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    Autumn Storm (#2, Witchling Series)
    Autumn Storm (#2, Witchling Series)
    Autumn Storm (#2, Witchling Series)
    Ebook484 pages9 hours

    Autumn Storm (#2, Witchling Series)

    By Lizzy Ford

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    About this ebook

    A girl with no memory, hidden in plain sight ...
    A boy with no hope, spiraling into Darkness ...

    Only one knows the truth, and only one has the power to save them.

    Autumn doesn’t know why she remembers a boarding school she’s never visited, or why her reflection is sometimes that of a ghost named Summer. She struggles to recover her memories and understand the warnings conveyed through her magick. Caught between the Turner twins, she isn’t certain who to trust: Decker, the mysterious Master of Dark, who makes her heart catch, or Beck, the cautious Master of Light, whose touch soothes her pain.

    Unable to recover from Summer’s death, Decker slowly surrenders to the Dark. The guilt he feels when he falls for Autumn – and betrays Summer’s memory – drives him farther from the Light, until he completely loses control and takes the souls of Light witchlings.

    As the protector of Light, Beck is caught between his allegiance to his twin and his vow to protect new witchlings. He must keep the Darkness from consuming his brother, for if Decker fails, he’ll take down the only person who has a chance of saving them all.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLizzy Ford
    Release dateFeb 3, 2017
    ISBN9781623783075
    Autumn Storm (#2, Witchling Series)
    Author

    Lizzy Ford

    I breathe stories. I dream them. If it were possible, I'd eat them, too. (I'm pretty sure they'd taste like cotton candy.) I can't escape them - they're everywhere! Which is why I write! I was born to bring the crazy worlds and people in my mind to life, and I love sharing them with as many people as I can.I'm also the bestselling, award winning, internationally acclaimed author of over sixty ... eighty ... ninety titles and counting. I write speculative fiction in multiple subgenres of romance and fantasy, contemporary fiction, books for both teens and adults, and just about anything else I feel like writing. If I can imagine it, I can write it!I live in the desert of southern Arizona with two dogs and two cats!My books can be found in every major ereader library, to include: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Sony and Smashwords.

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      Book preview

      Autumn Storm (#2, Witchling Series) - Lizzy Ford

      1

      The Greyhound bus pulled into the parking lot of a tiny, old school at the edge of the town of Priest Lake, Idaho. Long since abandoned, the school’s parking lot was overtaken by weeds, and saplings and other plants had begun to sprout around the sagging wooden building. Out front, facing the road, a new, pristine sign read:

      Nataniel School, Historic Site, Est. 1939. New locations:

      Light Campus: 2 miles north. Visitors welcome.

      Dark Campus: 65 miles south. Call ahead.

      The bus ambled to a stop, and the doors opened. Three young women – one with a cane – exited and stood waiting for the driver to pull their luggage free from the underbelly of the bus.

      Standing apart from the other girls, the girl with the cane cocked her head to the side. She read the sign, not understanding it. Blue eyes took in the surrounding forest before she glanced down, puzzled, as wind flipped the blonde hair hanging over her shoulder. She patted her hair down only for the air to lift the ringlets one-by-one and hold them suspended.

      The other girls were staring at her. Her face grew warm as she swatted at the floating curls.

      Jenna Carter, the bus driver called, reading the tag on the first piece of luggage.

      Here! one of the other girls replied.

      Autumn Nathaniel.

      Here, the girl said. She limped forward.

      You need me to call someone for you? the bus driver asked, gaze on her stiff leg.

      No, thanks. She pulled up the handle of her suitcase and used it to support her as she limped away. After eight weeks in the hospital and another month in physical therapy, she was tired of people asking her if she needed help.

      Tanya … last name I can’t pronounce.

      That’s me. The third girl stepped forward.

      Have a good day, girls. Stay out of the forest after dark, the bus driver warned cheerfully.

