"Yes," Beth murmured.

"That's it," Lorena said. "Surrender to it."

Lorena guided Beth for another ten minutes, with the same infinite patience Marcus had shown her when touching her. Beth felt she was in expert hands and incapable of resisting them. When at last they were done with the visualization, her skin was hot and flushed.

"Wow," she said. She opened her eyes, to see Lorena staring at her.

"Beth," Lorena said. "We have another meeting in two weeks. Everyone in the club will be there. I'd like you and Marcus to come, too, and to be initiated. I think you're ready. I know Marcus is."

Beth looked at Lorena...