The Price of Possession by Dakota Brown (universal ebook reader txt) 📗

finally glanced at Mal, but he didn't lookalarmed. Maybe he was the only vampire in the area. Come to think of it, I didn'tknow how their society worked at all. I made a mental note to ask him later.

"Okay, get this cleaned up and get out of here.We need to get this place buttoned down and I need to get some real sleep."Lord and Lady, I hoped Mal was planning on staying the night. I wanted somemore of him and Sabian once I'd had a chance to get some rest.

It didn't take long before my team had cleaned upafter their dinner and headed out for the night. I wandered around, inspectingtheir efforts.

"I don't think this place has been this clean inyears. They really did a good job."

Mal had pulled all the blinds closed, even the ones onthe door, and locked us in. I checked the back door just in case it was still openwhile I was in the kitchen. We were as safe from observation as we could be.

"Can I use this table?" Mal asked once Irejoined them in the dining area.

"Yeah."

He pulled a few things out of his backpack, includinga smudge stick for each of us, a few canisters of salt, and some chalk.

"First a cleansing ritual," Mal declared.

"Yeah, let's sage this place," Sabian agreedenthusiastically.

I wasn't sure if I should laugh at Sabian or sigh. Malignored the incubus as much as anyone could ignore someone who basically exudedsex.

Obediently, I lit my smudge stick with a lighter andwatched it burn until I could put out the flames and let it smolder instead.

Sabian and Mal did the same, then we moved through theshop, spreading the sage smoke through the air.

Mal spoke a few words once we were done and the airinstantly felt lighter, as if it were fresh and new.

"This next part is going to take a while, since Ineed to draw the wards. I'll go as quickly as I can, but I think it will stilltake me about an hour." Mal picked up the package of chalk from the table.

"Chalk permanent enough?" I asked.

"Once I'm done, it will be."

"Great."

"Have a seat."

Sabian and I grabbed chairs and kicked back to watch.Well, I relaxed. Sabian leaned forward and watched intently.

Mal pulled a chair over to the wall and stood on itwhile he drew an intricate symbol. It took nearly ten minutes for him to get itthe way he wanted it, and I couldn't imagine he'd be done in an hour at thatspeed. It turned out I underestimated the vampire's speed. Once he had theshape worked out, he moved considerably faster, though as he had guessed, itstill took him about an hour to cover the shop with the wards.

After he finished drawing, he spilled salt acrossevery exterior doorway and window.

Well, the place had been clean. I didn't say anything.

"You may consider having me add to the warding onyour home," Mal suggested when he joined us at the table.

"Yeah, you're welcome to." I stared at thechalk marks all over my restaurant and hoped he had a plan for that, as well. Itrusted him, though. As surprising as that was to me.

Mal nodded. "Okay, now we need to activate these.I don't really need your help for this, however, since you own the place, andSabian will be here frequently, I thought it best to include your energies in thewarding. Sit around the table. Let me light a few candles, and then join hands."

Once Mal was ready, I slid one of my hands into hiscool one, and my other into Sabian's warm hand. I could feel the energy Malpulled from himself and the environment, and my innate energies responded tohis, melding into the shape he formed his energy into.

"Chris," Mal said softly. "Did you knowyour eyes go almost black like a vampire's when you use magic?"

"Uh, it's been mentioned, though not with thatcomparison." I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

"You do realize you have some innate magicalability, yes?" He caressed the back of my hand with his thumb.

I stared at the table. "It's the running theoryon why I'm so naturally good at exorcisms," I choked out.

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles."Nothing wrong with having abilities," he tried to reassure me. "Maybeyou'll let me help you explore them later."

"Maybe," I whispered. I nearly sighed in reliefwhen he turned his attention away from me and back to energy he'd gathered. Icouldn't quite see it, but I could feel it crackling between us. Sometimes Icould see energy, and it was possible if I opened myself more, I'd be able tosee this. Still, I imagined that Mal shaped it into a form that looked like thesigil he'd chalked on my walls. He chanted softly under his breath, and I couldfeel the moment when he released the spell, or warding, or whatever it wasactually called. The energy plowed through us and slammed into the walls.

I gasped as there was an audible pop and suddenly Ifelt like we were completely cut off from the outside world. Holy crap.

"Black abyss," Sabian swore. "That'spowerful. You weren't joking, Mal. A demon strong enough to break through thosewards isn't likely to ever bother with a place like this."

A small, pleased smile curled his lips before heshrugged. "I've had quite a lot of practice, but thank you."

He released our hands and I stood. A wave ofexhaustion crashed over me.

"Fuck," I muttered, grabbing at the chair soI didn't fall.

"We should be done here," Mal said. "Let'sget back to your place. Mind if I stay the night?"

"I was hoping you would," I admitted beforelooking around. The wards had turned invisible and the salt lines had vanished,but I could feel the energy thrumming through the air. Neat trick.

Mal gathered his things and put them back in hisbackpack while Sabian offered me his arm. I was tired enough that I took it,letting him support me as we left the pizza shop. I locked up behind us and weall climbed into my tank of a car. The trip back to my place was something of ablur, and I was