Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(76)

“You know this, don’t you?” Biji asked.

“You’re Summer’s friend. You’re supposed to say that, like I’m supposed to defend my sister. No matter what she does.”

“I’m not lying to you, Noah.”

He looked away. Biji wobbled to her feet. She tested her legs. They still hurt.

“Noah, she’s going to hurt my friends.” Her legs wouldn’t support her if she tried to run. She had to convince him to leave her here, so she could get help.

He shifted again, running a hand though his blond hair.

He glanced at her. “If you can walk, we’re going back,” he said.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“You’re light enough to carry.”

“Try it,” she ordered.

“Come on, Biji. Don’t be ridiculous. It’s suicide to stay out here tonight.”

“Then leave! You can drag my frozen body back there tomorrow.”

“What is wrong with you?” he demanded. “You’d rather die of exposure than go somewhere warm and safe?”

“Yes, I would. I know what your sister is capable of, and I’d rather freeze to death,” Biji replied calmly.

He was staring at her. “I’m not leaving you here.”

“Okay, then how about this,” she said. “You go back and see what your sister is going to do with my friends. I’ll wait right here for you to find out and come back. If you’re right about her, I’ll go back with you. If you’re wrong, then you leave me alone.”

“That’s stupid.”

“You know you’re wrong about her.”

“Fine.” He was angrily. “Stay here. I’ll be back in an hour to take you back.”

“Whatever,” she replied. “Take your coat.”

Noah glared at her. Without another word, he spun and left. The coat stayed next to the fire. Biji waited until the sounds of him retreating faded. She snatched his jacket and huddled into it. It smelled like him, an odd mix of ocean and man. She breathed in the scent, unable to characterize it exactly, except that it was a rich, cool, sweet scent.

Her body didn’t stop shaking. She moved as close to the small fire as she could tolerate, not wanting to think about what might’ve happened to her, if Noah wasn’t there to drag her out of the icy water. She’d be dead already.

He really was oblivious to his sister’s depth of darkness. Or maybe, he didn’t want to know how mentally damaged she was. With three sisters, Biji understood how intense family loyalties could be.

Snow began to fall. She glanced at her fire. Flames were melting the snow. Her phone was still dead.

Biji placed her hands and feet closest to the fire. She could barely feel her toes. She’d warm herself up and leave before Noah had a chance to return. He was as brainwashed as the others. He knew his sister was a mess, but wouldn’t admit it. If he wasn’t too angry to leave her to the elements, he’d come back to drag her to the resort.

The snow fell harder. Soon, even the fire wasn’t able to burn the sheet of flakes pouring down on her. Snow edged the wood in the fire. Biji huddled in the thick coat, grateful for its warmth, but worried it wouldn’t be enough to help her get to the Turners.

I’ve survived worse, she reminded herself, recalling the years she and her family spent on the streets of India, before her father’s company made it big. Summer and Morgan were relying on her. Hopefully, the storm kept Dawn from going to the resort tonight, and Biji had a chance to bring help.

Biji watched the fire die slowly. She swallowed hard. Not that she wanted to return to the resort, but even if she decided to seek shelter in one of the abandoned rooms, she had no idea which way to go. Snow blanketed Noah’s footsteps, eliminating the option of following him.

Biji rose. It was snowing enough that she barely saw the trees nearest her. She couldn’t stay put; this much she knew. Her best chance was to find the Turners or shelter of some sort, before she got too cold again.

Shoving her hands into the coat Noah left her, she started towards the lake once more. She didn’t dare risk wandering into the forest without the lake to guide her. She’d end up in Canada.

She reached the bank of the lake. She couldn’t move fast enough, and it didn’t take long for her limbs to start losing feeling again. Tears brimmed in her eyes. She drew a shuddering breath but forced herself to continue as long as she could go.





Chapter Twenty


Morgan was sinking into her fever. She shook her head again, struggling to stay focused. Her shin was on fire. Summer’s pain patch had worn off too fast.

“Morgan,” Summer called.

“I’m okay,” she mumbled.

“She needs a doctor,” Summer said to their captors.

“No way we can leave in this storm,” one of them said. They’d traded playing on their smart phones for cards. Neither bothered looking up.

“Can I give her a pain patch?” Summer asked.

“Stay in your corner.”

Morgan rested her head against the wall. It was cool while her body burned from the inside out. Her magick wasn’t helping; it was actively trying to figure out how to help her, resulting in even more fire in her body. Her eyes closed for a moment. She roused herself again, and when she opened her eyes, there were five Dark teens in the room, not two.