      Autumn frowned. She knew this place. The way the air played with her, the strange magic beckoning her to the forest. She’d even heard the bus driver’s warning before. If she walked down the main road through the tiny town, she’d find …

      The fleeting memory was gone, replaced by a headache.

      Until now, no other part of her world was familiar to her. She hadn’t known anyone at the orphanage, where she’d returned when the hospital released her. Her case worker insisted she’d lived there since she was four. She couldn’t find her way to the restroom let alone recognize the roommates she’d had for the past five years. The doctors said she had severe amnesia after being hit by a drunk driver while crossing the street. The amulet around her neck was the only belonging that seemed remotely familiar. She’d researched the pattern on the tarnished, silver chain and discovered the links were regarded as symbols of protection to some Native American tribes. The breadcrumbs that were supposed to lead her to who she was had ended there.

      She toyed with the amulet, looking around.

      Shifting the cane into her left hand, she realized she’d caught her index finger on a splinter. She wiped it on her jeans. The two other girls had stopped whispering to each other and were watching her.

      Do you know where we go? the one named Jenna asked.

      I think someone will come get us, Autumn answered, glancing up.

      I’m glad they told you. I’m clueless.

      Autumn wasn’t sure where her response came from. She hoped she was right.

      I’m from Maryland, Jenna said. Tanya’s from Texas. We met up in Colorado at a bus stop. You guys could totally be sisters.

      Autumn from Boise.

      Tanya’s smile was nervous and her dark gaze warm. She was slender with similar, white-blonde hair that fell halfway down her back. Jenna, on the other hand, was a chubby, bubbly brunette with bright, green eyes. Both sets of eyes were on Autumn’s neck. Her hand fluttered to the scars there. It had been three months since the accident. The scars were still reddish, new, and marked up a lot of her body. One ran down the side of her face from temple to jaw. She’d learned to cover it with make-up and careful positioning of her hair. At their stares, she adjusted her blonde curls to hide the scar.

      You have really pretty hair, Tanya said shyly. I always wanted curls.

      Thank you, Autumn said. Her gaze went to their surroundings thoughtfully. Something about the forest was calming, and she hadn’t been comfortable anywhere else. Maybe she lived here when she was little, before ending up in an orphanage.

      A sixteen passenger van pulled into the parking lot, and an older man with silver hair climbed out. He smiled as he circled the van to open the back doors.

      Welcome, girls, he said. I’ll be your chauffeur. He crossed to them and took Autumn’s luggage first. Hop up front, young lady.

      She hobbled to the passenger seat. When the driver finished loading the van, he climbed in, and they started down the road. The sense of déjà vu returned, and Autumn closed her eyes. She’d been down this road before. She could see the small gas station and the fork in the road. They’d go left, drive a short distance then turn left again, onto a gravel road that led to…

      The memory almost formed then faded again, her headache growing worse. She sighed and opened her eyes just as they passed the gas station. Her pulse quickened at the confirmation. For the first time in weeks, she didn’t feel out of place in a strange world. They took the path she’d seen in her thoughts, and she sat forward eagerly to see where the winding gravel road ended.

      The large log building came into view at last. There were a couple of cars parked along one side and behind the structure would be the dorms and …

      Her head hurt too much.

      The driver dropped them off at the front, and the screen door opened. Autumn eased out of the passenger seat and waited for her luggage. A pretty woman with bright blue eyes and a long, loose skirt stepped onto the porch.

      Welcome! she exclaimed. Thanks, Jimmy!

      My pleasure, Amber.

      Autumn studied Amber’s familiar features. Amber trotted down the stairs, her steps tinkling from the bells on her anklets. Her gazed skimmed over all of them, and Autumn was disappointed that the woman didn’t show any sign of recognizing her. Amber took one of Jenna’s suitcases.

      C’mon, girls! she said with a grunt. We’ll sit down and talk for a few minutes before I show you to your rooms.

