Chapter 5 #2
Her brow furrowed at his reference to unaffiliated witches, those who often caused trouble but weren’t a significant threat. “Why not?”
“Because I was too busy thinking about making love with you,” he said bluntly, his voice low but deliberate.
Her steps faltered, her breath catching in her throat. “You… we… it wasn’t making love,” she stammered, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper as her eyes darted nervously around the bustling street. “Last night was just sex!”
Marcus stopped walking, turning to face her with a slow, knowing grin. “Oh, it was more than that, Sorcia,” he said softly, the glint in his blue eyes equal parts amusement and intensity.
She pulled back, her cheeks burning as she self-consciously adjusted the colorful scarf around her neck. Her green eyes darted anxiously toward the passing pedestrians, scanning for any sign of judgment or disapproval.
“And it won’t happen again,” she declared, her voice firm, though it wavered just slightly at the end. The words hung between them like a fragile barrier, her attempt to reestablish the boundaries she’d let slip.
“Right,” Marcus replied with a low chuckle, his tone laced with infuriating confidence. “Whatever you say.”
The warmth in the air seemed to amplify her embarrassment, but the hint of a smile on his face softened the edge of her frustration.
“What time are you and your council shopping today?” he asked casually, the playful glint in his eyes making her want to both laugh and scream.
Sorcia pulled out her phone when she felt it buzz, glancing at the notification, then back up at Marcus. “I have a meeting with some clients to show them a house this morning. Then I’m meeting with my council over lunch.”
“Good,” Marcus said smoothly. “How many houses are we showing them?”
She stopped abruptly on the sidewalk, her green eyes narrowing as she turned to glare at him.
Ignoring the pedestrians forced to maneuver around them, she crossed her arms. “You’re not going with me, Marcus.
I know you have a large business to run, so…
” She waved her fingers vaguely in the direction of Chicago.
“Go do it. I don’t need your help with my business. ”
Marcus’s expression didn’t change, his face a picture of calm confidence.
He met her glare with that infuriating, enigmatic gaze, his blue eyes locked on hers.
“I’m coming with you,” he said simply. “I don’t think you should be alone.
If what I suspect is happening, you’re going to need our combined powers to fight it. ”
Her annoyance deepened. “What do you think is happening?” she demanded, her tone edged with wariness.
He glanced around the bustling street before taking her arm gently. “Let’s talk about it when we get to your office. Not out here in the open.”
They continued walking, her irritation simmering beneath the surface.
It took them five more minutes to get to her office building and another ten to actually reach her private office.
Employees stopped her constantly—twenty realtors, plus a support staff of over forty—each with a question, a form to sign, or simply a warm hello.
“Marcus! It’s so good to see you again!” one staff member exclaimed, grinning broadly.
Another chimed in, “When are you coming back to help us with the Halloween open house decorations again? No one else could string cobwebs across the ceiling like you!”
Sorcia rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t entirely stifle the faint smirk tugging at her lips. Marcus, as always, smiled calmly, enduring the interruptions without complaint. He stood to the side with effortless grace, looking every bit the picture of patience.
Sorcia couldn’t help relishing the reversal.
She’d spent countless hours in his office waiting while his staff bombarded him with questions, requests, and last-minute demands.
His business empire dwarfed hers, spanning industries from farming to grocery chains to pharmaceuticals. But for once, he was on her turf.
Finally, they reached her office. Sorcia exhaled sharply, closing the door behind them and savoring the brief reprieve. Too many of her employees remembered when she and Marcus had been together. None dared ask about him directly, but she’d felt their curiosity—sharp, buzzing, and relentless.
And beneath it all, there had been something else. A presence. Silent. Angry. Dangerous.
“You felt it too,” Marcus said, his voice low but certain, breaking into her thoughts.
She hesitated before nodding. “Yes.”
He stepped closer, his expression softening with concern. “This is why I’m coming with you. Whoever—whatever—is watching isn’t going to stop. Not unless we stop it first.”
Sorcia sighed, leaning back against her desk. “Fine,” she relented. “But no taking over the conversation with my clients. This is my business.”
