Free Winter Fire (Witchling Series) by Lizzy Ford Page A

dating Tanya, more because he needed a distraction and less because he had any intention of being serious about her.
    He couldn’t say the same for Morgan. Hell, he already felt more for Morgan midway through their first date than he had any other girl except Dawn, who he foolishly thought himself in love with at one point.
    He wasn’t that blind now. He knew what Dawn was, and he knew Morgan was nothing like her. He now had the extra benefit of the senses he inherited upon becoming the Master of Light, the ones that were able to determine one’s character. He didn’t feel the Dark touch that Decker did about Morgan, but he knew her heart to be good.
    Unlike Dawn, who was rotten to the core.
    “Ask me after the baby is born,” Beck said at last. “I need some time to figure things out.”
    “Alright. Just know you only have to say the word. Or better yet, just stop saying no.”
    “I know. When you and Summer have kids, you’ll understand.”
    “If,” Decker grimaced. “We’re waiting until she turns eighteen to have sex again. It’s going to kill me first.”
    “Ouch. That’s like, what? Four or five months?”
    “Eight months, one week and three days.” Decker held up his smart phone. “I have a count down.”
    Beck burst into laughter, as entertained by the idea of Summer turning his brother down as he was his brother watching the seconds tick by. During his dark period when Summer was believed to be dead, Decker had slept with multiple girls a night to try and drown out the Darkness that wanted to consume him. Only Summer’s touch was able to quiet his mind, and he hadn’t been able to cope without her.
    “She’s worth waiting for,” Decker said. His eyes found Summer in the crowd, and his irritation softened into tenderness.
    Beck’s fit of laughter trickled off.
    “If Morgan can put up with you long enough, you might find out what that’s like,” Decker said. “She’s not like the normal girls you date.”
    “I know that much,” Beck agreed. “I don’t want anything serious. I can’t afford it right now.”
    “Right.” Decker rolled his eyes.
    “Damn. I shouldn’t have asked her out tonight,” Beck murmured.
    “Why did you?”
    Beck grappled with an answer that made sense.
    The flash of her red hair down the boardwalk drew his attention. One look at her reminded him why. Not even the newest arrival – a tall, blonde girl – captured or held his attention like Morgan did. There was something more than physical attraction between them and had been since the day they met, a realization that startled him.
    Beck shook his head. “I feel like I had to. Like, she’s already … mine.”
    “Good luck with all that,” Decker replied. “The last thing you need is her stirring things up with Dawn or distracting you from the Light.”
    “I know that. I’ll keep my distance. Somehow.”
    “No, I mean, good luck, because if it’s like it is with Summer and me, you’ve got no choice. You have to learn to juggle her and the rest of life.”
    “Like you’ve managed to do that!” Beck said sarcastically, aware of how naturally conflicted Decker was about everything in life.
    “I haven’t yet, but I’m working on it,” Decker retorted. “She’s the only part of my world that makes sense.”
    Beck knew as much. Summer stabilized Decker and his world. The bond between them was beyond anything Beck ever witnessed, outside of the relationship between their parents. Yet, no part of Beck welcomed such a relationship in his life. At least, not until he was standing on his own two feet, capable of protecting her, without a laundry list of issues weighing him down.
    “I don’t need that,” he murmured. “I guess I should fix it now. I can say something came up and send her home in your car.”
    “Whatever. You’re too nice.”
     Sometimes, Beck wished he could be more like Decker and react without restraint. Instead, Beck tried to do what he thought was the best for the