      Autumn waited until Tanya and Jenna had hauled their luggage up the stairs. They disappeared inside the house. Embarrassed by her weakness, Autumn lifted the suitcase onto the first stair, rested it there, then used her cane to help her climb the step. One of her legs was in a brace, though not for much longer. She’d been weaning herself off it.

      The breeze flicked her hair in front of her face. She pushed it away and lifted the suitcase to the next stair. The air pushed her hair in front of her eyes again. Exasperated, Autumn leaned over to pull a hat from the pocket at the front of her suitcase. She tugged the knit cap over her hair to keep it in place.

      You look like you could use a hand.

      She glanced up at the amused voice, her eyes lingering on the most beautiful teal eyes she’d ever seen. The teen before her was tall, his dark hair and strong features making his eyes glow. He wore jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt that displayed a strong body. He flashed a wide smile as she gazed at him.

      I’ll get it, he said and trotted a few steps down to grab her luggage. He lifted it with ease, turned and walked into the house.

      Autumn stared after him. It wasn’t the fact that he was hot, or the flirtatious smile that left her feeling as if she’d just met her favorite movie star. It was his strange aura, an odd warmth that brushed her skin and calmed her. She shook her head to clear it and made her way up the stairs.

      When she reached the top, he stood with the door held open.

      Welcome to uh, here. Don’t worry, it’ll all make sense soon, he said.

      She raised an eyebrow at him. He motioned her inside. The inside of the main house was welcoming. Autumn lingered in the foyer. The large room to the left held a dining table and the open area to her right was filled with comfortable leather furniture and a ginormous television playing some crime show quietly. At the top of the stairwell was her room and her worn, wooden jewelry box.

      Except she didn’t own a jewelry box.

      For the first time since arriving to the small town, Autumn became uneasy. She moved to the foot of the stairwell. She remembered this place, but it wasn’t among the places she recalled from before her family died. She was here sometime recently, before her accident. When?

      Actually, I think they went down the hallway, the teen said, pointing. Amber does an orientation class for new students. He waved for her to follow. C’mon. I’ll show you.

      Autumn went. His strange aura draped over her, easing her distress once more.

      What’s your name? he asked.

      Autumn, she replied.

      He grimaced, and a shadow crossed his features. Not a fan of naming people after seasons.

      What? she asked, giving him a quizzical look.

      Sorry. Gives me flashbacks, he tried to joke. You know, walking across minefields or whatever… His eyes went to her cane, and a flush reached his face. Ah. Sorry.

      No worries.

      Beck! Amber poked her head around a corner. No!

      Omigod, like I’m a dog, the teen said, rolling his eyes.

      You are in the doghouse.

      Autumn giggled, unable to help it. Amber’s tone was too sweet and cheerful for her to scold anyone effectively. She sounded like she was cheerleading, not disciplining the tall teen.

      Fine. I’ll go back to the couch, Beck said, winking at Autumn. Welcome, Autumn.

      Thanks, she murmured.

      His calming aura left her, and tension crept between her shoulders again. Amber motioned her forward.

      Beck likes blondes, Amber explained. And we have a new, very strict no fraternization policy. Of course, being male, he doesn’t listen well.

      Beck. He was almost familiar, though not as much as Amber.

      Autumn took the seat Amber pointed out. The desks were arranged in a circle, with most of them empty. Jenna and Tanya were reading on iPads. A third iPad was at the desk in front of Autumn.

      We started a new orientation program recently, so I’ll apologize if I don’t follow the syllabus exactly, Amber said. The other coordinator here, Matilda, is definitely a bit better about structure.

      The way she said the last word made Autumn hide a smile.

      There’s a folder labeled Orientation on …

      Autumn half-listened as Amber walked them through the contents of the folder. When she fell silent to let them read the first few pages of the first document, Autumn skimmed with interest. The introduction pages described the school as one for students with a special talent: the ability to communicate with one of the five elements and channel its power.

      Air. Earth.

      Autumn closed her eyes at the whisper. She had two elements.

      Is this for real? Jenna sounded baffled.

