Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(33)

He knew better than to put a hold on her when on their feet. She knew how to use her body weight, even if she cheated with magick. Instead, he waited for an opening to put her on the ground. It took a few minutes, but finally, she overextended on a kick. With her balance off, she was vulnerable. Beck swept her front leg and snatched her as she pitched forward, rolling backwards with her to keep her from hitting the ground and getting hurt.

Her smaller frame landed on top of his and froze for a tiny moment. No doubt, his magick zipped through her the same way hers did him. Morgan leapt up, or tried, but he swept her feet before she was solidly standing and snatched her wrist, yanking her back down again.

He rolled her beneath him, struggling to grip her wrists.

Fire crept up his arms. Instinctively, he released her and jerked away, his natural response to move. The distraction and shift of his weight was enough for her to jam her knee between them and push him away with one leg and her hands.

“Omigod!” he muttered. “I can’t believe I fell for it!”

The others laughed.

Morgan rolled onto her stomach, out from under him. Recovered, Beck stretched forward and snatched her hips, pulling her back down again. This time, he rested his entire weight on her. It took a moment, but he finally managed to grip her wrists and pin them above her head. She wriggled beneath him, unable to throw his weight.

“Come on. Tap out,” he said, his lips close enough to almost touch her ear.

Fire crept up his arms again.

“Not gonna work this time,” he whispered.

“You’re a jerk, Beck!” she hissed.

“Tap out.”

“You tap out! Or I’ll tell my brother.”

“What? That we kissed?”

Her breath caught. “I was going to tell him you treated me like crap last night!” There was actual pain in her voice. He hadn’t realized how much his comment to Dawn really did hurt Morgan.

“Go ahead, and I’ll tell him we kissed.”

The flames grew hotter, brighter.

“Fine. If you’re going to cheat …” he murmured. Beck pushed his earth magick into her, subduing the flames. His magick took hold and soothed her agitated fire.

She sighed. Her body went limp beneath his.

She tapped out. Beck almost wished she hadn’t. He liked the feeling of her body beneath his, the sound of her ragged breathing and her womanly scent. Her hair tickled his nose.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I hurt your feelings,” he said and then pushed himself up.

“How’s it feel to beat up a little girl?” Isaac teased.

Awful. He held out his hand to her. She ignored him and climbed to her feet, face red and eyes angry.

God, she looked so beautiful. His ear still rang and his cheek stung, but it was worth the pain to put his hands on her.

Catching himself staring, Beck shook his head and faced Connor, who was frowning.

“You got a minute, Beck?” the protective brother asked.

“Sure.”

“I’m going to change,” Morgan said and breezed by them. The guys parted for her, almost every one of them turning to watch her walk towards the door.

Connor appeared too worried to notice. He was walking away from the mat. Beck followed, unable to tell what troubled the witchling.

“So,” Connor said and turned. “You’re not going to let Amber call our parents about this, are you?”

“About …”

“Her picking a fight.”

“Do you know what happened?” Beck asked.

“Not really. I guess she … I don’t know what she was doing,” Connor sighed. “She wasn’t fighting in dance class. She was wandering around the forest after breakfast or something and got into a fight there.”

“With who?” The only person in the forest that Beck knew of was Sam, the yeti. He doubted Sam would fight with anyone, especially a feisty little fire witchling.

“She won’t say. She was late for dance class, and Amber asked me where she was. I kinda, um, lied and said she was here with the guys sparring,” Connor continued. “Then I went to her room and found her washing blood off her hands and trying to scrub it out of her coat.”

“At least she won,” Beck murmured. “But why …” didn’t I feel it? He trailed off. If a Light witchling was in danger, he should be alerted by his magick. His brother, Decker, got call-outs when a Light witchling went Dark or a Dark one broke the Dark Laws. Beck received the same sort of alerts whenever something threatened a Light witchling.

Connor shook his head in disapproval – and concern. Beck’s attention returned to him, and suddenly, he knew why he didn’t sense Morgan in danger.

It was the same reason he wouldn’t sense Connor in danger and hadn’t been able to know when Summer was in danger, when she was stuck between Light and Dark. They weren’t Light witchlings. They didn’t have the same protection as those who had chosen or were born into Light.

“It’s a lot to ask,” Connor said with a deep breath. “But can you keep it between us? I’m afraid of Amber calling home.”

“So is Morgan,” Beck replied. “At this point, I need to know why home is a worse solution than here for her.” He was tired of the strange secrecy around the brother and sister. He was also disturbed by the idea that he had not only placed Morgan in possible danger last night after the Dawn incident, but wouldn’t be able to help, if Dawn did something stupid.