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

"Thank you," I said to the stallion.

He nodded then moved up next to me so I could get on.

"Hope that magic works twice, buddy, or this isgoing to be awkward."

He nickered.

I wrapped my hands in his flaming mane and then I wason his back. I got the idea that I was going to have to learn to mount on myown, but he was willing to help me right now. The horsemen were on their mountsand Ezra stood with us.

I waved to Sabian, who stood in the doorway, andMayhem came and sat next to my mount. Moments later that gut churningdisorientation from before returned and then we were crowded on the ledgeoutside the gateway. Ezra went through first and then the nightstallionfollowed. I'd expected to have to dismount, but we both fit easily on thisside.

The cold barrier wrapped around me, clinging to me,and releasing me on the other side, except now I was on my own two feet.

"Where?"

"He will meet you outside where there is moreroom."

"Okay, great, that's totally not freaking me out."At least Mayhem was here.

Ezra wrapped me in a hug, and I stayed there while thehorsemen came through the gateway. Their mounts were also absent on this side,and there really wouldn't have been space for everyone, so I guessed it wasjust as well.

We retraced our steps from the other night. It wasafternoon, and while there were a few demon possessed bouncers around that Icould sense but not yet see, there was no music, no patrons, and no Lucifer.

"I'll fill him in once I see you home safely,"Ezra said.

"Okay. Should we summon Sabian now?"

Ezra glanced at Death who nodded. We still stood inthe private section and it was relatively safe.

Ezra shut his eyes, gathered his power, and pulled.With an audible pop, Sabian appeared before us and I threw my arms around him.

He returned the hug, seemingly surprised we'd followedthrough. Yeah, that demon had a few issues we needed to talk out. I wanted himto know a hundred percent that he was mine and he was needed.

We didn't speak, just headed out through the main partof the club and back outside.

The sunlight when we went out was quite bright aftermy time in hell and I noticed Ezra wearing sunglasses again. The heat andhumidity slammed into me and I grumbled before I remembered the trick Ezra hadtaught me. Wrapping his power around me and thinking about being cooler anddrier worked like a charm. That was neat, even if I was using demon magic to doit.

Out on the curb, five motorcycles waited. Four sportbikes, and a shiny, black Harley. I eyed them. Surely not.

Yeah, of course the horsemen headed toward the sportbikes. War swung her leg over the red one.

"I will meet you in Santa Fe as soon as I'm able,"Ezra said.

"You will ride with me," Azrael replied. "Mymount, unlike the others, is used to passengers."

Ezra didn't visibly react for a moment, but I felt thethreads of panic that wound through him at the idea of riding with Death.

"Okay," he replied tightly.

"What about Sabian?"

"Ask your nightstallion very nicely to carry yourincubus. He will likely assent. If not, I will return for Sabian shortly,"Death instructed.

"So, I'm talking to a motorcycle now?" Iwalked over to it, running my hands over the handlebars and then swinging myleg over the seat. It rumbled to life without any prompting from me.

"Do you know how to ride?"

"Yeah, mate, misspent youth and all." It hadsimply been years. I shut my eyes and sent my request for him to carry Sabianto Santa Fe. The creature agreed. Reluctantly. I held out my hand to Sabian andthe incubus came to me and swung his leg over the back of my bike.

"They'll revert to their horse forms here in amoment, once we're able to get out of sight," War said.

I watched as Ezra got on behind Death and had tostifle a laugh. He gave me a dirty look and I suspected if he were the type, hewould have flipped me off.

Their bikes rumbled to life, and we pulled away fromthe curb. The nightstallion was still driving, maybe not trusting me yet. Thatwas okay. We'd have time to work it out. Hopefully.

Magic washed over us, and then we were on horsesagain. Sabian squeaked and wrapped his arms around me tightly.

They launched themselves into the air, Mayhem at myside, and the world shifted around us.

This time, I enjoyed the ride. Not being chased by a homicidaldemon prince really helped the experience, not to mention having my incubuswrapped around me. We raced through the clouds for a short time, beforedropping down below them. Descending rapidly, the spirit horses touched downoutside my house.

Sabian quickly dismounted, as did Ezra.

I took a few extra moments, giving the stallion somemore pats in thanks for carrying Sabian for me.

He shook his head as if to say not to expect it allthe time.

"Thanks, buddy." I gave him one more solidpat before I slid to the ground.

The spirit horses shifted to their motorcycle shapes,however that worked, and I headed toward the house. I had a moment to glancearound the driveway and realize we had company before Mal threw open the door,grabbed me into a hug, and pulled me inside.

I inhaled his incense and old books smell, meltinginto his arms.

"Thank the gods you're okay," he said.

"Yeah, it's been an adventure," I answered.

Mal released me and Aaron repeated the bone crushinghug routine.

"I'm glad to see you, too, Aaron," I said.

I disentangled myself and turned toward our guests.Azrael had come in with Ezra and Sabian but the other three stood on thedoorstep.

"Uh, Mal, could you let them in?" I wonderedwhat he'd done to the wards to keep the other three horsemen out.

Mal stared at Death, skin gone pale with shock, eyeswide.

"Mal, it's okay." I went over and put myhand on his arm. "This is Azrael. That's Cáit , Jin, and Sefu. I don'tknow what you did to the wards to keep them out, but you can let them in."

The vampire took a deep breath, unfreezing himself. "Ofcourse. My apologies."

It seemed the vampire had a pretty good