Chapter 22
Sorcia woke up and stretched, looking around. Where were they? This wasn’t the bed in her loft.
Oh, right! Camping. Well, “camping”, she corrected.
Witches didn’t use sleeping bags and sleep in the dirt.
The tent was warm and cozy while she suspected that the air temperature outside was pretty close to freezing.
Spring was fast approaching and the leaves were starting to emerge from their winter slumber.
But it wasn’t the changing leaves or the chilly temperatures that caught and held her attention. It was the warm, muscular arm wrapped around her waist. And the heat emanating from Marcus’ chest and groin, warming her back, that was interesting.
“You’re finally awake,” his groggy voice admonished. His hand slid from her stomach to her breast. Since that was exactly where Sorcia’s mind had gone, she hissed and arched her back, pressing her bottom against his erection. A very impressive erection!
“How long have…?” She couldn’t finish her question because his thumb and forefinger pinched her nipple. Good grief, it was embarrassing that she loved that so much! This man just knew how to touch her, how to make her body react to everything he did to her.
She reached her hand around behind her, and yes, he was right there! Her fingers wrapped around his shaft, squeezing him lightly. Then her thumb rubbed around that edge and…Sorcia smiled when he groaned, his teeth gently teasing her neck.
One hand tangled in her hair, pulling her head back for his kiss while his other hand slid over her stomach, then tangled in the folds between her thighs.
Sorcia’s legs opened, giving him better access and sure enough, those magic fingers of his stroked her, heating up her body to an agonizing point.
Before she could gather her wits and think, Sorcia felt his shaft pressing into her.
There was nothing she could do but press herself back, taking him deeper into her body.
Then he started moving. Back and forth, his body thrust into her heat while his thumb stroked that nub.
When she started to get close, she moved her hand down, covering his thumb, guiding him.
Closer and closer, she gasped for air as her body moved in perfect rhythm with his.
And then…she gasped as his thumb stroked her so perfectly, pressing against the bundle of nerves and then she was soaring, her pleasure so intense, she couldn’t even cry out.
As her body was coming down from that beautiful climax, she felt Marcus find his own orgasm and squeezed her inner muscles, trying to heighten his pleasure.
In appreciation, he bit her neck again, sending a few more tremors of release through her body as they both slowed… coming down together.
Sorcia sighed, feeling his arms wrap around her from behind as he kissed the spot he’d recently bitten.
“That was…!” he started.
“Beautiful!” Sorcia sighed, relaxing against him.
That’s when the sounds of the birds outside of the tent started to filter into her consciousness. And then the world, all of the problems, came rushing back to her. “Bethany!” she gasped.
“Right,” Marcus replied and pulled away. Moments later, he lifted her into his arms and set her down on the wood floor of their “tent”. Holding her hand, he swirled water and soap around both of them. It was warm and refreshing, and fast!
“Clothes,” he ordered, snapping his fingers. “It’s cold this morning.”
Sorcia snapped and found herself in black leather pants, fleece lined black boots, and a black, wool coat with matching cap. The cap came down to cover her ears and she probably looked about as unsexy as possible, but she didn’t care.
Marcus didn’t seem to care either. He leaned forward and kissed her warmly. “I feel good about today,” he told her.
Sorcia wanted to be mad at him. She wanted to rail at him for wasting time having sex when they should have been out searching for Bethany. However, before she could open her mouth to admonish him, a chime sounded. She looked around as Marcus snapped his fingers and the alarm stopped.
“That was our four-hour wake-up call,” Marcus said, snapping his fingers to make the tent and platform vanish seamlessly into the surrounding forest.
“Ready?” he asked, his gaze steady on Sorcia.
She glanced around, scanning the area to make sure they hadn’t left anything behind. Satisfied, she nodded. “I’m ready.”
Just as they were about to take off, movement caught Sorcia’s eye. A massive, furry animal emerged from the shadows, startling her for a moment. She tensed, but then recognition set in—Jace and Annika were loping toward them in their wolf forms.
