Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(43)

“Alright,” Amber said. “We’ll get there. Looks like you need to spend a little more time with your mentor.”

“I do not need to spend time with him,” Morgan snapped.

“She needs an attitude adjustment,” one of the boys said. “She hates Christmas.”

“Damn right I do. I’d burn down that tree if I could.”

The class went silent. Morgan was pissed; her air was sizzling in a way that made Beck uneasy. Amber gave him a look that said, see what I’m dealing with.

“Anyway,” Amber began. “We’re breaking down into groups this morning. Find your elemental colleagues and pick a corner. Morgan, you’re with Beck.”

Morgan twisted to see him. He smiled and she raised her eyebrows. Her plump lips were in a pout that reminded him how awesome it was to kiss her while her sparkling eyes made him want to feel her fire in his blood again.

He waved her to the back of class. She was mad at him, that much he could see.

“Where do we start?” he asked as she maneuvered her chair to sit across from him. “Your amulet isn’t working, I see.”

Her face fell. She tucked the clear crystal into her shirt, her eyes on his. Beck’s glowed softly with pure, white light, marking him as the Master of Light. She met his gaze, troubled.

“Because I’m an in-between,” she murmured.

“It’s not bad, Morgan,” he assured her.

“But yours is so pretty. Everyone’s is pretty but mine.”

“Yours will be beautiful like you.” The words escaped before he could stop them. He meant them. He just didn’t mean to say them.

Morgan grew red, but the anger faded from her features.

“Sometimes it takes some of us a little longer to figure things out,” he added. “It’s nothing to worry about. Okay?”

She nodded.

“You doing better the past couple of days?” he asked.

“I’m trying.”

“It’s not so bad, is it?”

“Nothing here is,” she agreed. “But it’s not here I’m worried about.”

“You, um, want to talk?”

“No.”

“You know you can, right? I’ll listen.”

Morgan studied him. “Yeah, I do know that.”

The admission was small, but Beck felt like he won the lottery. She almost trusted him. Not enough to talk, but enough to know she could, if she needed to.

“Now, we’re getting somewhere,” he said, grinning.

“Walking away. Getting nowhere,” she replied in a tart tone. “In fact, I’m done for now. See you later.” Morgan got up and left.

Beck watched her, wanting to laugh at the brazen flaunting of the rules – and him. Amber looked after her wild student, clearly frazzled, but didn’t try to stop her. She gave him a look, one he knew meant he couldn’t sit there grinning. He stood.

“Morgan, wait,” he called, trotting after her.

She stopped in the hallway, gazing up at him. Caught by the vibrant green of her eyes, he stared a minute too long.

“I can show you something, if you’re interested. My magick.”

She was quiet for a moment then nodded. Beck led her out of the schoolhouse and into the forest. The trees swept snow out of the way to create a path, and a branch tipped its snow on him.

“Hey, now,” he warned the tree playfully. “We have company.”

Morgan giggled from behind him. He went a short distance, until they were far enough not to see the schoolhouse. He silently asked the earth to clear a spot for them and waited. Snow melted and a patch of ground appeared. Beck sat.

Morgan sat near him, her warm scent sweeping over him at her movement. Her hair brushed his hand, sending electricity through him.

“Have you learned to meditate?”

She shook her head.

“It’s simple. Mainly just controlling your breathing and clear your mind.”

Her fire magick was too agitated. It was distracting him. Beck reached across and took her hand. His earth magick suppressed the fire. Morgan’s face was pink again, and she appeared to be glowing. He wasn’t certain what that meant.

“Close your eyes,” he said.

Morgan did. Beck studied her perfect features, from the long eyelashes to her pert lips and slender chin. Her hair was subdued in a ponytail.

“Breathe deeply. In. Out. In. Out.” He worked on syncing her breathing with his. “Now relax. Start with your feet. Legs, hips, back, chest, arms …” he spoke low and quiet, watching her tension release with the combination of his magick and voice. He imagined his hands drifting up her body, touching her soft skin. The erotic visions were more of a distraction, one he didn’t mind in the slightest.

“Okay. Keep one hand on me and one on the ground so I can help channel the earth magick.” He shifted closer to sit beside her and rested her hand on his thigh. Morgan put one hand on the ground. He stretched forward to push it flat, until her palm was against the ground. His touch made her fire magick surge and her breathing quicken.

“In. Out,” he said, amused.

She stabilized again, and he closed his eyes. Her magick kept him warm, and he worked on directing it to keep it from lighting his desire once more. She had no control over that aspect of her power.