Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(75)

She was mostly warm. Biji stared into the fire for a long minute, disoriented. Her face was hot, but her insides still trembled with cold. The insulation at her back wasn’t a tree like she expected. Noah was holding her against his body, one muscular arm wrapped around her waist.

Biji hesitated to move. She was comfortable and warm. A thrill went through her. So this was what it was like to lie down with a guy.

A Dark guy who happened to be Dawn’s brother. She lifted her head and tried to scoot away. Her body wasn’t quite obeying her yet, at least, not the way it should.

“Just chill,” Noah said quietly. “You’re still shaking.”

“I can’t stop,” she replied.

“You will when your body’s warm.”

Biji summoned her strength and pushed herself up into a sitting position. Almost instantly, she felt cold.

“Like you care. You’re just gonna torture me anyway,” she mumbled. Her toes wouldn’t wiggle yet, so she shuffled on her knees away from him.

“Or maybe I’ll let you fall through the ice on the lake,” he mused.

Biji glanced at him, not appreciating his humor. She settled on the other side of the fire only to start shivering again. Noah stayed where he was on his side, blue eyes on her for a moment before they shifted to the fire.

“You’re Dawn’s brother. You probably made the ice crack,” she said.

“Just so I could get drenched when I went to rescue you?” he challenged. A flash of irritation went through his eyes. Like his sister, Noah was stunning, with naturally chiseled features and an athletic body. A fan of attractive guys, Biji would be drooling, if he wasn’t the brother of her enemy.

“You’re Dark for a reason,” she replied.

Noah glanced at her. “That doesn’t make me bad or don’t they teach you Light witchlings that?”

“You’re holding us hostage!”

“I’m not holding anyone hostage,” he snapped.

“What about Summer and Morgan?” she challenged.

“I should’ve just left you alone by the fire.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because I’m not a dick.”

“But it’s okay to cuff us and throw us in the basement?” she asked, perplexed. She was shaking again. It didn’t help that her air magick was tickling the back of her neck.

“Dawn can be a little overdramatic. She won’t hurt your friends,” Noah replied. He sat, removing his jacket once more. He held it out.

“No, thanks,” she said.

“C’mon. I know you’re cold.”

“You’re wrong about Dawn.”

Noah rolled his eyes. He leaned forward and placed the coat on her side of the fire. Biji eyed it. It looked so appealing and warm.

“Why don’t you have a coat?” he asked.

She glared at him in response.

“Whatever.” Noah studied her then shook his head. “You’re welcome for saving you, by the way.”

“Saving me? So you can what? Drag me back for your sister to deal with?”

His eyes went to the sky. Biji followed his gaze and saw that the clouds from earlier had quickly overtaken the sky. The scent of snow was in the air. She crept closer to the fire. She’d spent three winters at the boarding school, since she arrived when she was sixteen. She knew how rough the snowstorms were.

“We can’t stay here. You want to risk getting caught in a storm?” Noah asked.

“I’m not leaving the lake.”

“You really think you’ll survive a night here with no jacket and a small fire?”

Biji glanced around. Most of the wood was wet, which meant he’d used water magick to dry the logs before lighting them.

“We’ll stay until you’re warm; then we’re going back,” he replied firmly.

“I don’t need your help,” she said. “I’m waiting for Beck and Decker.”

“Beck,” Noah repeated, gaze darkening. “I’ve got a few words for that idiot.”

“Your sister manipulated him!”

Noah rose, abruptly agitated. Biji sensed his anger and assumed it was because he was protective of his sister, though she didn’t deserve it. How was Dawn able to fool her own family?

She studied him. He was troubled, his gaze stormy. He stopped pacing and stood with his hands on his hips, his back to her. She calmed some and let her eyes roam over his body. He had a runner’s body: tall, lean with thick thighs.

“Do you really …” she stopped, aware of his agitation. “What do you think happened to make your sister Dark?”

“Being Dark doesn’t – “

“I know,” she said quietly. “You’re right. You didn’t have to fish me out of the lake. I’m glad you did.”

Noah glanced at her. She waited for him to speak.

“She said she went Dark to save her baby,” he replied. “I can’t fault her for that.”

Biji’s jaw clenched. She calmed herself.

“I was there,” she said. “That’s not what happened. Summer saved her baby. Dawn went Dark trying to kill Summer. Your sister’s lying to you.”

Noah faced her. His grey gaze was as hard as ice, but he didn’t look surprised at her version of events.