Chapter 31
“We’re going to find him today,” Sorcia announced, stepping out of her shower. She felt a bit of soreness because of the past eight hours. Marcus had made love to her over and over again. They had been too ravenous to sleep. But she wasn’t tired. In fact, just the opposite. She felt rejuvenated!
Sorcia wrapped the towel around herself and turned to Marcus, her cheeks flushed from both the heat of the shower and his unwavering attention.
“If we can agree on a plan that puts Hortense at minimal risk, maybe she could lure him to us. Birchsmire trusts her enough to meet with her, so she’s our best chance to draw him out. ”
Marcus nodded thoughtfully, running a hand through his damp hair. “We’ll need to sell the story convincingly. What’s the angle? What would make Birchsmire show up without hesitation?”
Sorcia tapped her fingers against her towel, her mind racing. “What if Hortense tells him that Bethany escaped but left behind something valuable? Maybe she could say she found an artifact or something tied to my coven’s power. That would pique his interest enough to risk coming out of hiding.”
Marcus’s brows furrowed in consideration. “And we’ll need a location that gives us the advantage. Somewhere isolated enough that we can control the environment but not so suspicious that Birchsmire gets spooked.”
“The abandoned industrial park near the edge of the forest,” Sorcia suggested. “There’s plenty of cover, and it’s far enough from prying human eyes. Plus, the proximity to the forest might make Hortense’s involvement more believable.”
“Good,” Marcus agreed. “We’ll set up a containment spell, something strong enough to hold a demon of his power. I’ll work with some of the witches on creating a multi-layered barrier, just in case he tries to brute-force his way out.”
Sorcia nodded, her mind already forming the logistics. “I’ll get Hortense back here and explain the plan. We’ll need to time everything carefully. If Birchsmire even suspects a trap, he’ll bolt, and we’ll lose our best chance.”
“And you’ll have backup,” Marcus added firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I don’t care how powerful you are, Sorcia. We’re doing this as a team.”
She gave him a small smile, appreciating his unwavering support. “Agreed. We’ll position witches around the site to close in once Birchsmire is inside the perimeter. Viktor’s clan and Jace’s pack can handle security at the outer edges to stop him from escaping if he tries.”
Marcus crossed his arms, his eyes sharp. “And Hortense? She’s going to need a solid escape plan in case Birchsmire gets aggressive.”
“I’ll assign two witches to protect her,” Sorcia replied. “They’ll stay out of sight but close enough to intervene if necessary. Hortense has already proven she can hold her own, but I don’t want to take any risks.”
“Good,” Marcus said. He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. “This is going to work, Sorcia. We’ll take him down and make sure he can’t hurt anyone else.”
She leaned into his touch for a moment, drawing strength from his presence. “Let’s get to work,” she said, her voice filled with determination. “We’ve got a demon to trap.”
Marcus tilted his head slightly, his lips quirking into a teasing smile as he gazed down at her. “Are you avoiding talking about the agreement you gave me last night, by chance?”
Sorcia smirked, swirling her hand over her head. Instantly, a pair of black jeans and a soft red sweater appeared, paired with sleek black leather boots. “Not a chance,” she said confidently.
Marcus didn’t move at first, just stared at her with that maddeningly intense gaze of his.
Then, in one smooth motion, he closed the distance between them, his hands settling possessively on her hips.
“Does that mean you’re no longer afraid of what I make you feel? ” His voice was low, almost a purr.
Sorcia rested her hands on his chest, the solid warmth of him grounding her. Tilting her head back, she met his piercing blue eyes. “What you make me feel terrifies me, Marcus,” she admitted honestly, her voice barely above a whisper.
His jaw tightened, and his hands slid up to cradle her face.
“They were fake, love,” he said firmly, his voice steady.
“They were sent by the woman I’d been with right before I met you She wanted to push you away so she doctored some photographs.
” His thumbs brushed gently along her cheeks.
“I swear to you, I haven’t been with another woman since the moment I met you. ”
Her lips quirked into a faint, teasing smile. “Even over the past two years?” she asked, trying to keep her voice light, though her heart hammered in her chest as she waited for his answer.
“Not even in the past two years,” he replied without hesitation.
“I tried,” he admitted with a self-deprecating chuckle, shaking his head.
“I was so angry that you believed I’d cheat on you.
But every time I looked at another woman, hoping she might help me get you out of my head, it didn’t work.
” His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer.
“It’s always been you. Ever since the first time I met you. ”
Her throat tightened, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. “I’m scared,” she admitted softly, the vulnerability in her voice breaking something in him.
He sighed, pulling her into a protective embrace, his strong arms enveloping her completely.
“Then I’m not doing enough to reassure you, love,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head.
“I love you, Sorcia. I have from the first moment I saw you, and that love has only grown stronger with every day I’ve spent getting to know you. ”
He pulled back slightly, just enough to meet her eyes, his hands moving to cup her face.
“I want to be with you forever, Sorcia. I want to have little baby witches with you and watch you pull your hair out when our daughter starts zapping humans for fun.” His lips curved into a grin.
“I want to see you lose your mind when our son sneaks his first naughty spell into the house without permission.”
She laughed, the sound soft and choked with emotion, but he wasn’t done.
“I want to see your face when they learn their first spells. I want to be there for every scraped knee, every ridiculous argument, every triumph.” He kissed her gently, his lips lingering against hers.
“I want to see you cry tears of pride and joy when our kids grow up, and I want to hold your hand when they walk down the aisle.”
Her tears spilled over, but she didn’t try to hide them. “You want all of that?” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“With you,” he said firmly, his blue eyes blazing with love and conviction. “Only with you, Sorcia. There is no one else who even comes close. I want all of you—your quirks, your fire, your doubts, everything.”
She pulled back with mock indignation. “I am not quirky!”
Marcus chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye. “How many pairs of shoes do you own?”
Sorcia bit her lip, pretending to think. “I don’t have a current count.”
“Exactly.” He slid a hand up her back, his touch both teasing and possessive. “And how many purses?”
She stared at him as if his question was absurd. “My purse needs to match my shoes. Obviously.”
Taking her hand, he pressed a warm kiss to her fingers as he led her out of the loft.
“Sorcia, I’m fully aware that your outfit choices start with your shoes.
Everything else—the dress, the accessories—just falls in line.
Even better,” he added with a sly grin, “I’ve learned to read your mood by the shoes you choose. ”
She arched an eyebrow at him, intrigued. “Oh really?”
He glanced down at the sturdy black leather boots she was wearing, their thick rubber soles and signature yellow stitching unmistakable. “For instance, with those heavy-soled Doc Martens, I’d say you’re in the mood to stomp on something—or someone—today.”
A wicked grin spread across her face as she glanced at her boots. “These would look perfect stomping on Hazelton Birchsmire.”
“I agree,” he laughed, his deep voice filled with warmth. “Come, my bloodthirsty wench. Let’s go catch a demon.” He laced his fingers with hers as they stepped outside, both instinctively attuning themselves to the sphaera for any signs of trouble.