Chapter 9
Sorcia remained seated at the table, her posture stiff and her jaw tight, painfully aware of Marcus beside her. To his credit, he’d stayed silent during the meeting, and she grudgingly appreciated it. He hadn’t tried to take over, like so many other male witches would have.
“So…!” he started, breaking the silence with an infuriatingly casual tone.
“Yes,” Sorcia cut in quickly, trying to steer the conversation. “I understand that your presence here is very…” She floundered for the right word, her annoyance bubbling just below the surface. “Helpful,” she finally finished, the word tasting bitter on her tongue.
Marcus chuckled, his blue eyes glinting with amusement. “Helpful,” he repeated, as if tasting the word himself. “That’s an interesting choice, considering you still think I cheated on you two years ago.”
Before she could retort, the crystal ball at the center of the table sparked sharply, sending tiny arcs of shimmering energy through the air. The sudden flash connected both her and Marcus, a faint crackle of magic humming as it danced between them.
Sorcia flinched, her eyes darting to the orb. “What the—”
“Seems like your crystal ball has an opinion,” Marcus said, leaning back in his chair with an easy smirk.
She glared at the orb as if it had personally betrayed her. The shimmering sparks faded, leaving the ball glowing a soft pink.
“Anyway,” she said, turning back to Marcus, her tone brisk. “Thank you for your help, but I think you should consider working with one of the other witches. Bethany or Zelda could use your support in their searches.”
The crystal ball flared angrily, its glow shifting to a fiery red as it sent off sharp, erratic pulses of light.
Marcus raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward the orb. “Well, that’s subtle.”
Sorcia crossed her arms and glared at the crystal. “Stop it.”
The orb pulsed defiantly, a quick staccato of pink and red flashes that felt more like a tantrum than a response.
Marcus laughed, low and rich. “I think your crystal ball is playing matchmaker, Sorcia.”
“That’s ridiculous,” she snapped, though her cheeks betrayed her with a faint blush.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Is it? It’s pretty clear that your crystal has excellent taste in matchmaking. Maybe it even knows the truth—something you’re still unwilling to admit.”
“What truth?” she asked, her voice sharper than intended.
Marcus’s gaze softened, his smirk fading into something more serious. “That I didn’t betray you. That I never would. And maybe,” he added, his tone gentle but insistent, “that you’re still holding onto more than just anger.”
Before she could respond, the crystal ball flared again, the glow brightening as if to underscore his words.
Sorcia shoved back from the table and stood, refusing to acknowledge either the orb’s antics or the truth in Marcus’s statement. “We’re wasting time,” she said briskly, heading toward the door.
Marcus followed, his steps measured and unhurried. “Sure,” he said, his voice laced with humor. “Let’s call it that.”
She tore her gaze away, desperate for something else to focus on, and her eyes landed on the crystal ball. It had shifted to a soft red. A warm, passionate red.
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… us once 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.