A small smile curved his lips. “When have I ever taken over one of your client meetings?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Do you want a list?”
Marcus chuckled, the sound deep and familiar. “Fine. No taking over.”
She shot him a warning look but couldn’t help the flicker of amusement as memories surfaced. “Do you remember that couple who wanted a secret room behind a bookshelf?”
“And the bookshelf had to swivel silently,” Marcus added, grinning. “I thought you were going to hex them when they kept insisting on seeing test blueprints.”
“Or the guy who demanded a moat around his house,” Sorcia countered, laughing softly.
“With crocodiles,” Marcus added, his eyes twinkling. “For security, of course.”
“And that one house,” she said, shaking her head, “with the closet full of mannequin heads. Just heads. Not a single mannequin body.”
Marcus grimaced. “I still have nightmares about that. Why would someone keep those?”
They both laughed, the tension easing as they shared the absurd memories.
For a moment, it felt like old times—those stolen moments of levity after long days of working together, their laughter echoing as they shared everything from bizarre client demands to the inexplicable oddities lurking in houses.
But the warmth between them was short-lived. The weight of the present pressed down once more, the unspoken threat lingering just out of reach.
“Let’s get through today,” Marcus said finally, his voice steady but tinged with resolve. “And then we’ll deal with whoever—or whatever—is watching you.”
Sorcia nodded, the lightness fading from her expression. “Deal. But remember, this is my business, Marcus. You’re just a guest.”
“For now,” he teased, his smirk returning as he grabbed his coffee.
She rolled her eyes, but deep down, she couldn’t help the flicker of relief at having him by her side—just for today.
Marcus shoved a hand into his pocket, his sharp blue eyes scanning her face.
“I should call some of my people here,” he stated, his tone calm but firm, the weight of his concern was evident in the furrow of his brow.
He opened his mouth, ready to theorize about the lurking presence, but Sorcia interrupted him.
“Wait!” she said, lifting her hands to stop him. Her green eyes locked onto his, her expression shifting from irritation to something more cautious.
Marcus’s jaw tightened, the urge to argue evident in his posture, but he stilled when she shook her head. Her movements were deliberate as she closed her eyes and raised her hands, her fingers swirling in intricate patterns through the air around them.
The shift was immediate. The ambient sounds of the world—distant traffic, the hum of air conditioners, the faint rustle of wind—disappeared, leaving only the sound of their breathing.
It was unnerving, the sudden absence of the unnoticed noise that usually filled the background.
Overhead, shimmering lights wove together, forming a translucent dome that encased them in absolute privacy.
Sorcia opened her eyes, her expression unreadable, and nodded. “Okay, now we can talk.”
Marcus leaned a hip against the corner of her desk, his gaze narrowing as he studied her. “What are you thinking?”
She crossed her arms over herself, her shoulders stiff as she considered his question.
Her lips pressed together briefly, betraying the struggle within her.
“If someone is trying to invade the East Coast territory—starting with Jace and Viktor, both of whom are powerful leaders—then you can’t bring witches from your coven to help me, Marcus. ”
She stepped closer, her anger and jealousy momentarily forgotten as she let herself focus on the seriousness of the situation.
“I appreciate your presence and your offer to help,” she began, her voice steady and devoid of the bitterness she usually felt toward him.
This threat was real, and it was powerful, and there was no room for petty emotions.
“But taking witches away from your coven would only weaken it. That’s not an option. ”
Marcus didn’t move, his gaze steady and unwavering. “I’m not leaving you vulnerable, Sorcia,” he said firmly.
For a moment, his words eased something deep inside her, the ache she had tried so hard to ignore. She hated that his determination to protect her still touched her, hated the way it made her chest tighten.
Shoving that reaction aside, she turned her focus to the situation. She could reject his help—pride demanded it—but her responsibility to her coven overrode everything. Marcus was right: their combined powers, as Priest and Priestess, would give them an undeniable advantage.
She exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing just slightly as she forced herself to admit what she didn’t want to.
“I appreciate that. And yes, I need your help. Now that I’ve felt the presence, even among a group of witches that should have scared away whoever it is, I know this is bigger than I can handle alone. ”