Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(58)

“We’ll go now,” he said and drew away. He took her hand. No part of him wanted to be around her without touching her. She was calmer when he was in contact, and the guardedness around her went down.

Morgan went with him. She squeezed his hand tightly as they went down the stairwell towards the instructors’ wing. Beck knocked on Amber’s door.

“Come in.” The Light Arts instructor sounded tired.

Beck opened the door. Amber looked up from her seat near the corner. Her smile faded when she saw Morgan.

“So, we need to talk,” Beck started.

“It looks like it,” Amber agreed. “Morgan, we’ve been looking all over for you. Are you okay?”

“Yes,” Morgan’s voice was faint.

“Sit down,” Amber motioned to the chairs in front of her desk. “Looks like you have quite a bit of explaining to do.” Her eyes were on their clasped hands.

Morgan’s hand was starting to tremble, but Beck smiled confidently. He sat, pushing earth magick to calm her.

Amber looked between them then sighed. “Start talking.”

“First, to clear the air,” Beck said. “Morgan had nothing to do with the fire. We were at my cousin’s wedding last night. We’ve got several dozen people who will tell you that.”

“All night?” Amber asked, eyebrow raised.

“The ceremony lasts all night,” Beck replied calmly.

Amber considered him then glanced at Morgan.

“I don’t have time to deal with the fraternization issue,” she said. “Beck, you know better.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Amber rolled her eyes. “Just … keep it off school property.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Beck winked at her.

Despite being exhausted, Amber smiled.

“This doesn’t help me figure out who did this,” she added. “You want to talk to your friends and find out?”

“Sure,” Beck replied. “You ask Matilda to check the whereabouts of the Dark witchlings?”

“She’s working on it. Decker’s helping.”

“Cool.”

“I didn’t think you’d do this, Morgan,” Amber said regretfully. “I’m sorry if the kids are being mean. Connor got into a scuffle with a couple of them this morning over it.”

“It’s okay,” Morgan said softly.

“We couldn’t find you, though. I called your parents to see if they’d heard from you. I’ll let them know you’re okay,” Amber added.

Morgan’s breath caught.

“Connor said your mother is coming out this weekend?”

“Yes,” Morgan replied.

“Your father said he might move up his plans as well. I guess he was coming out next weekend.”

Morgan said nothing.

“It’ll be nice to meet them,” Amber added with a smile.

Beck sensed the shift in Morgan before he looked at her. Her fire went cold. When he glanced at her, he saw how pale she’d gotten. Her eyes took on an empty look, and her face was as pale as snow.

“Amber, I think we need to call them and tell them to wait a week or two,” he said carefully, not wanting to reveal what he knew. “The fire is going to cause chaos here. It might help calm things down, if we don’t disrupt the daily routine.”

It was advice his attorneys had given him when he freaked out a few months ago under all the pressure.

Amber stared at him. Normally, he was on the receiving end of advice.

Morgan stood suddenly and walked out. Her step was hurried, her features blank. She seemed to be in shock.

Beck had a feeling – if faced with the threat of seeing her abuser again – she was going to bolt.

“Amber, you have to call them back and tell them not to come,” he said quietly, standing. “It’s important.”

“Beck, what’s going on?” Amber searched his face.

“There might be a situation of um, abuse, in her family. Please, can you call them and tell them not to come?” He moved towards the door as he spoke but didn’t leave without her response.

Amber looked surprised. Finally, she nodded.

Beck left quickly and trotted down the hallway. Some of the kids were at breakfast. He ducked his head into the dining room, already suspecting he wasn’t going to find Morgan there. Waving at Biji, he went to the stairwell and took the steps two at a time. Beck strode to Morgan’s room and rapped at the door. She didn’t answer, but he could hear her moving around.

He didn’t hesitate to walk in. The sense she was his, that they somehow belonged together, had only grown stronger since she made her decision last night. Beck walked in and closed the door behind him, watching. Morgan was flinging her clothing into one of two suitcases that yawned open on her bed. He once saw Decker so agitated, he burst into flames.

Morgan was near that point. Beck moved forward.

“Hey, I think we need to talk,” he said. He touched her arm as he spoke. She yanked away.

“I don’t need to talk!” she snapped, whirling to face him. Her face had gone from pale to red, her eyes furious.

“Okay,” he said.

Morgan returned to her task. She tossed clothing from the closet into the suitcase.