The Price of Exorcism by Dakota Brown (sneezy the snowman read aloud .txt) 📗

"So, what's all this cost me."

"Nothing."

"Wait, what? I thought there was always a cost."

"You're mine. The rules that govern myinteractions with humans no longer apply to you. Technically, the price was thebinding."

I didn't even know what to say to that, so I justwilted in his arms until he was supporting quite a bit of my weight.

"Who attacked us?"

"I don't know. Probably a minion of whoever isinvolved in this power play. That is about the only way he could have taken meout that easily. He had a prepared spell, and it was also demon magic. Giving anon-demon a spell to use on me is highly against our rules, not that I thinkthe others care."

"Cool, so demons don't play by their own rules.Shocking. Wait, didn't you essentially just do the same thing."

Ezra chuckled. "Yes. And no, demons don't care aboutfollowing the rules unless they're forced to do so."

"Do you know who we're dealing with?"

The prince took a breath before he nodded. "Yes,partially. We're dealing with your old friend Lott, but I don't think he's theonly one involved."

"Course we are," I muttered, too drained tofeel anything but exhausted at the knowledge. "Lott has Sabian."

"Yes."

"Fuck." I wanted to be annoyed with Ezra fornot telling me this sooner, but I just didn't have the energy. It really didn'tchange anything except that I was a little more worried about our ability toget him back than I had been.

"Is he okay?"

"Sabian is likely very unhappy, but probablyphysically unharmed."

"You sure?"

"As sure as I can be, Chris. I have some sense ofall of the demons under my control if I focus on them. So far Sabian seemsunharmed. That is all I know."

I curled my fingers into Ezra's shirt, tears leakingfrom my eyes.

"You really do love him, don't you," Ezrasaid quietly, sounding surprised.

"I...Uh, yeah, I guess I do."

Ezra caressed my back, trying to soothe away some ofmy pain. "Let's get some rest. We can talk in the morning. We'll get himback. Once Sabian is safe, the ones responsible will pay."

"Okay. Are we safe?"

He kissed my forehead. "Yes, and Mayhem willguard us."

"Please tell me the first meeting isn't at eightin the morning?" I groaned, not pointing out that Ezra had thought we weresafe before. Right now, I was willing to go off of the surety in his voice. Hethought we were safe, and Mayhem was on guard. That was going to have to begood enough.

"No."

"Thank God."

Ezra chuckled. "I guarantee you she has nothingto do with this."

He jerked me back into my body and I was aware justlong enough to notice I was curled up in Ezra's arms, before I passed the fuckout.

Chapter 9

Price

I woke up the next morning staring at the same ceilingI'd been looking at when I passed out the night before, curled up in Ezra'sarms. The demon's leg was a heavy weight across my thighs, and his arm waswrapped around my stomach, as if he'd basically passed out after using all hisenergy.

Mayhem was pressed up against the other side of me,eyes open, staring intently at the door. On guard. What a good boy.

Sandwiched between the dog and the demon, I was warm.It was just a little strange to wake up on a hotel room floor, no matter hownice the hotel.

Ezra's breathing changed and he sucked in a breath,startling awake. I turned my head to meet his gaze, losing myself in him for amoment.

He hesitantly brushed some hair off my forehead beforerunning his fingers over the shorter hair on the side of my head. My breathcaught when he traced his fingers around my ear and down my neck.

"Are you okay?" he asked after a moment.

"I think so. You?"

He nodded, though his expression was strained.

"You look like you're worried I'm going to stabyou or something."

The snark broke through some of his pensive mood andbrought a smile to his lips. He traced his fingers back up my neck.

"Maybe a little," Ezra admitted.

I grinned at him. "I'm not usually a first thingin the morning stabber. Gotta work up to that."

Ezra's smile broadened into a grin. "I have neverwoken up with someone in my arms before, outside of when I possessed you. Whichis not the same," he confessed. "The danger of ending up with someonewho is into murdering their partners is exceptionally high on the demonic plane."

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh." I glanced aroundmyself again before looking back at Ezra, smirking slightly. "I'm sorryyour first time had to be on a hotel room floor."

That startled a laugh out of him. "You may beconverting me to the ways of cuddling, my dear exorcist. As ironic as that is."

"I'm not into morning exorcisms, either. Gottahave some caffeine for that shit." I winked and Ezra finally relaxed.

"Probably just as well."

Shifting slightly, I reached over and ran my fingersthrough his soft curls. His eyes widened but he didn't object, and I playedwith his hair until I traced my way to the base of one of his horns. They werestill hidden by glamor, but I could feel them, as I'd expected.

He had stilled his gentle caresses along my neck whenI'd threaded my fingers through his hair, resting his hand on my shoulder. Hisfingers tightened when I gently ran my fingers up the soft ridges of his horns.Ezra sucked in a breath and went still, shutting his eyes.

"Okay?"

He hesitated before answering. "Yes."

"You're sure?"

"It's not a place I'm used to being touched. They'revery sensitive when I'm aroused."

"I was under the impression you're not used tobeing touched much at all," I replied gently.

"No. Not really. Go ahead," he answeredquietly.

I was surprised at the vulnerability Ezra displayed.Resuming my gentle caress along the smooth ridges, I watched Ezra's reactions.

He was barely breathing, not at all relaxed, but notobjecting.

I rolled over and pressed my lips to his. He openedhis eyes, curled his arm around me and pulled me tight, devouring me with hiskiss. Clearly, he was a lot more comfortable with kissing. I resumed gently strokinghis horns, and this time he was more relaxed, kissing me while I touched.

He rumbled in pleasure, giving in to the experience, trustingme again. I