      Yes, Amber replied. One note we haven’t updated in the book. Two weeks ago, we moved all the Dark students down to a new campus in Priest River, about forty five minutes away. Only Light witchlings are permitted on this campus.

      Jenna appeared to be in shock, and Tanya confused.

      Light and Dark. Something clicked within Autumn.

      Because something bad happened, she said.

      Amber’s smile faltered. We’ll go into it later. For the next few weeks, let’s just focus on getting you all adjusted. Okay?

      Struggling against her memories had given her a horrible headache; sometimes her nose bled in response. She dabbed at it self-consciously. Blood was on her fingertips when she pulled them away.

      May I go to the restroom? she asked.

      Yes and yes, Amber said with a smile. Autumn, down the hall on the left, last door before you reach the foyer. Jenna, I know it’s a lot to take in, but -

      Autumn limped out of the room and down the hallway. She wiped away the blood. The small classroom seemed so stuffy, crowded with memories and feelings she wasn’t able to access. Her gaze fell to the front door and the driveway hedged by pine trees beyond. The draw of the forest was strong. Beck was stretched out on the couch, absorbed in watching the television.

      She left the school, walked down the stairs and to the edge of the forest. The nearest tree rustled. It lowered a branch to her. Startled, Autumn stretched up until her fingertips met the long pine needles of the tree. The wind danced around her again, nearly throwing her balance. She lowered her arm to steady herself with both hands on the cane and stared into the forest.

      The answers were there.

      You’re one of the new girls, right?

      She turned at the young man’s voice. The tall, gangly guy wore glasses and a sweatshirt. His smile was shy, but friendly. Did she recognize him? The fleeting sense of déjà vu was gone again, leaving her at a loss as to why she’d come outside in the first place.

      Yeah, she said. Autumn.

      Adam. Nice to meet you. I see you have your amulet. Kinda cool, isn’t it? He pulled his from inside his sweatshirt. It glittered pale blue. We all have one.

      Do they help us talk to elements? she asked, struggling to pull memories from her dark mind.

      Not really. His gaze went from her amulet to the cane. What happened?

      She flushed.

      Sorry. I…I just… He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

      The awkward silence was broken by the rustling of another tree that reached for her. Adam cleared his throat.

      The trees like you, he said.

      They seem nice, she replied, gazing straight up to see the branches far above them. Do you think they have feelings?

      Adam laughed. I don’t know. They might.

      His easy-going presence was familiar to her. Autumn’s brow furrowed. As with Amber, he didn’t know her, but she felt like she knew him.

      Autumn! Let me at least show you to your room! Amber called from the porch. You can talk to Adam at dinner.

      Autumn’s gaze lingered on Adam. She felt good vibes from him, as if they’d been friends at some point.

      I’ll see you later, she murmured then struggled up the stairs to the porch.

      I know I’m forcing all this structure down your throats, Amber said with a sigh. We’re taking a break. I figure you all can settle in, read through the information, and then we’ll talk again after dinner. Is that cool?

      Sure.

      Amber led her into the house and up the stairs. Autumn started to turn left at the top of the staircase, the direction her instincts told her to go. Amber, however, went right. Trailing, Autumn watched Amber disappear into one of the rooms.

      You’ll be rooming with Dawn. Amber’s voice took on a quiet note. She’s a few months pregnant and can be a little…moody. If you guys don’t hit it off, just let me know.

      Dawn’s side of the room was decorated in black and white with splashes of pink and teal. The top of her dresser was cluttered. Her closet door was open, revealing tons of designer clothes and shoes jammed into every bit of empty space.

      The name wasn’t familiar. Autumn set her purse on her bed and looked at the dresser on her side of the bed. She didn’t have much, nothing but the clothes in her suitcase and the wooden jewelry box with pictures of her family and the last…

      But wait, she didn’t have a jewelry box. Rubbing her forehead, she wondered what was wrong with her. Sometimes it felt like there were two people inside of her.

