The Price of Possession, Dakota Brown [i have read the book a hundred times .TXT] 📗

other people through the years, too, both before I was avampire and after. I'd rather not add you to the list."

"Well, I'd rather you didn't, either. I'm muchmore entertaining alive." I grinned at him. "Mal, it's okay."

He sighed and turned the car off. "I sometimesforget how fragile human life really is. Then I lose someone. Or almost losethem." He glanced at me, before getting out of the car.

My heart sank. I don't know if I could handle it if heleft right now, but I didn't know what to say.

Finally, I settled for a bit of my classic snark.

"Yeah, well I'm damn near indestructible rightnow."

Mal arched an eyebrow and I wanted to run my fingersthrough his hair and kiss away all his worries, but I wasn't sure if he wouldwelcome that right now or not.

"I will be okay, Chris. It's just weighing on meright now." He headed for the house and I followed.

"Okay." My tone must have reflected some ofmy worry because once we were inside the air conditioning, he pulled me intohis arms.

"Don't worry, Chris, you're still my exorcist."

I melted a little.

Ezra, wisely, didn't object as I cuddled into Mal'sembrace.

We stayed that way for a bit, just holding each other,before he released me.

"So, you want to teach a demon prince how toroleplay tonight?" I changed the subject. "And maybe a half angel?"I added when I heard Aaron's car pull into the driveway.

"Yes, that sounds fantastic." He perked upas I had intended. Then he frowned. "Half angel?"

"That's Aaron's big secret. He's a Nephilim."

"Ahh. I wondered if it was something like that. Veryinteresting."

We need to look for the occultist, Ezra reminded me. Though I hadn't forgotten. We stillhad hours.

"I'm going to see if Aaron wants to drive mearound while we follow some of the clues Ezra's demon left us." I wantedsome time to talk with him without the others around. "Maybe Sabian canmake you feel better?" I suggested.

Mal blinked a few times, as if trying to process whatI'd just said.

"Um, not like that, mate." I laughed. "Imean, Sabian would probably be into just about anything, but I meant you couldtalk with him, since you're both immortal badasses?"

Mal finally laughed. "Maybe."

Ezra ran phantom fingers up my back, making me shiver.

Mal tilted his head, dog-like.

I shook mine. "For someone who says he hatestouching so much, he seems to touch me a lot."

I do not.

You just did, mate.

It is the incubus' fault.

Yeah, sure it is. Back to that argument again, were we?

Mal chuckled. "Enjoy, I suppose. I'm sure it'snot everyone who has positive attention from a demon prince."

I sighed. "It's certainly better than a normalpossession."

Mal brushed his fingers along my cheek. "Seriously,may as well enjoy the experience as much as you can."

"I'm getting the idea that you're thinkingsomething along the lines of 'the longer he's around, the safer I am?'"

The vampire tightened his lips for a moment before heshrugged. "I won't lie, the thought has crossed my mind. Though, if hesticks around too long, he's going to have to learn to share."

Ezra shuddered.

I chuckled. At least that sounded more like Mal wasn'tconsidering leaving once this was over. Some of the knots in my shoulders easedand Ezra caressed my back again.

I don't share what is mine.

Good thing I don't belong to you, mate.

He didn't reply, which was probably just as well. Iwas feeling uncomfortable enough with all the emotions I was having to dealwith, that I'd probably start a fight with him, and I didn't need that at themoment. We could fight later.

Sabian and Aaron came in just then.

Sabian's eyes lit up like it was Christmas when he sawme. He hurried forward and, with a bit of flourish, dropped a rock into myhand.

Recognizing a gift when one was so obviously given, Istudied it. He'd found a desert rose for me. From the bits of dirt still on thebarite rose, I thought he might have actually found it, instead of buying itfrom a store.

"Thank you, Sabian. I love it," I repliedwith real gratitude in my voice. It was touching and very cool. It had been along time since anyone had given me a gift. Especially one so heartfelt.

He preened with my approval.

I brought the rock into the living room and put it onthe shelf where a few other treasures sat.

Sabian's grin broadened when I glanced at him. Now ifonly I could kiss him, but Sabian understood and he was probably just asuncomfortable with the idea as Ezra was.

"Okay, Aaron, if you're up for driving me arounda bit, I was hoping to steal you away for a few hours. I want to use some ofthose clues we got to see if we can track the bad guys down."

"Sure, I've got the time."

"Great, thanks. Before we get going, though."I reached out to touch Aaron.

Ezra groaned in annoyance and I giggled internally. He'dcompared it to an electric fence. That, I could handle. Hopefully, he hadn'tbeen understating things.

The zap that arced through me when my skin touched hiswas a bit more than a standard electric fence but not bad.

I chuckled at Ezra's annoyed grumbling. "You feelthat?"

Aaron stared at me, incredulously. "No. Otherthan maybe a bit of pressure."

"Great." I zapped myself again.

If you want me to stop shielding you from the full affects,do it again, Ezra growled.

I chuckled, but took his warning and didn't touchAaron again.

"Are you okay?" Aaron asked.

"No, mate. But getting a rise out of Ezra ismaking my day."

Aaron actually laughed. "I'm glad to be ofservice."

I grabbed Mal for a relatively chaste kiss, blew oneto Sabian because I wasn't willing to push my luck too far, and headed back outinto the heat with Aaron.

∞ ∞∞

"So, what made you drag me alone out into thedesert," Aaron asked.

I laughed. "Well, I can't do naughty things toyou because I might not survive the electric shock, but I did want a chance totalk to you, relatively alone."

He blushed and cleared his throat. "Relatively?"

"Yeah, well, hellhound in the backseat, demonprince riding along for a case of possession, can't be completely alone."

"Point taken. How is that? Being possessed?"

"Well, this ain't typical, let me tell you. Ezrais