As they neared, both shifted into their human forms. Jace was entirely unbothered by his nudity, standing confidently. Annika, however, immediately stepped behind him, using his broad frame as cover.
Sorcia, understanding her discomfort, snapped her fingers. A warm robe appeared in her hands. “Maybe this will help?” she offered with a smile.
Annika’s face lit up with gratitude as she reached for the robe. She swung it around her shoulders, securing it before stepping out from behind Jace. She stood at his side, shoulder to bicep, their bond evident in their body language.
Jace opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when he felt the extra fabric of the robe’s “skirt” flutter in front of his groin. Looking down, he raised a dark eyebrow at Annika, silently questioning her choice to use the robe to cover him.
Annika shrugged nonchalantly and gestured toward Sorcia. “She might get jealous!” she said in a playful stage whisper.
Sorcia chuckled, then quickly slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. Marcus, however, didn’t bother holding back. He threw his head back and laughed heartily, the deep sound reverberating through the quiet forest.
Jace sighed dramatically but leaned down to press a kiss to Annika’s head. “We might have found something,” he said, his tone shifting to seriousness as he wrapped an arm around his mate’s shoulders.
Instantly, Sorcia and Marcus were on high alert. “What is it?” Sorcia asked, her voice sharp with urgency.
Jace shook his head, his expression thoughtful. “It might not be anything, but a couple of my wolves smelled a strong metallic scent about an hour ago. It’s something we’ve noticed before, but never this concentrated.”
“Can you take us there?” Marcus asked, his tone clipped and businesslike.
Jace glanced from Marcus to Sorcia, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. His lips curved slightly, the faintest smirk appearing. “Of course. Are you ready?”
Sorcia twisted her hands, her body lifting effortlessly as she hovered a few feet above the ground, her magic primed. “I’m ready,” she said.
Jace chuckled. “Apparently, you are.” He kissed Annika’s forehead once more before turning and shifting seamlessly into his wolf form.
Annika followed a moment later, her smaller but equally agile wolf form brushing against his side.
Jace nudged her neck affectionately, then took off in the direction they’d come from.
Sorcia paused long enough to snap her fingers, making the robe disappear so they wouldn’t leave any trace behind.
Taking to the air just above the treetops, she and Marcus followed Jace and Annika.
Sorcia had trailed Jace on a run before and knew he wasn’t pushing himself to his full speed—at least not yet.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, the smaller wolf leapt up and nipped at Jace’s furry neck.
He growled low at her, but moments later, he picked up the pace.
The two wolves raced through the forest, weaving between trees with effortless agility, leaping over logs, and ducking under low-hanging branches. Their speed was impressive, even mesmerizing, as they navigated the dense woodland with precision.
When they finally stopped, Jace and Annika circled an area, sniffing intently before sitting on their haunches. They both looked up at Sorcia and Marcus, who floated down from the sky and landed softly on the forest floor.
By the time their feet touched the earth, Jace and Annika had shifted back into their human forms. Without hesitation, Sorcia snapped her fingers, conjuring the robe again.
Anikka smiled as she slipped into it, ignoring Jace’s dramatic sigh of exasperation.
She bent down, scooping a handful of dirt and leaves into her hands.
“Smell this,” Annika said, holding out the mixture to Sorcia.
“What am I supposed to be smelling?” Sorcia asked, cupping Annika’s hands and leaning in for a sniff. The earthy scent was tinged with something unfamiliar.
“Nothing natural,” Annika replied grimly.
Sorcia sniffed again, frowning as the smell pricked at her senses. “Wait…is that metal?” she asked, tilting her head and sniffing once more. The faint tang of iron or something similar lingered.
Annika extended her hands toward Marcus. He bent down, inhaling deeply before pulling back with a sharp frown. “You’re right. There’s something metallic in it. It’s faint, but it’s there.”
Looking around, Sorcia noticed the trees nearby.
Their branches drooped unnaturally, and the leaves were dull and brown—lifeless compared to the emerging springtime hues they’d seen elsewhere.
