Spring Rain (27 page)

“Tell her to come back. I had Amber send out
a warning to any Light witchlings in the vicinity to either leave
or seek refuge here.” Beck’s eyes went to the sky and the billowing
black clouds moving in their direction.

“What is it?”

“I have no idea,” he replied ruefully. “But
it’s bad.”

“Dawn?”

“Or Bartholomew.” He didn’t want to think of
Dawn being behind this or worse, of her being completely lost like
Sam said. It was less his concern for her and more about his
daughter. He was no closer to a solution. If Dawn or Bartholomew
had chosen now to confront the Light …

He didn’t know what to do.

Summer took his hand and squeezed it, her
earth magick helping calm his.

“Beck?” Amber called, approaching from the
direction of the administrative building. Her air magick was
swirling around her in agitation, no doubt feeling what he did.

“Amber, keep everyone in the Square or the
buildings,” he said and turned. “No one leaves campus.”

Amber studied him, concerned, before
nodding. “Summer,” she motioned for the air-earth witchling beside
him to go with her.

Summer gave Beck a look that said she wasn’t
happy being lumped in with the rest. He smiled and nudged her
forward. She went without objecting.

Beck watched them go into the log building
nearest him and strode out to the edge of the Light, pulling and
pushing at the magick to reassure himself it was not only
responsive, but strong. Two men were waiting in a van in the
parking area near campus. The Dark students were forbidden from
stepping foot on campus and had created a makeshift parking lot to
the side of the road leading to the school where they met with
Light. There was often a car or two there, so he gave the van no
thought, his mind on Morgan instead.

She couldn’t be on campus
when the storm hit. His insides were twisting with the challenges
of his position he hadn’t yet figured out. He whipped out his phone
and texted her.
Hey, can you and Connor
come to the school immediately? The keys to my car are on the top
drawer of my dresser in my room.
He
pocketed the cell and paced, eyes falling to the strangers
again.

They weren’t Light witchlings; this much he
knew. But he didn’t recognize them either. The three men were
older, closer to his father’s age. There were a lot of visitors in
town for the equinox. It was possible they were there waiting for
someone.

Or … they were part of whatever this storm
was. More Dark witchlings taking the opportunity to attack the
school.

Beck strode out of the ring of Light and
towards those waiting, wanting to determine who they were and what
they were doing so close to the school.

“Hey,” he called as he approached. “You all
waiting for someone?”

“Yeah.” One man stepped forward. He had the
size and thick build of a bouncer and hair that was mostly grey.
His eyes were sharp and a familiar shade of pine green, his
unfriendly growl accompanied by him crossing his arms. “You got a
problem with that?”

“Depends on who you’re waiting for.” Beck
tried to keep his tone even and friendly, not intimidated, the way
the man appeared to want him to be. “There’s a storm coming. Might
be a good time to be inside.”

The gruff character, a Dark water witchling,
glanced at the sky. “We’re fine here. Go back to class, kid.”

“Actually, it’s Beck.” He moved closer and
held out his hand. “Beck Turner.”

“Turner. Interesting.” The man shook his
hand without moving. “Gordon McCloud.”

A flicker of anger fluttered to life inside
Beck. No relation of Morgan’s was bound to be there for a good
reason.

“Morgan and Connor’s … father?” Beck
guessed.

“Uncle.”

Not good.
“Can I ask what you’re doing here?”

“None of your business, kid. Piss off back
to football or whatever you do here.”

“Actually, it is my business.” Lightening
sprang to life in Beck’s hands more out of instinct than will.
“You’re here because I haven’t asked you to leave yet.”

Gordon McCloud appeared amused. “I’m here
for something that belongs to me.”

“Something or someone?”

“Same thing.” Gordon stabbed a finger into
his chest. “So back off, kid, before you piss me off.”

It was rare when Beck
didn’t like someone or didn’t try to make excuses for the flaws of
his fellow witchlings. But at the moment, he
hated
Gordon. The intimidating man
clearly didn’t know any boundaries but his own, and he had the size
and build to hurt men his size and girls like Morgan. He could see
this man hurting her, even if she’d never directly spoken to him
about what happened to her and who did it.

