Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(82)

“It’s cold in here,” she murmured.

“I know. I’m so sorry,” Morgan said between tears. “Beck is going to die and Dawn is going to win. We have to get out of here before they come back.”

Summer didn’t know why Morgan thought Dawn was returning, but the air magick was warning her that they didn’t have much time. She joined Morgan and began to kick.





Chapter Twenty-Two


Biji’s world was getting darker. She curled up at the base of a tree. The snowstorm disoriented her. Somehow, she’d wandered away from the lake into the forest. Unable to see far in front of her, she had stopped to try to warm her hands.

She couldn’t feel them or her feet. She huddled under the protection of long branches. She tried to dig out her phone again to see if it would work. Her hands weren’t moving. She was still, amazed at how silently the blinding snow fell. The only sound she heard was that of her breathing.

She was sleepy. Her body was heavier than the branches of pine trees laden with snow. Air magick prodded her, but she ignored it. All it did was make her colder. Maybe, if she took a nap, she’d wake up and it would be light out. The storm would have passed, and she could find her way somewhere.

A nap was all she needed. Her eyes drifted closed. She was comfortable, and all of a sudden, she no longer noticed the cold or her frozen jeans. Her breathing slowed while her thoughts grew fainter, like whispers.

Whispers that told her to wake up. Whispers that told her to move her body. Whispers she was too tired to listen to.

Stay here, child. It’s not your time.

The voice roused her. She didn’t want to listen. She just needed a nap. A short one, even, just enough to refresh her.

Summer and Morgan need you.

Fear surged within her, bringing with it awareness to the world around her. It hurt to try to wake up. Biji’s eyes wouldn’t open, and tears stung her cheeks. She struggled against her own body, unable to move even a finger.

“Biji!”

Was this voice in her head or not? She waited for it to come again.

“Biji!”

Answer.

She struggled to draw a deep breath. Air magick surged into her, jarring her with its coldness.

“Here,” she whispered. She barely heard her own voice, but the air magick caught the word and carried it for her.

A moment later, a dark form shoved aside the branches under which she’d taken shelter.

“You said you’d stay put.”

It took a moment to process his words and another for her to realize who he was. Biji wanted to move then, so she could run away from him. But her body wouldn’t respond. The sleepiness began to fade, and she became aware of how cold she was once more.

“Dammit, Biji. Maybe one day you’ll listen to me.” Noah crouched beside her. He was warm, so warm. Biji groaned as he lifted her. Cool water magick filled her, chilly but warmer than her air magick. She tried to push it out, not wanting anything to do with the brother of someone who wanted to hurt her friends.

He set her down and moved away. Grimacing, Biji pulled her strength together and pushed her heavy body into a sitting position.

“I’m not … going back,” she told him.

“You’re half-dead, Biji. You’re in no position to argue.” He walked into the forest.

Her gaze was too blurry to follow his movements. More tears squeezed from her eyes as she tried to move her hands. Noah returned and tossed down an armful of sticks and small logs. He swirled his hand in the air. Water magick pulled the snow to him. He pushed it away, into the forest, where it landed in a heap. The place at his feet was clear of snow.

“For what it’s worth, I think you might be right about my sister,” Noah added quietly, crouching.

Biji stared at him, certain she’d misheard.

Noah used his magick to pull water from the kindling wood then whipped out a lighter. The brilliant flame blinded Biji. She closed her eyes and waited for the initial shock to fade.

The fire sprang to life.

Noah piled on a few more pieces of wood. His blue eyes settled on her. Biji was staring at him, not fully convinced she hadn’t died or was dreaming. There was blood on the coat he wore and the collar of his shirt. Her gaze lingered on it.

“You didn’t hurt my friends did you?” she asked in a hoarse voice.

“No.” His features were stormy.

With effort, she inched forward. Noah glanced at her then back, as if just noticing she was too far from the warm fire for its warmth to reach her. He rose and approached.

He offered a hand. Biji eyed it.

“C’mon,” he said.

She shook her head. Noah sighed. He knelt beside her.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Why?” she asked suspiciously.

“I messed up. I don’t know how to fix it, except to start now.”

Biji’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected confession. He was quietly determined, the tightness of his chiseled features expressing the gravity of his thoughts. His blue-grey gaze was intense. She searched his face, wanting it to be a trick. Wanting him to be as bad as his sister. It was easier to assume the worst than risk trusting him. The last thing Biji needed was someone to lure her into thinking she could help her friends then turning her over to Dawn.

If something happened to Summer and Morgan, Biji could never forgive herself.