She pointed toward the trees. “These don’t look like the others we’ve passed.
The colors are off, and the branches seem… weaker.”
“What’s going on here?” Marcus murmured, scanning the area.
Jace nodded toward the trees. “We noticed the same thing. My pack runs through here regularly, and the trees don’t usually look like this. We’ve also spotted some odd, new configurations in the area—trees bending and growing in strange patterns.”
He gestured over his shoulder. “We’re going to keep running the perimeter and see what else we can find. But we wanted you to see this first.” He glanced at Annika. “Ready?”
She smiled up at him, and a moment later, they both shifted, taking off into the forest.
Sorcia dispensed with the robe again, then crouched, running her fingers through the dirt. It felt oddly compacted, as if life had been drained from it. “Nothing’s growing here,” she observed, her voice heavy with concern.
Marcus knelt beside her, scooping a handful of the soil. “You’re right. Most of it is packed down…and toxic, maybe?” He snapped his fingers, summoning a glass container. “Let’s get a sample. I have a lab in Chicago that can analyze it. We need to know what we’re dealing with.”
Sorcia carefully transferred a handful of dirt into the container, sealing it with a soft click. “Whatever it is, it’s not natural. It smells…off.” She straightened, brushing her hands off against her leather pants.
Marcus stood and tucked the container into his jacket pocket. “Let’s find out. While you check in with your people, I’ll call my team and let them know to prep for an immediate analysis.”
She nodded and walked a few steps away, giving herself space to focus.
As she reached out through the sphaera, her attention snagged on a tree nearby.
It seemed to be shaking—not in response to wind, but something internal.
Filing that observation away for later, she closed her eyes, connecting with her coven.
When she rejoined Marcus, her expression was tight with frustration. “Zelda’s felt several tremors today, but every time she starts to get close, the anger vanishes.”
Marcus nodded, his jaw tightening. “That’s promising, though. It means we’re zeroing in. He’s close—and running out of places to hide.”
“I agree. I asked Jane and her team to join Zelda and help narrow the search in her area. If they don’t sense the demon’s emotions again by the end of the day, they can return to their original grids,” Sorcia said, her voice tight with determination.
She sighed deeply, rubbing her temples as if trying to ward off the exhaustion creeping in.
“I just want to find Bethany and save her from whatever torment that bastard is putting her through.”
Marcus stepped closer, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders. His presence was steady, grounding. “We’re going to find her,” he promised, his voice firm. He lifted the glass canister filled with the strange dirt. “I have a feeling this is a solid lead.”
Sorcia nodded, but worry still clouded her expression. She glanced at the sky, the sunlight beginning to wane. “It’s still daylight. We’ll need to fly higher so we aren’t spotted by any humans below.”
“Agreed. We’ll need goggles and warmer clothes. It’s cold up there.”
With a snap of their fingers, their outfits transformed. Heavy jackets, gloves, and ski goggles replaced their usual attire. They looked like they were ready to hit the slopes.
“Follow my lead,” Marcus said, taking her hand. A moment later, they blasted into the air, climbing as quickly as possible to avoid being seen by anyone hunting or hiking in the forest below. The rush of the wind was biting, but their gear kept the worst of the chill at bay.
When they reached a high enough altitude, Marcus turned to her, gesturing ahead. “Let’s head straight for Chicago.”
Sorcia followed his lead, keeping an ear out for any planes. Freaking out the passengers of a commercial flight by flying alongside them wasn’t on her agenda. Thankfully, the sky was clear, and they pushed on.
The flight took only thirty minutes at their speed and altitude, the sprawling city of Chicago coming into view beneath them. The skyline gleamed in the late evening light, the lake stretching out like a vast mirror to the east.
“There,” Marcus called, pointing toward a wooded area just beyond the city limits. “We’ll land there. I’ll get us a ride to the lab from the edge of the forest.”
Sorcia nodded, angling her descent toward the spot he indicated. As they approached the ground, she felt a surge of hope. Maybe this dirt sample would give them the edge they needed to find Bethany.