      A lot of the students are leaving this weekend for the Thanksgiving holiday next week. You’ll have a half day of classes in the morning then a couple quiet days to settle in. Next week we’ll have classes Monday and Tuesday, then a half day Wednesday. I brought your iPad, Amber said, setting the device on Autumn’s new bed. So, unpack and read through the information until dinner.

      Thanks, Amber.

      You’re welcome. If you need anything, I’m downstairs in my office at the end of the hall in the west wing. Amber hugged her and left.

      Autumn unzipped her suitcase and pulled out her toiletries. She crossed to the bathroom and took a long shower. Dawn’s clutter was everywhere. Autumn wiped the foggy mirror down. Her breath caught at her reflection, and she squeezed her eyes closed.

      She was back – the girl with dark hair and eyes that stared at her instead of her own reflection. She’d hoped the girl stayed in Boise and didn’t follow her here. For the past week, what started as a fleeting ghost that Autumn only saw from the corner of her eye had turned into a daily, full-blown staring contest. The girl trapped in the mirror was more than a hallucination, and Autumn had gone so far as to read about the supernatural while at the orphanage. Nothing she read gave her any insight into the strange occurrence.

      With a deep breath, Autumn opened her eyes. Her own reflection returned: the heart-shaped face, wet blonde curls and dark blue eyes.

      Relieved, she dressed and sat down on the bed to start reading the orientation information. She flipped through the different folders and tables of contents, waiting for something else familiar to catch her attention.

      Laws of Light.

      Her finger paused over the file. She double tapped it open. There were three, and they were simple.

      One, do no harm to others.

      Two, help those who need it, no matter how undeserving they may be.

      Three, it is better to let evil win than to commit evil.

      Troubled, her gaze lingered on the third rule before she returned to the master directory of files. The name of the final file, The Trial, also caught her attention.

      Every student of Light must pass a personalized trial geared towards their weakness in order to ensure that the student is meant for the path of Light. The trial is meant to challenge the student and to offer a temptation for them to leave the Light for personal reasons. Each trial is unique and developed by nature itself.

      This should’ve meant something to her; she felt it. But what? Frustrated, Autumn started from the first file and began reading about her new school. A few minutes before six, she walked down the stairs to the dining room. Jenna and Tanya were there, along with Adam and two other students. Adam smiled at her.

      Autumn sat beside him, comforted by his friendly, open features. The first course – salad and soup – was already on the table.

      Save room for the pie, he advised. I’ve gained twenty pounds since getting here.

      Autumn look at him skeptically. He was thinner than the stair railing.

      Tomorrow morning, I can show you around campus, he offered as they ate.

      Us, too? Jenna asked with a grin.

      Adam flushed again. Yeah, he mumbled.

      The forest is scary, Tanya said. I’ve never been in a forest before.

      I grew up in Idaho, Autumn said. I think. Troubled, she fell silent. She struggled to figure out what parts of her world were real and why she couldn’t remember everything or why no one remembered her when she knew them.

      When the huckleberry pie appeared before her, she wanted to cry. She’d guessed the flavor with the same confidence that allowed her to guess the path that led to the school earlier. She ate a little then pushed it away.

      Something was wrong here. In Boise, it had only been the girl in the mirror. Here, there was a whole lot more that didn’t make sense.

      Too full? Adam asked.

      Yeah, she replied.

      Amber appeared a few minutes later to take her, Jenna, and Tanya down the hallway again. They spent the evening reviewing the information and campus rules. Some were familiar, others were not. Autumn listened, growing more agitated as the night wore on.

      When she returned to her room, her head was spinning with all she’d learned. None of it surprised her, though. Jenna and Tanya were terrified by the thought of magick being real. Autumn found it intriguing.

      Her closet door was open. Autumn frowned and gazed into it, her eyes catching on a sticky note on the inside of the door.

      LOVE your clothes. Borrowed a sweater! Love, Dawn

      What kind of person took a complete stranger’s sweater? She didn’t have much to start off with. Her closet was barren compared to Dawn’s.

