Free Winter Fire (Witchling Series) by Lizzy Ford

but he’d thought her fearlessness born of naïveté, not the anger of someone who spoke out of experience and didn’t want to see anyone else hurt.
    It’s not right to belittle someone else or to hurt them, just because you’re angry or upset. He had thought her overly passionate about the words and now began to understand why. Coupled with Connor’s anger over the idea of putting her in counseling or sending her home, the picture forming in Beck’s mind made him wish he paid more attention sooner.
    “I’m an idiot,” he breathed. “The signs were right in front of me.”
    “She’s not easy to read. I have a feeling she keeps a secret really well.”
    “I am so sick of women and secrets,” Beck grumbled. “How bad is it, Decker? Will you tell me that?”
    “Bad,” Decker replied softly. “I didn’t see everything. Has she said anything to you?”
    “She and her brother aren’t talking to me about whatever’s going on. I caused a fight this morning between them. I guess Morgan is rocking out of all her classes, and Amber wants to send her home or put her in counseling. Connor flipped out and then so did Morgan.”
    “Any indication whether she wants to stay here or leave?”
    “Both,” Beck said and laughed. “She doesn’t want to go home, but I’m pretty sure she’s planning on running away when she turns eighteen.”
    “Then I say to make sure she isn’t sent home. If you got her parents names, I’ll check up on them in my own unique way,” Decker offered. As the Master of Dark, he held dominion over all Dark witchlings and was able to check up on any of them he wished without needing an excuse to do so.
    “I’ll find out tomorrow and text you,” Beck said, thoughtful. “I think I have an idea of how to get Connor to crack.” He grinned. “He’s a black belt, so it might cost me an arm or leg.”
    “You survived me. I’m sure her fire magick will have you on your feet in no time.”
    “God, she’s killing me with it.”
    “Fire magick has the ability to arouse even the quiet earth magick,” Decker said, grinning.
    Beck rolled his eyes again. Decker’s girlfriend wielded earth and air magick, both of which were known to be the calmer elements. Fire was an instigator, passionate and warm, a source of emotion ranging from anger to empathy and love. It could lift spirits and invigorate someone in need of energy; it could also cause desire to burn hotter, more intense. Morgan’s touch had a dual affect on Beck: soothing his agitation and driving up his need to touch her to the point that it was almost painful to refuse.
    All while she gazed at him with those huge, innocent green eyes and sweetly vowed to protect him from anything out to get him. He found himself behaving much better than he ever had with any other girl, even when her touch ratcheted up his already high-strung hormones.
     “On another topic,” Decker started. “Have you thought about my proposition to get rid of Dawn permanently?”
    “Still thinking about it,” Beck replied. “It’s not an easy decision. How do I tell my kid I had her mom killed off? It won’t matter how bad Dawn was.”
    Decker nodded, as if expecting the answer. “She’s a menace, Beck. She’s a threat to you and Summer and anyone else we care about.”
    “The question for me isn’t whether I want you to do it,” Beck replied. “It’s whether I can live with knowing I all but ordered a hit on the mother of my daughter. I’m the Protector of Light. I have to believe there must be some capacity for reform. I mean, look at you and our mother and Summer. All of you were given second chances, and you succeeded.”
    “I want her dead either way, but I’ll respect your decision.”
    Beck glanced at his twin and saw the Darkness flare in Decker’s eyes. He understood why Decker’s flat assertion was so strong. Dawn had tried to get rid of Summer not once, but twice. Dawn was behind Tanya’s death as well. Beck had been casually