Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(40)

Something crossed the girl’s face that Morgan took to be confirmation that she was either scared or aware that Dawn was using her.

“But, whatever. Okay. Teach me your lesson,” Morgan said and raised her arms into a starting position to fight. It was going to be difficult for her to maneuver in the snow with all the trees. Then again, it’d be hard for the others, too.

The girl creeping closer swung first. Morgan ducked and socked her in the solar plexus. Unfortunately, the thick coat she wore prevented her blow from doing what it should – render her breathless – and instead knocked her back a step.

The guy tried next. His fist was huge, half the size of her head, and he moved with quickness she didn’t expect. His blow sailed by her head. She kicked him in the crotch then punched him in the throat, the way her brother taught her.

He gagged, but one heavy arm swung towards her. The backhand sent her reeling. Morgan tumbled into the snow. The whole world was swirling around her. She launched back up again, aware that she was most vulnerable on the ground. Disoriented, she nonetheless was able to wrench free from the girl who grabbed her and smash her elbow into her nose.

The girl cursed and fell away. Morgan shook her head to clear it. The first girl she beat up this morning tackled her. Morgan fought her off, grunting as one punch hit her jaw, and pain went through her.

She shoved the girl off her and climbed to her feet. The guy had recovered enough and looked pissed. Morgan ducked behind a tree. He reached around and snatched her by the collar. She leveled a kick at his knee, and he slapped her. Another kick at his knee, and he threw her down.

Morgan’s coat got caught in the branch of a fallen tree. She wriggled but was unable to free herself. The three were regrouping, bruised – and furious. She unzipped the coat and shrugged out of it. The girl from this morning snatched one arm and the other girl the other.

They hauled her to her feet while the huge guy readied his fist.

A direct punch would crush her. Morgan struggled and then flinched, closing her eyes.

It didn’t hit. Suddenly, the world around her was cold then hot, stifling. She opened her eyes. Black fog clung to the forms in front of her. Beck’s twin, Decker, had the big guy’s wrist in his grip, preventing the blow from falling.

As she watched, Decker smashed him in the face with his fist then flung him aside as if he was as light as a pillow, the power of his Dark magick making the air quiver. He faced them. The fog was in his gaze, too, rendering him almost inhuman.

The girls on either side of Morgan released her.

“You. Leave.” His voice was a low growl, his eyes swiveling between the two Dark girls.

They bolted.

Morgan crept backwards, not at all certain what she was looking at or what to do. Decker shook his head, and the fog fell away.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I don’t know how to answer that,” she whispered.

“C’mon.” He held out a hand.

She flinched away and backpedaled, until her back bumped into the downed tree behind her.

Decker rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’ll call Beck.”

“No!” she exclaimed. Terrified after Decker’s magick display, she was just as concerned about Beck finding out about this. She wasn’t going to give him an excuse to worry about her or to think he was at fault for Dawn sending people to beat her up.

“Why not?” he asked, glancing up from his cell phone.

“I can take care of myself.”

“Whatever.” Decker dialed and put the phone to his ear, waited a few seconds then spoke to whoever was on the other end. “Hey, come find me.” He hung up.

Morgan bent down to detangle her jacket from the branches, determined to be gone by the time Beck got there. Decker didn’t leave, and she winced as she touched her face. Her jaw took quite a hit; it was clicking now, which she didn’t think was normal. Her cheek would be bruised, and she might’ve twisted her ankle, too. There was too much adrenaline in her system for her to know for certain how bad she was hurt.

She wrenched her coat free, disappointed that a piece of it ripped off. She’d only brought one, and neither parent had the money for a new one.

“Alexa,” Decker said.

Morgan looked up, surprised to see Beck standing there. Whereas Decker’s fog was black, Beck’s was white, almost like a fluffy cloud that settled around him. Just seeing his athletic body and chiseled features managed to soften her pain. Dressed for class with no jacket, he didn’t seem to be cold.

The twins were studying her, Decker in amusement and Beck in concern.

“Alexa didn’t do that,” Beck said, gaze lingering on Morgan’s cheek. It had to be red; it certainly still stung.

“Who is Alexa?” Morgan asked.

“Bad news,” Decker answered.

“Dawn’s number one hench-chic,” Beck said. “The one you took out this morning who apparently came back to finish the job.”

“She brought back-up this time,” Morgan murmured. “I almost won.”

“You what?” Decker demanded.

“I had everything under control.”

He stared at her then laughed.

“Almost,” she added.

“Morgan is too stubborn to ask for help,” Beck said with a frown.

“Later, Beck.” Decker shook his head and spun, striding into the forest.