      With a shake of her head, Autumn closed the closet door and went to the bathroom. She closed her eyes as she turned on the light, cringing at the idea that the dark-haired girl might be there. Peeking through her eyelashes, she was relieved to see her own reflection.

      Autumn opened her medicine cabinet and pulled out one of the bottles of pills. She’d begun to lower her dosage of painkillers, not wanting to be dependent on anything, but her mind to control the pain. Halving the huge tablets led to strange dreams when she was used to not dreaming at all. She took her pills and climbed into bed.

      As she drifted to sleep, a dream unlike any she’d had before slipped into her mind. It was filled with disjointed scenes of the forest, night, falling.

      And of death.

      2

      Summer was falling . As hard as he struggled, he couldn’t reach her. Pinned to the top of the cliff, he was helpless. Her scream ceased suddenly, leaving him in silence. Alone.

      Decker wrenched awake with a gasp, his heart pounding hard. Though haunted by that night, he’d never dreamt about it before.

      Wiping his face, he oriented himself in his dorm room at the new campus for Dark witchlings in Priest River, the largest town near the Light witchlings’ campus. The walls of the newly renovated buildings still smelled of fresh paint. By the minimalist chic interiors of the dorms and classrooms, his mother had a hand in decorating the new school.

      It was fitting, considering the Dark students were moved because of the Darkness his mother created. It chipped away at the source of the Light magick that bloomed beneath the original campus, the source that was receding faster than anyone knew how to fix.

      Not that he wanted anything to do with the boarding school in Priest Lake. His memories of Summer were too raw, even three months after the incident at Miner’s Drop.

      His clock read three in the morning. The amount of valium he took should’ve knocked him out for the weekend, but instead it lasted just two hours. Every night, it was harder to force himself into sleep.

      Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Decker spied a note that had fallen onto the floor.

      Tonight was fun...I hope I see you again...call me...

      Decker sighed. He remembered earlier vaguely. A nightclub, one girl who hung on his every word, somehow they ended up here. Girls took him away from the voices in his head, from his memories of Summer, from the pain. It was a temporary release that never lasted long enough, which was where the sleeping pills came in, but they were all temporary fixes. It was all his life consisted of anymore.

      Frustrated, Decker rose and crossed to the window overlooking a crowded parking lot.

      Without Summer, Darkness was all that truly soothed his misery.

      Feed it, and it will take you away. You are lucky she died before she saw what you are, one of the voices in his head told him.

      When he’d become the Master of Dark, he’d inherited the souls of all his predecessors. They were constantly chattering, filling his head with noise he couldn’t escape. Of all the Dark Masters and Mistresses before him, the most feared of them all had taken on the role of mentoring Decker. Bartholomew-the-Terrible was known for the mass slaughter of humans and witchlings that had gone Dark over the course of dozens of years. He’d taught Decker about his role in maintaining the balance and taking the souls of those who had gone Dark. He also showed him that the necessary role could help him find small moments of relief from the noise in his head and the pain of knowing he’d never have peace or know love again, now that Summer was gone.

      Recognizing the truth in the words, Decker looked at his hands. He showered half a dozen times a day but always felt the warmth of blood on him. It was intoxicating to the Dark side of him. When the high wore off, he was left with the hole inside of him, a mess to clean up and fear of seeing he had done something he wasn’t going to be able to live with.

      Like hurt the innocent, the way Bartholomew did.

      Nataniel, Decker whispered.

      On nights like this, he searched the voices in his head, seeking the one that was silent. Nataniel the Darkbringer, the first Dark Master from Decker’s line, was supposed to be the strongest and purest of all the Masters. Afraid of Bartholomew, Decker waited for the wisdom of the original Dark Master.

      Nataniel was the only soul who didn’t speak to him, even now, when Decker’s despair was darker than a night in the forest.

