Page 21 of Sorcia's Heart
Sorcia’s cheeks burned.Nope.Not going there.
“Let’s just…focus on finding this demon,” she muttered, trying to push her embarrassment aside.
Marcus chuckled again, and this time, she felt his hand brush lightly against her arm, sending a wave of heat skittering down her spine.“We’ll deal with the demon,” he said, his voice soft but steady.His blue eyes locked on hers.“And we’ll figure out…usonce the danger is over.”
A flicker of pink light caught her eye, and her gaze darted back to the crystal ball.Once again, it was throbbing, alternating between pink and red, like a magical version of a knowing smirk.
“Would you stop that?”she hissed at the ball, her blush deepening.
Marcus chuckled.“I don’t think it’s going to listen to you.It seems to have excellent taste in commentary.”
“Shut up,” she snapped, spinning back toward the door, refusing to give the orb—or Marcus—the satisfaction of seeing her flustered.
“I think we should start by grabbing something to eat,” Marcus suggested behind her, his tone light and entirely too amused.He waved his hand, and the exit shimmered into view.
As he pulled the door open, she caught the grin still plastered across his face.It was clear he knew exactly what the crystal was implying, and he wasn’t going to let it drop anytime soon.
Behind her, the crystal ball gave one final pulse of pink and red before dimming back to its neutral clear glow.
Sorcia ground her teeth as she stormed past Marcus.The crystal ball can go straight to hell.
Chapter 10
Marcusfeltlighterashe stepped out of the upscale department store, the brisk spring air greeting him like an old friend.The faint scent of new grass and distant rain hung in the atmosphere, the gray clouds from earlier had dissipated into bright sunshine, matching his mood.The crystal’s antics had given him hope, a flicker of possibility he hadn’t expected.Maybe—just maybe—if he was smart and patient enough, he could convince Sorcia to give them another chance.
This demon, this prick of a demon—yes, Marcus suspected it was male—had unwittingly provided the perfect opportunity.And Marcus wasn’t about to waste it.
“There,” he said, pointing to a small pub-style restaurant across the street, it’s warm, inviting glow visible through the large windows.“Let’s grab lunch there.You can have a drink, and, hopefully, they’ll have fish and chips done the way you prefer.”
His hand brushed against the small of Sorcia’s back, a light touch that didn’t go unnoticed.He felt a spark of satisfaction when she didn’t pull away this time.Her usual sharpness seemed dulled, her mood subdued by the day’s events, though her steps were still deliberate as they approached the edge of the busy street.
Marcus glanced at the traffic and, with a small wave of his hand, gestured at the lights.Instantly, they turned yellow, then red, bringing the chaos of cars and buses to a halt.
Sorcia shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips as they crossed.The cool breeze played with her hair, brushing a stray strand across her cheek, which she tucked back absently.“You’re going to cause accidents doing that,” she whispered, her voice laced with soft exasperation.
“Nah,” he countered, his tone light but teasing.“It just makes life a bit easier.”
The faintest chuckle escaped her, though she quickly masked it.For Marcus, it was enough—a small crack in her armor, a sign that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as impervious as she wanted him to believe.
They stepped inside the dimly lit pub, the faint scent of delicious food and laughter wafting toward them.The interior was warm and cozy, with dark wood paneling covering the walls and exposed beams running along the ceiling.Strings of fairy lights were woven around the beams, their soft glow adding a touch of whimsy to the otherwise rustic atmosphere.Framed photographs of local landmarks and old-timey sports teams lined the walls, while a chalkboard menu hung near the bar, boasting daily specials written in colorful, looping handwriting.
The tables were a mix of small, intimate setups and larger communal ones, most occupied by patrons laughing over hearty meals and clinking glasses.A crackling fireplace in the far corner cast flickering shadows across the room, completing the inviting scene.
Both Sorcia and Marcus froze for a long moment as they stepped further in, their senses instinctively tuning to thesphaera.Feeling.That was the only way to detect a demon.The intense fury demons wrapped themselves in constantly was usually the first clue.
But inside the pub, all they could feel was the buoyant energy of happy people indulging in calorie-rich foods and sipping beers with higher-than-average alcohol content.
“No demon here,” Sorcia murmured, her shoulders relaxing slightly.She smiled as the hostess—a teenager who looked about seventeen—stepped up to a podium and began pulling out plastic-covered menus.
“Two for lunch?”the teen asked, her eyes darting behind Sorcia and Marcus, as if expecting a larger group to follow them.
“Just two,” Marcus confirmed with an easy smile.
They followed the hostess through the maze of tables, weaving past groups of patrons laughing and toasting over towering plates of nachos and hearty sandwiches.The clink of glasses and low hum of cheerful conversations filled the air.
When they reached a small table by the window overlooking the bustling street outside, Sorcia smiled with gratitude.“This is perfect,” she told the hostess.
Ten minutes later, Marcus had ordered a burger —though the menu had dressed it up with a fancier name—and Sorcia had selected the fried fish, although the menu called them something fancier.
