgan. She had something to do with Tanya’s death. I don’t want to say more. I think, if … when Beck is ready to tell you, he will.”

Morgan could hardly believe her ears. No wonder Sam wanted her to protect Beck. If his pregnant ex had something to do with hurting the girl he tried to date … he needed someone to protect him!

“I’ll take care of him,” she said. “I’m not afraid of her.”

“You should be afraid. She’s dangerous, Morgan.”

“There’s nothing she can do to me that hasn’t already been done,” Morgan replied. “I’m not afraid of people like that.”

At Summer’s quietness, Morgan glanced at her once more.

“Someone hurt you,” Summer murmured. “That’s why?”

“Doesn’t matter. He takes care of so many people. He should have someone to look after him, too.” Morgan shrugged, her defenses going up.

“I think I see why he likes you,” Summer said, the concern passing.

“I’m not convinced he does.”

“I know him. He does.”

Morgan looked away, flustered by the confirmation. It was just one silly date with some guy.

Why did it feel like more? Why did his touch reduce her fire magick to smoldering embers that made her blood burn for him in a way she never experienced before?





Chapter Six


Beck watched Morgan move away with Summer, eyes sweeping over the flame-haired girl’s sexy frame. Decker’s sharp gaze was on his Summer. As soon as she left his twin, his shadows sprang up around him, filling the air with Darkness. Summer’s effect on him – the stilling of his shadows – left with her touch.

“I thought you swore off girls,” Decker started.

“So did I,” Beck returned. “I can’t get this one out of my head.”

“It’s stupid, Beck. I delivered a not-so-subtle message to Dawn that if she gets near Summer, I’ll take her out, once your baby is born. I don’t think it’s enough; she went off the deep end. There’s no reasoning with her.”

Beck’s jaw clenched. He was torn on the topic; it wasn’t the first time it had come up. Their mother wanted a similar end to Dawn, and Beck wanted her out of his daughter’s life.

But he could never condone murder. It was the biggest gap between him and his best friend, Decker. Decker didn’t like killing, but he used it as one of the many tools in his arsenal to keep the Darkness – and Dark witchlings – in line. As the protector of Light, witchlings and everything good, Beck wasn’t able to tolerate the idea of killing.

Even if Dawn deserved it. Even if she was between him and his daughter.

His eyes went to Morgan. He could think of two reasons why he might turn the other cheek, if Decker decided to act. One was arm-in-arm with Summer. The other was not yet born.