I knew it was important that I had found this place, but I wasn't sure what to do now that I was here. The lavender sparkles of light called to me, and I reached out my hand and tried to draw them to me.
At first, they resisted. Then after a few moments, they flowed to me, touching my hand, sinking into my flesh faster, until the light flowed into me like a river that had broken through its dam.
I gasped as the rush slammed into me, exhilarating and a little terrifying. It felt so right, as if I were being completed, and I didn't fight it.
After a time that seemed to go on forever, yet was over in an instant, the flood slowed to a trickle, and the clearing was devoid of the lavender sparkles. I brimmed with power, yet it was important somehow that the motes returned to the clearing I stood in.
It didn't take long before a few started flickering around the trees, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
That felt like all I needed to do in the clearing, so I slowly followed my connection with Doc, back to actual consciousness.
He had fallen silent, and when I opened my eyes in the physical world, he simply stared at me, watching quietly.
I didn't speak, looking around at the world with extra perception. I could see the energies the trees around me emitted, feel the aura of energy around Doc that bled into me where we touched. I could see my lavender motes pulsing into him and the connection in the energy he shared with Ed and Allan. Maybe it was from drinking their blood, maybe it was from being part of their pack. I wondered if I would form those sorts of connections with the guys.
The energy within me sat quiet for a moment. Then it surged, demanding to be used.
I gasped, clutching Doc's hands.
His eyes widened slightly, but he remained calm, gripping me back. He spoke again, low and steady. Although I still couldn't understand the words, they resonated deep within me. I had taken a lot of energy into me and now had to release some of it, or I felt like I would burst. Frantically, I looked around for a safe place to direct the power.
The first thing that drew my mind was Doc's beaded bracelets. They practically begged for me to pour energy into them, and I obliged, carefully, until they were full. I still had more, what could I do?
Plants...the plants needed energy.
Shutting my eyes, I breathed out and fed them some of the excess. Finally, I sagged forward, exhausted and also exhilarated. I had done magic, and I still held some of the lavender motes inside me. An amount I could maintain, without feeling like I would explode.
"Sofia?" Doc whispered.
"Yes."
"Are you okay?"
"I think so."
He took one of his hands from mine and brushed some of my short hair out of my face. His hands felt cool on my hot skin, and I slowly became aware that I was drenched in sweat.
The quality of the air had changed. I no longer felt the slight breeze from earlier. It was still, quiet, safe.
I opened my eyes and raised my eyebrows.
"Oh, wow."
"Quite impressive. How do you plan on getting us out?" He grinned, showing me he wasn't concerned. I was a little worried as I studied the wall of pine trees that encircled us. The trunks touched, so that there was no gap between them.
I leaned back, tipping my head to see the trees reached high above us. We could probably climb out, but it wouldn't be easy.
"Doc, I did magic. Like, a lot of magic."
His grin widened. "I saw. Well done. How do you feel?"
"Except for being trapped in a circle of trees, great."
He nodded as if he had expected that. "Do you want to talk about what you experienced?"
"Maybe. Not yet."
He accepted that quietly and climbed to his feet. He tugged on the hand he still held, and I stood, though I wobbled, light-headed. Doc held me against him, and I put my arm around his waist.
"Think you can convince a few of the trees to make a doorway for us, or are we going to have to climb?"
He didn't sound nearly as daunted by that thought as I felt.
"I think I can. I just need a few minutes to rest."
"We have plenty of time. Do you think you can access your magic again, without my help?"
"Maybe. Might take a few times practicing."
He hugged me tighter. "Good job. I wasn't sure if that would work."
"Thank you."
"Of course, Sofia."
Since we had some time to kill, I brought up another subject that I had been wondering about. "Does it really not bother you, seeing me with Ed or Allan?"
"I thought it might, but no. I've had several years to get used to the idea of sharing everything in my life with them. This… seems natural."
"Will you tell me how you all met?"
"When we're together. It's their story as much as it is mine."
"Thanks."
He looked at me, and I reached up, putting one hand behind his neck and tugging his head toward mine.
Mischievous smile on his face, Doc bent and pressed his lips to mine.
I had meant to give Doc a quick kiss and then work on opening a door for us to get out of the trees, but when his lips met mine, the magic in me surged again, wrapping around the two of us, spinning through us, joining us temporarily.
We gasped at the same time as our energies connected. Our hands tightened around each other until we crushed ourselves together, as if we could meld like our energies did.
Doc growled deep in his throat and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and he held me tight as we kissed.
I tangled my hands in his hair, wanting it