      His phone buzzed from its place on the nightstand. His twin, Beck, called or texted almost every day. Decker ignored him, along with everyone else who tried to contact him. He’d wanted to talk to one person the past few months, the woman he’d inherited his Dark role from.

      His mother, however, refused to speak to him. He stopped trying to reach her when it became clear she wanted nothing to do with him and let Bartholomew guide him.

      Maybe tonight, he thought with another glance at the clock. No one with a clear conscience was up at this hour. His mother definitely fit the bill.

      He crossed to his phone and saw his father’s name on it. Calm, quiet Michael Turner was the foundation of the family. Surprised, Decker read the text.

      Give me a call when you’re up!

      Decker dressed and pulled at his magick. He wasn’t going back to sleep this night. He let the magick take him to where it willed, to the cabin in Priest Lake where his parents were for the next week. The cabin was quiet and dark. He paced through the ground floor, hoping his father was down here and not upstairs with his mother. Light in the kitchen drew him to the large area, where his father and grandfather sat at the breakfast table. Opposite him, the bank of windows reflected the light of the kitchen. During the day, they’d display the stunning view of the lake that the nearby town of Priest Lake was named for.

      Hello, son, his father said without turning. Have a seat.

      Decker hesitated, sensing something was off. They were playing cards and drinking coffee at three in the morning. His grandfather wore a robe and smoked a cigar inside the house, which was usually a no-no. His father was clothed in sweatpants and socks, the bronze skin of his upper body snug around his lean frame. Michael Turner ran marathons. Decker knew now it had to be because of how crazy his mother drove him.

      Summer was supposed to sit at the third seat at the table. Fresh pain filled him as he realized he stood in the presence of two generations of Dark Mistresses’ mates. His mother inherited her position from her mother, who married Grandpa Louis over fifty years ago.

      Decker sat, at once aware of the soothing warmth that flowed off the two Dark mates. It quieted the voices in his head without silencing them.

      Got a call from the insurance company today, Michael Turner said, glancing up. His eyes were understanding.

      Heat crept up Decker’s face. He cleared his throat. No matter how bad he already felt, his father’s compassion made him feel worse.

      Glad you weren’t hurt. I’ll send you another bike, if you promise not to run into any more mountains.

      It was one thing for Decker to tell his brother about the suicide attempt when Beck showed up at the hospital. It was different telling his mother, who understood too well what it was to grieve as deeply as he did. She’d lost her twin long ago. Based on all accounts, she’d gone crazy afterwards, like he was, except that she had her mate, Michael Turner, the man she’d eventually marry.

      Decker revered the unflappable man who somehow managed to cage his mother’s Darkness. After becoming the Master of Dark, Decker was in greater awe of his father, knowing how strong that Dark could be. In the blackest hours of his despair, Decker often wondered if Summer would have been as able as his father, especially since she failed her trial and fell into Dark magick.

      He hated himself for doubting her. He deserved whatever the Darkness did to him.

      How about a three-quarter ton truck? his father asked at his silence. Harder to wreck. A smile was on his face.

      It’s okay, dad. I don’t need a vehicle, Decker said at last. Thanks.

      I know you’re struggling, Decker, he said. As my son, you’re half Light, too. The Dark won’t consume you, as long as you remember that. Watch that you don’t cross any lines you can’t recover from, like hurting those who don’t deserve it. Your mother went through that stage. I don’t think she ever fully came back.

      I’ll never hurt a Light witchling. I hope.

      He didn’t dare tell his father he wasn’t always sure whose soul he was claiming, when the Darkness took over, or that he wanted the Darkness to consume him. He’d driven his motorcycle into a cliff at ninety miles an hour, trying to end the pain. When he awoke, the bike was in pieces, and he was in the hospital with Beck standing at his bed. Three days later, Decker was fully healed.

      One of you must sire successors. Until then, you will be immortal to all except death by magick, Bartholomew had told him wisely. I tried many times to end my life. Eventually, I realized giving into the Darkness was all that would stop the pain.

