The Price of Possession by Dakota Brown (phonics story books txt) 📕

embraced it until she had finallygiven up. I'd taken one day to prove to her that I could speak what sheconsidered normally if I really wanted to, then gone back to doing what I damnwell pleased with the way I spoke.

"Here and there," I finally gave my standardanswer.

"Twenty bucks says here and there is actuallyjust down the way," a very familiar voice said.

I turned and, surprisingly, didn't have to force asmile. Andi hadn't changed a whole lot since I'd seen her last. She still wore pantsI could only define as trousers, suspenders holding them up over a white buttonup shirt with rolled up sleeves, and a vest. Today it was blue. Her short,spiky hair was currently a bright teal. She did have more of a tan to her paleskin than I was used to, but maybe she'd finally taken up gardening orsomething. She'd always wanted a garden in the past.

"May be the case," I allowed and wrapped myold friend in a tight hug.

"You driving?"

I nodded.

"Too bad. You still owe me a dance." Andiwinked.

I widened my eyes in mock horror. "I'd have to bepretty drunk for that, mate." She was right, though. If she really calledme on it, I'd made a stupid claim once and had yet to make good on it.

"Precisely," she grinned in reply. "I'lllet you off the hook this time. What brings you this way?"

The bartender handed me a drink and Andi waved me offwhen I tried to pay for it, so I tipped the guy and let her lead me back to oneof the private tables before I answered.

"Eh, friend needed a night out."

"I haven't seen you for five years, and you bringhim here?" Her eyes darted over to the stage where Sabian was now thedancer's very favorite. Fortunately, he'd used his incubus charm on everyone,and the guys seemed accepting and even happy about the arrangement, too.Hopefully, he was getting what he needed.

"Price?"

I jerked my attention away from the yummy incubus andback to my friend. I tried to remember what she'd said, rewinding the last fewminutes in my mind until I recaptured the thread of our conversation.

"Yeah, long story, that."

She gave me a lazy smile. "I'll bet. Neverthought I'd see the day Chris would have to bring a guy to a strip club to keephim happy." She jabbed at me a little, obviously not content with myevasive answer.

I jerked my attention back to Andi and raised myeyebrows. Leaning back in the booth, I sipped my drink before replying. "I'mnot sleeping with him."

She grinned. "Why not?"

Sighing, I shook my head. "Also a long story."

"Now I'm really intrigued. Another man?"

She was closer than she knew but I denied that, too.

"What is he, some sort of incubus?"

I barely managed to not choke on the whiskey as Inearly inhaled it. "What?" I wheezed.

"Well, he's certainly popular with Sherry, andyou can't keep your eyes off of him. And you know how you and demons are."

I shook my head while I got my breathing undercontrol. "Exorcist...I banish demons. Remember?"

"You're not usually this closed lipped, Chris.What's going on?"

I shrugged. "You know me well enough to know thatif I don't want to talk about it, might be safer you didn't actually know."

Her eyes tightened for a moment before she nodded. "Okay."

Fortunately, she shifted the topic of discussion tomore neutral affairs, the state of her business, the state of mine, shepromised to come by for pizza some time and I declined to promise to come byfor a lap dance, which had her holding her sides with laughter.

"No objection," I protested when she accusedme of being a prude. "Just not my scene."

"Was once," she teased.

"Eh, not quite. Still, got a friend out of theexperience, didn't I?"

She nodded.

We'd met when I'd drunkenly accepted a dare to get alap dance at a club. I actually had enjoyed myself and somehow Andi and I hadended up friends after. Still, I preferred to get my kicks other ways and Andiknew it.

I was about to see if Sabian was ready to leave whenhe came over to the table and scooted into the booth next to me, his expressionpinched.

"Problem?" Andi asked sounding slightlyannoyed.

Sabian shouldn't look worried after all the attentionhe'd gotten from her girl.

"Chris, that guy who just came in." Hepointed and my attention zeroed in immediately on who he meant.

"Mother fucker," I snarled. It was one of thehumans using the demons.

"Friend of yours?" Andi now sounded worried.Wise of her.

"No, not in the least."

"That one's barely subdued," Sabian offeredafter a moment.

"Any idea what kind it is?" I muttered as Iwatched the possessed human stalk up to the stage, eyes glued to Sherry.

"Shit, demons, really, Price?" Andi groaned.

I turned my attention to her and arched an eyebrow.

"Chris, the only thing that gets you more excitedthan watching your not-boyfriend here is the idea of fighting a demon."

"Not so," I objected.

"She's right," Sabian the non-helpful,replied.

"Wait, what?" I turned my attention fully toSabian for a moment.

He grinned suggestively at me. Right, he couldapparently sense more emotions than just lust.

"Wait, he actually is an incubus," Andiexclaimed, staring at Sabian.

The demon's eyes widened slightly before he glanced atme.

I sighed. "Told you, long story. He's relativelyharmless, though, so no worries there."

"Thought you quit." She crossed her arms,though she kept most of her attention on Sabian for the moment.

"Blame Darius."

"To answer your other question, a very unfriendlyand pissed off demon," Sabian continued when Andi didn't reply.

"Andi, call the sheriff. Tell them one of DeputyMcClellan's delinquents showed up at your place. You can tell them I'm herewhich is how you know to ask for her if they question you. We'll keep an eye onhim. If he behaves, we'll leave him alone until the cops show. If he causes aproblem, well, I'll see what I can do about it."

Andi eyed me before nodding and getting up from thetable and heading toward the back.

For now, the human acted content to watch the womanwho had replaced Sabian's dancer. The mood had certainly shifted, though. Unlikebefore with Sabian's presence where everything had been light and friendly, theaudience shifted restlessly, and though the woman was good, it