Page 38 of Sorcia's Heart
Sorcia pinched the bridge of her nose.“It’s not lonely.It’s just… reacting.Crystals respond to energy.”
“Uh-huh,” Marcus said, stepping closer to the orb and giving it a skeptical glance.“Seems like it’s responding to more than energy.Maybe it senses us?”
Sorcia let out an exasperated groan.“It’s a crystal orb, not a fanfiction writer.”
He grinned, leaning in conspiratorially.“You sure about that?It’s looking pretty invested in our unresolved sexual tension.”
Sorcia glared at him, though the corner of her mouth twitched.“If you’re done anthropomorphizing my crystal, maybe we can focus on finding Bethany?”
Marcus held up his hands in mock surrender, though his grin didn’t fade.“Fine.But if it starts playing Barry White, I’m leaving.”
Sorcia rolled her eyes.The thing had the audacity to give one last hum, almost like a sigh of disappointment, before settling into a soft, steady glow.She swore it was pouting.
“Stop playing matchmaker!”she hissed to the crystal orb, glowering at it.
A moment later, it was startlingly clear—absolutely no color at all.The humming had stopped entirely.The obnoxious orb was doing the magical equivalent of a toddler’s wide-eyed “Not me!”act after being caught with cookie crumbs on their face.
She arched an eyebrow and looked back up at Marcus, who was shaking his head, his lips twitching with amusement.“Your crystal is very… demonstrative,” he remarked dryly.
Sorcia turned her attention back to the orb, her brow furrowed.“What does your crystal do?”she asked, genuinely curious.
Marcus’s smug smile grew as he tilted his head slightly.“Flashes colors, of course.It’s always in tune with my…” He paused, his gaze snapping back to Sorcia’s orb.It glowed soft pink now, with little bursts of shimmering stars floating in its center, as if it couldn’t help but betray the mood swirling in the room.
When Marcus’s eyes returned to hers, his expression was downright insufferable.“Your orb is reflecting your mood,” he teased, his voice low.“Apparently, it’s a fan of our… teamwork.”
Sorcia’s cheeks warmed, but she refused to let him see how flustered she felt.“Doesn’t mean anything,” she countered, lifting her chin.
His grin turned wolfish, and he didn’t answer, which only made her cheeks burn hotter.
Quickly, Marcus stepped back, giving her space, and extended a hand to help her off the table.His touch lingered just a moment too long.“What’s our plan?”he asked, his tone back to business but with a flicker of amusement still in his eyes.
Sorcia glanced at her phone, grounding herself in the task at hand.“Let’s head out to the forest,” she suggested.“Jace and his pack won’t start their search until tonight, but we can scout the area during the day and get a better sense of what’s out there.”
“Sounds like a perfect plan,” he replied, his voice steady and calm.
As they left, Sorcia shot one last glare at the orb.It shimmered innocently, but she swore it was laughing at her.
Chapter 21
Sorciahesitated,herbodysagging slightly against Marcus.The relentless search had drained her in every possible way—mentally, physically, and emotionally.Her legs ached from the endless walking and flying, her eyes were gritty from lack of sleep, and her head throbbed from overuse of magic.Yet, the thought of stopping, even for a moment, filled her with guilt.Bethany was out there, possibly suffering, possibly...She couldn’t finish the thought.
“We need to take a break,” Marcus repeated, his tone softer now, but still firm as he caught her arm to keep her from moving deeper into the forest.
“No, we need to find–” she started, but he interrupted her sharply.
“Sorcia!”His voice cut through her stubborn resolve, and she stopped, blinking at him in surprise.“You’ve been searching for forty-eight hours straight without sleep.”He pulled her closer, his hands settling firmly on her shoulders.“We’re going to miss something because of our exhaustion.How would you feel if we flew right over the spot where Bethany is being held and didn’t notice anything strange because we were too tired to see it?”
She opened her mouth to argue, but the words faltered.He waited, his piercing blue eyes steady on hers, his concern etched into every line of his face.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Marcus said gently, lowering his voice as he cupped her face in his hands.“You think this is your fault.That if you’d done something differently, Bethany wouldn’t have been taken.But that’s not true.”His thumb brushed softly against her cheek, and she leaned into the warmth, her eyes closing briefly as if to block out the weight of her own guilt.
Her eyes opened again, glistening with unshed tears, and Marcus’s chest tightened.“Hey,” he murmured, leaning closer.“We’re going to find her.Your coven is out there, working tirelessly, retracing every step.They’ve found evidence of Hazelton in the warehouses, but not the elf.While they keep searching in the city and suburbs, we’ll stay here in the forest and do our part.”
He kissed her lightly, a brief, reassuring press of his lips to hers, full of promise rather than passion.“But first,” he continued, his voice soft but insistent, “you need to rest.Just four hours.We’ll eat, I’ll make us a shelter, and then we’ll start again, sharper and stronger.”
Sorcia sighed deeply, the weight of her exhaustion finally winning out over her stubbornness.She glanced around at the dense forest, the towering trees, and the tangled undergrowth.The sounds of the forest were all around them—rustling leaves, the occasional bird call, the faint scurrying of unseen creatures.Even the earthy scent of damp soil and moss seemed to emphasize her need to pause and reset.
“You’re right,” she admitted quietly, her voice laced with reluctant defeat.