      Decker couldn’t imagine fathering children and sharing his curse with them. The women he spent time with had no names or faces. They definitely weren’t going to produce his children, especially since he learned how to use his magick to act as a contraceptive. If only Summer…

      He pushed the thought away. No, producing twins to takeover Light and Dark duties when they turned eighteen was something Beck would have to do. Decker didn’t doubt his brother would.

      I’m guessing Dawn’s kid isn’t Beck’s, he murmured. I shouldn’t have walked away from that.

      It’s probably his kid, his father replied. Not twins, though, or you’d be dead. Always calm, Michael was gazing at him.

      Decker stared at the table. I take it that whole…issue isn’t going away.

      They dropped the restraining order when we threatened to press charges for statutory rape. She was nineteen and he was seventeen at the time of conception. Michael shook his head. He’s back in school. They’re playing hardball, though. If the DNA test comes back with him as the father, I’ll have to agree to set up a trust fund to keep them from taking Beck to court.

      Beck, you fool, Decker said with a sigh. As much as he worked to divorce himself from the rest of his world, he couldn’t help mentally lecturing his brother one more time. Knowing his twin was probably in distress about the whole Dawn issue brought out the instincts of a reluctantly protective brother.

      He’s learning, Grandpa Louis said. He’s grown up a lot this fall.

      They both have, Michael agreed. We’ll get through it.

      How are you holding up, Decker? Grandpa Louis asked.

      Still alive, Decker replied wryly.

      I lost your grandmother seven years ago. I don’t know how you’re handling it alone. There was sorrow in Grandpa Louis’s old voice. That’s why I follow your mother around the world. I lost my wife. One of our children remains missing. I’ll take care of the family I have left.

      Decker studied him. He didn’t want to end up like Grandpa Louis, mourning for the rest of his life. He didn’t want to be like his mother, either, who caused so much pain to those she loved. Grandpa Louis had no idea his own daughter was the source of half his pain, for she’d killed her twin, Nora. She’d hidden what she was from her father and children for eighteen years.

      Decker couldn’t bear to keep such secrets from those he loved. He didn’t know how his mother spent every day with her father and let him believe Nora was missing, not dead. Decker wanted nothing to do with hurting Beck or his parents. Once the Darkness took him, he’d never have to worry about hurting anyone.

      You will save your family this kind of pain. Bartholomew said in approval.

      Feeling his father’s gaze again, Decker sensed Michael knew about Nora’s death, too. It was the nature of the bond between his parents, the ability for the mates of a Dark Mistress or Master to accept the truth about their mates. He’d never have a mate, now that Summer was dead.

      How do you get through it? he asked Grandpa Louis.

      His grandfather set the cards he held on the table and reached into the pocket of his robe. He pulled out an ancient, yellowing photograph with dog-eared corners and held it out. Decker took it.

      You never really do, his grandfather said. I look at that a few times a day to remember the good times.

      The picture was of Grandpa Louis, his wife and twin girls. Decker’s mother was a teenager of around sixteen with her arms wrapped around her sister’s shoulders. They both wore bathing suits and cheesy smiles, standing on the beach in front of their parents. Grandma Aziza was enigmatic, radiating the dark allure that characterized the Masters and Mistresses of Dark. Of Egyptian descent, her daughters inherited her straight hair and large eyes, while their dark skin came from their African- American father.

      I’m a mutt, Decker thought, mind going to his father, a full-blood Native American. Decker’s amusement faded. The sight of his mother before she became the Mistress of Dark was painful for him. She was happy, innocent, free. When the picture was taken, she had no idea she’d kill her sister in a couple of years even if it was determined as necessary to protect the balance of Light and Dark.

      At some point, you will understand, Grandpa Louis said. The skin around his eyes was soft as he gazed tenderly at the photograph. You’ll tell yourself: Summer is dead. You are not. You have a tomorrow to think about and people who love you. You’ll start to live for them at first and eventually, you heal and live for yourself.

      Decker’s throat tightened at the honest words. He

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