Gordon wasn’t just Dark. He was bad.

Beck flashed a smile but didn’t leave. “I’ll
take my chances,” he replied. “Especially now that I know Morgan is
involved.”

“The girl’s damaged goods, Beck Turner, but
she’s my damaged goods, and she’s got something I want. You do not
want to get between us.”

In his mind, Beck was beating the shit out
of Gordon and loving it. The initial fury he had experienced upon
learning Morgan had been hurt by someone in her family was
bubbling, and his earth magick was struggling to contain the
emotions.

No one hurt the woman he loved. He
understood Decker’s blind dedication to protecting Summer and the
nature of what it meant to lose it merely at the thought of someone
threatening someone he loved.

“Did Dawn send you for the stone?” Beck
asked.

“None of your damn business.” But the answer
was clear on the man’s face.

“You aren’t welcome here, Gordon,” Beck said
softly, dangerously. He stepped away from Gordon and those with him
to the center of the driveway. “I suggest you leave before I make
you.”

Gordon laughed. “Whatever, kid.”

I’m the Master of Light,
asshole.
Beck said nothing. Gordon was
intent on ignoring him, and Beck summoned his lightening to throw
the man as far from the school as possible when the crunch of
gravel beneath car tires drew his attention away.

Connor and Morgan were headed up the
driveway in his car, Connor driving while Morgan appeared to be
texting. His eyes fell to her brilliant hair and radiant features –
and stuck. She was even more beautiful with the glow of their
lovemaking on her features than before. Morgan McCloud was a
stunner in every way, from the fiery looks that knocked the air out
of his lungs to her passion. His blood quickened in anticipation of
hearing her soft voice and smelling her skin.

“Now I see,” Gordon said from his van.
“You’re in love with the little whore.”

Lightning crackled around Beck. His earth
magick roared to keep him from exploding, and he drew a deep
breath. “I am,” he replied. “And that should scare you,
Gordon.”

Gordon chuckled instead.

Connor halted the car a short distance from
Beck, looking quizzically at him from behind the steering wheel.
Beck was about to signal him to leave when the water witchling
caught sight of the men on the side of the road. His look of shock
was followed by the same fury churning in Beck’s body.

Shit.
Beck had hoped to turn them back before either of the
siblings saw Gordon.

Connor whipped off his seatbelt and shoved
the door open, eyes pinned to his uncle.

Beck moved to intersect Connor.

“Connor?” Morgan watched him and scrambled
out of the car.

“Stop,” Beck ordered, body blocking
Connor.

“He does not get to be here!” Connor snarled
and shoved Beck.

Morgan’s brother was ready to unleash the
moves that earned him one of his black belts. Beck forced earth
magick into the water witchling to calm his emotions and Light to
snap him out of the infuriated daze. The temporary slap of magick
immobilized Connor long enough for Beck to twist his arm and shove
him onto the hood of the car.

“Stop, Connor!” Beck said more quietly.

“Morgan’s been through too much!” Connor was
struggling.

“Connor! It’s
my
responsibility to
take care of her now.”

Connor strained, eyes blazing and magick
fighting Beck to be free and drown the man who hurt his sister.

“Trust me. I can do a lot more damage than
you without risking my soul,” Beck added.

Connor said nothing, his eyes going to
Morgan with a look of anguish.

Beck risked a look up, and his heart broke
for Morgan.

She was staring at Gordon, her spark and
glow vanished, replaced by a mask covering her fear. Clearly
accustomed to being forcefully subdued, she stared at the ground at
his feet, not even a whisper of her magick present.

“You disobeyed me, girl,” Gordon said and
approached her.

Morgan was silent. She didn’t try to move
away or run or even protest.

“Stop, Connor!” Beck suppressed the
wriggling water witchling, frustrated by trying to control Connor
while he needed to be with Morgan.

“I’m here to make it right,” Gordon
continued. He snatched her arm. “Where is it, Morgan?”

She shook her head.

“What?” He shook her. “Let’s try that again.
Give me the stone, Morgan.”

