Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(77)

She pushed herself up. She was sweating, and she felt nauseous. Focusing on the five, she tried to figure out how much time had passed.

Noah, Jason, the other teen boy.

Dawn. Alexa.

Morgan looked twice. Was it her mind or did the shadows seem twice as thick around Dawn as they did the others?

Her gaze swept around the room and settled on Summer, who was pale. Biji wasn’t there, but Noah was. Fear made Morgan more aware of her surroundings. What happened to Biji? Was she okay?

She cursed herself for not being able to focus. Gritting her teeth, she shifted her hurt leg. Pain tore through her, but it penetrated the cloud in her mind. Her gasp drew the attention of everyone in the room, including Dawn. Morgan’s thoughts sharpened.

Dawn trailed off mid-sentence in a quiet talk with one of the boys, Jason. She left Jason and approached Morgan. Morgan’s fire stirred, and she suppressed it. Pain throbbed. She practiced breathing the way Beck had taught her, needing the calm to keep her magick in check.

“Hang in there,” Dawn said. “I can’t have you dying on me like Tanya.” The words were accompanied by a wry smile. She knelt beside Morgan, her next words quiet enough that only Morgan heard them. “Not yet at least.”

“I know my fate,” Morgan said. “Let Summer go.”

“I can’t do that. I promised Alexa a chance for revenge. Summer stole Decker. You stole Beck. We’re going to make things right,” Dawn replied. “When you’re out of the way, I’ve got a shot with Beck. We’ll become a family.”

“That’s insane,” Morgan scoffed. “You have to know that.”

Anger flared in Dawn’s eyes. She rested a hand on Morgan’s shin. Morgan tried hard not to flinch.

“Maybe so,” Dawn said. She leaned on the hand on Morgan’s leg.

Agony shot through her. Morgan gave a strangled cry, her world growing black. Cold energy jarred her awake. It was familiar, like that of the stone. She shook her head, unable to focus with the pain arcing through her body.

“But if he won’t do the right thing, I’ll get rid of him,” Dawn added.

Morgan glared at her. The Dark girl lifted her hand, and Morgan sagged against the wall. Sweat was dripping down her face.

“Although, it sounds like you might’ve killed Beck.” Dawn rose as she spoke.

Morgan’s defiance shattered.

“Morgan wouldn’t do anything to hurt him,” Summer said stubbornly.

“Is that true, Morgan?” Dawn asked with a false smile. “Alexa, check their cuffs.”

Morgan felt Summer’s gaze on her but avoided it.

“Tell her what you did, Morgan,” Dawn taunted.

“It was an accident,” Morgan mumbled. “I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

“What happened?” Summer asked, paling further. “Is he okay?”

“Last I heard, he’s in the hospital in a coma. The doctors won’t know if he’ll make it for a few days,” Dawn replied. “Thanks for resolving my custody battle, Morgan.”

Morgan squeezed her eyes closed, horrified by the idea she hurt Beck so badly that he might not survive. She’d felt the strange coldness that went through him. It came from the rock, and she’d barely managed to keep it from overtaking her.

Or maybe, she’d failed, and he was slowly dying. Her breath caught. The only person who believed in her, and she’d killed him. Her heart ached enough for her tears to start.

Alexa lifted her cuffs. “She burned through another set.”

“Her leg’s broken. She’s not going anywhere,” Dawn replied. “Check Summer’s. Jason, Troy.”

Alexa moved, and Morgan wiped her tears. She didn’t want Dawn to see her weak or upset, but it was so hard to control the emotions when her leg hurt. She had to pretend it was like being home. She’d gone to school once with a broken arm. The pain was excruciating, but if she bore through it then, she could now.

This time, she deserved everything that happened to her.

Coma.

She wanted to sob. Before she could sink again into the fever, the two teens grabbed her arms. Startled, Morgan barely remembered to catch her balance with her good leg. The movement sent streaks of pain through her.

“Dawn, she needs a doctor,” Noah said from across the room.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just a sprain,” Dawn replied. She moved to Morgan again. “I need something from you.”

Morgan raised her head.

“It’s … a, well, what you used to kill Beck.”

Stunned anyone knew about the stone, Morgan stared at her.

“You know what I’m talking about,” Dawn assessed. “Where is it?”

“I don’t know,” Morgan managed.

“Hmm.” Dawn grew nearer. “I don’t believe you.”

“After … after Beck …” Morgan’s voice trembled. She stopped and swallowed. “I just left.”

Black fog crossed Dawn’s gaze, swallowing the pupils and whites of her eyes. Morgan blinked twice, suspecting she was delusional from shock.

Dawn snatched her neck and lifted her off the ground. Morgan was slammed into the wall behind them before she was able to register she was moving.

“Don’t lie to me, girl.” Dawn’s voice was neither human nor female.