Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(87)

Knowing almost everything was out of his control at the moment, he felt something he genuinely hated: Despair. Light was hope and good, but right now, he was having trouble believing in either.

“Beck!” Decker waved him over.

He went quickly, sliding to a halt beside them.

“Connor says the lake remembers Biji. She fell, and Noah fished her out,” Decker said, standing quickly.

“The lake said she was on the far side,” Connor added.

“The fastest way there is across the lake,” Beck said, adrenaline surging.

He and Decker looked at Connor, who shifted. He glanced down nervously, and Beck saw him considering the unasked question.

“If you kill us, it’s cool,” Beck said, unable to help the dark humor.

“If you kill us, it’s not cool, but we’ll let it slide,” Decker corrected him.

“I, uh … all the way across the lake?” Connor turned to look. For the first time, Beck was glad they couldn’t see far. Connor didn’t need to see just how far away they were from where they needed to be.

“Something tells me we shouldn’t take the snowmobiles,” Beck said to his brother. “I’m thinking he won’t be able to control his magick like you can.”

Decker was watching Connor carefully, as if trying to assess whether the water witchling was going to drop them in the middle of the frigid lake. Connor took a step closer to the center of the lake, where the ice was thinner. Beck tucked his hands into his pockets, waiting to see what Connor did.

Morgan’s brother walked cautiously to the edge of where the ice formed, concentrating hard. One foot went through the ice, and Beck grimaced. Connor recovered. The ice solidified beneath him then raced ahead of him, fading out about three feet away. They could barely see farther in the snowstorm.

“He’s doing it,” Decker said, a slow smile crossing his face.

“Not that I doubt your teaching skills,” Beck half-joked. “But what did you tell him? I can’t get Morgan to focus on her fire.”

Decker winked. “Secret.”

“We’re twins. We have no secrets,” Beck objected.

“No secrets?” Decker demanded, facing him. “Who hid my girlfriend from me for three months?”

“Here we go again,” Beck said and rolled his eyes. “Come on. Let’s go.” He walked away, following Connor.

“I swear, Beck, you’re more of an ass than I am,” Decker muttered.

“Connor, don’t drop us,” Beck ordered.

The water witchling nodded tersely, focused on his mission of getting them across the lake. His step grew surer the farther they went. Beck refused to look back or down, instead keeping close to the water witchling, who would be the only one to save them if the ice cracked. Decker was at his shoulder, silent to keep from distracting Connor.

The snowstorm continued, and Beck grew anxious at their pace. There was no way of knowing how far they’d gone. Connor had quickened his step to a brisk walk, but it still felt like forever.

Beck began to think they’d never reach the other end when suddenly, branches appeared before them. Connor raced forward to the shore, and the twins followed. Morgan’s brother collapsed onto his knees once back on solid ground, shaking from the effort of channeling his magick.

“Good man,” Beck said, clasping his shoulder.

“C’mon,” Decker said as he passed. He grabbed Connor’s arm and hauled him to his feet. “Beck, tell me you know where we are.”

Beck paused before entering the forest. He closed his eyes and centered himself. With the snow, he could only see a few feet in front of him. It wasn’t far enough for him to identify any landmarks that would tell him where they were.

Please, he called silently to the earth.

The magick didn’t respond.

Beck drew a deep breath. He blew it out and concentrated on listening to his instincts. Right now, they were all he had to guide them. They’d done little to make his life anything but hell lately, with Dawn and his fumbling attempts to protect Light witchlings. But they were all he had. Without his magick, he had to trust himself.

A flare of warmth.

He opened his eyes. He wasn’t certain what he felt, but the heat came from a definite direction.

“Beck,” Decker said impatiently.

“Follow me,” he replied and started into the forest.

“You know where you’re going?” Connor asked, trailing.

“We’ll find out.”

Beck moved as fast as possible through the forest. His instincts pulled him in one direction, and he followed without knowing if he went the right way. It felt right, but … if he was wrong about this, he’d never forgive himself.

A few minutes later, he saw the blocky shape of the resort. Beck stopped in place, astonished that he’d found it. The chances were slim that Connor got them to a point close to the resort and even slimmer that he blindly led them in the right direction.

But he did.

A light glowed from the otherwise dark structure. Beck started forward.

“Wait,” Decker said, catching his arm. “Lectures about the Light way aside …” he held out a knife.

Beck glanced at it then at his twin. He took it.

“You remember what I showed you?” Decker asked.