“No.”

“Let me handle this, Connor,” Beck whispered
urgently. “This is my battle to fight. Not yours anymore.”

Connor began to calm, fear for his sister
replacing his anger.

“I won’t let you hurt him,” Morgan said
almost too quietly to hear.

“Him,” Gordon repeated.

“The heart of the Light. It’s not a place.
It’s … ” She risked a glance at Beck. “But I won’t do it
anyway.”

Beck released Connor, uncertain what they
were talking about, but not about to let Morgan face her abuser
alone.

“I brought a couple friends who might help
me convince you,” Gordon said and motioned to the two large men
with him. “Told them you’re a good little whore.”

Morgan’s face was completely blank, but Beck
saw the spark of fire in one of her hands.

“You have nothing to fear, Morgan,” he said
and circled the car.

“She has a whole lot to fear, kid,” Gordon
snapped. “We’re the least of her worries.”

Sensitive to Morgan’s fire, Beck sensed the
surge of magick warning she was about to react and probably take
out everyone around her in the process. If she used her magick with
the intention of harming someone, there was a chance her hard won
Light status would turn Dark.

“Don’t touch her, Gordon,” Connor snapped,
his magick rising.

“Go inside, Connor,” Beck ordered him.

The situation was ripe for igniting, and
Morgan’s magick was hard enough for her to control without acting
out of fear.

Connor didn’t leave, but fell silent and
kept his distance.

Gordon reached for one of Morgan’s pockets.
She wrenched away, and he raised his hand to slap her.

Something within Beck snapped. He reacted
faster than any of them could see. Lightning ripped through the air
and struck Gordon in the chest, driving him back while Morgan
yanked out of his grip. She backpedaled into Beck, and he gripped
her arms to steady her. She was breathing hard and trembling, her
magick frantic within her. He calmed her the best he could before
stepping in front of her, between her and Gordon. He gripped her
wrist, the direct contact giving him better access to calming her
magick.

“This ends now, Gordon,” he said firmly.
“You will never –”

Gordon started towards him, cursing. Beck
slammed him back against a tree, along with the other two with
him.

“You will never come anywhere close to
Morgan again,” Beck finished with calmness he didn’t feel. “And if
you do, the Master of Dark will be the least of your worries.” He
released the magick, and the three dropped to the ground.

Gordon was looking at him
anew, as if he, too, was surprised the Master of Light had any sort
of power. Grimly, Beck realized it had been too long since there
was someone in his position, long enough that the Dark witchlings
had grown bolder.
Maybe Decker is right to
kill so quickly.
He had the urge to sic
his brother on Gordon and his henchmen and an even deeper need to
protect Morgan and finish them off himself.

Recalling Sam’s warning and the trembling
woman behind him who was already traumatized, Beck drew a deep
breath. “Leave now.” He pointed to their van.

There was a brief pause where he thought he
might get to fulfill the protective instinct before Gordon moved
towards the van. The other two followed. Moments later, they rolled
down the driveway.

Morgan pulled away from Beck, and he snagged
her around the waist as she started to run. He wrapped both arms
around her shaking frame. “It’s okay, Morgan,” he whispered,
breathing in her scent.

“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry!” she gasped.
She tugged at his grip.

Beck forced himself to calm down so he could
calm her as well and push soothing earth magick towards her,
suppressing her out of control fire. He felt her yield and melt
into him, panicking nonetheless, but trusting him to keep her
together where she was ready to combust.

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Beck
whispered and shifted her to face him. He hugged her hard.

Morgan trembled in his arms. She didn’t
speak for a long moment, and he simply held her, grateful she was
safe and well.

“Beck,” she said in a stricken whisper.
“Gordon wanted me to kill you. He told me to put the soul stone at
the heart of the Light.”

He listened, Sam’s warning about the forces
that wanted to overthrow the Light returning to his thoughts.
Dawn’s cause had united a tiny faction of unhappy Dark witchlings.
He began to think the storm coming wasn’t caused by one, but by the
magick of several people like Gordon who wanted the Darkness to
rule.