Page 27 of Sorcia's Heart
Chapter 14
Hazelton’slungsburnedashe pressed his back against the rough brick wall, his chest heaving with panicked breaths.Sweat dripped down his temples, mingling with the grime from the filthy alley where he’d taken refuge.The air reeked of rotting trash and gasoline, but the stench was a minor irritation compared to the terror clawing at his insides.
He hadn’t expected them to start looking for him so soon.The moment he’d felt Sorcia and her companion lock onto his presence, he’d nearly lost control.Their combined power was suffocating, like a storm bearing down on him, pressing against his chest and threatening to unravel him.
It took several agonizing minutes before he could summon the strength to move.His legs trembled as he forced himself to creep further into the shadowy alley, his pulse hammering in his ears.For a demon accustomed to being the predator, the sensation of being hunted was intolerable.
As he glanced around, trying to get his bearings, his thoughts turned bitterly to Hortense.Could he even trust her to help if Sorcia got too close?The elf was a lazy, conniving creature, more interested in filing her nails than actually doing anything productive.She’d made it clear she expectedhimto deliver Sorcia to her doorstep, bound and powerless.
“Elves,” he muttered under his breath, the word dripping with contempt as he trudged westward.His hands curled into fists at the thought of Hortense’s dismissive attitude, but his anger was quickly redirected.
Thatman.Hazelton’s teeth clenched at the memory of the hulking figure beside her.Marcus’s sheer presence had been undeniable—powerful, sharp, and infuriatingly aware.Hazelton had felt the instant the man locked onto his surge of adrenaline, and watching them stride purposefully in his direction had nearly sent him into a frenzy.
Their combined magic had made them impossible to approach.Together, they exuded an aura so strong it had been like walking into a blazing inferno.Hazelton had been forced to retreat, his frustration mounting with every step.
Maybe it was time to change tactics.If he could capture a weaker witch, someone insignificant, he could drain her powers first.A cloaking spell would buy him time, hiding him from Sorcia’s relentless pursuit.But to capture Sorcia herself…
His mind churned with strategies as he slipped through the shadows, his senses on high alert for any sign of pursuit.If he could isolate her, separate her from the behemoth of a witch at her side, her power would diminish.Alone, she was formidable.With him?She was untouchable.
He wanted to lash out, to destroy something to vent his rage.But even that small indulgence would risk detection.Grinding his teeth, he reined in his fury and quickened his pace, retreating toward the safety of the abandoned warehouse he’d claimed as his lair.
The darkened city seemed to close in around him, its labyrinthine streets both a refuge and a trap.Hazelton’s mind buzzed with schemes and half-formed plans as he pushed forward.His time was running out, but he wasn’t finished yet.If he played his cards right, Sorcia and her obnoxious companion would regret ever crossing paths with him.
Chapter 15
Twoweekslater,Sorciawas at her wit’s end.“This is ridiculous!”she growled, pacing back and forth across her loft.Her sore feet were cushioned by the thick area rug, but the softness did little to soothe her fraying nerves.She was in another pair of leggings and an oversized sweater, her trusty slippers providing a small comfort in the privacy of her home.“There has to be a way to find this bastard!And soon!”
Her frustration was palpable, rolling off her in waves as she stomped from one end of the loft to the other.The weight of the last two weeks hung heavily on her shoulders.She was exhausted, perpetually on edge, and, to her dismay, gaining weight because every time Marcus was around—which was all the time—she found herself eating whatever he chose.
Burgers, fries, ice cream, chocolate…he ate it all without a care, his lean, muscular frame immune to the consequences.Meanwhile, her once-perfectly tailored clothes were starting to feel uncomfortably snug.
And why the hell was Marcus still here?This wasn’t his problem.His coven wasn’t in danger.If her coven fell—which it wouldn’t,she reminded herself fiercely—he could just return to Chicago and warn his witches to prepare for demon invasions.Yet here he was, day after day, sticking by her side, his calm presence an infuriating contrast to her fraying composure.
As she turned on her heel to pace back in the other direction, the soft ping of her doorbell froze her mid-step.
Sorcia swung around, her eyes narrowing as her fury boiled over.She didn’t need to check; she knew exactly who was standing on the other side of the door.
With a flick of her wrist, the door flew open, her magic carrying her anger ahead of her.Sure enough, there he was: Marcus, tall and impossibly handsome, his calm demeanor only adding fuel to her simmering rage.
“You!”she hissed, her green eyes blazing.
“Me?”Marcus replied, his tone maddeningly calm, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of amusement.
“Yes,you!” she snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at him.
“What did I do now?”he asked as he stepped inside, shutting the door gently behind him.
“You!”she repeated, her voice rising.But she faltered.She didn’t have a specific accusation—just a tidal wave of anger, frustration, and bone-deep exhaustion.
He chuckled softly, his understanding tone only stoking her fury further.
“Didn’t sleep again last night?”he asked, his voice smooth, husky, and too damn soothing for her liking.
“No, I didn’t sleep,” she snapped.“And you know exactly why!”
He moved closer, shrugging off his charcoal jacket and draping it over an overstuffed white chair adorned with fluffy faux-fur pillows.The stark contrast between his sharp, tailored jacket and her soft, cozy decor shouldn’t have been so appealing, but it was.Too appealing.
Sorcia ripped her gaze away from the chair and glared up at Marcus as he closed the gap between them.“I didn’t sleep,” she repeated, her voice wavering with emotion, “because every time I closed my eyes,youwere there!”
