The Price of Exorcism by Dakota Brown (popular romance novels .TXT) 📕

Completely thrown by the shift in topic, it took me amoment to reply.

"Yeah. In a pinch, anyway. Took a few lessonswhen I was younger. Not good at it, but I would be okay on a well-trainedhorse. Why?"

Death had the most enigmatic smile.

The chill was back and though I cursed myself, Istepped closer into Ezra's warmth. He slipped an arm around my waist. I let himfor a moment, needing the familiarity of his touch, but then I remembered I waspissed, and stepped away.

"Azrael, Famine, Plague, nice to see you again.War, a pleasure to meet you. If you will excuse me, I need to explain somethings to my exorcist."

"Your exorcist? I don't think so, and you don'tneed to explain things, mate, you need to fucking grovel, or I will never be youranything."

Ezra's gaze hardened. "I am a demon prince,Price. I don't grovel."

"I've got a dagger you can't even bloody welltouch strapped to my thigh and a whole lot of pissed off rage I'm all sorts ofhappy to direct at sending your demonic ass back to hell," I hissed athim. "And I'm standing awfully close. Think you can dodge in time?" Iwas quite certain I could get to the knife and stab him before he could do muchabout it. I was determined.

Ezra blanched again, before he sighed. "Perhaps Ican learn." He touched the small of my back with just enough pressure to bea suggestion instead of a command, so I let him lead me away. Not fast enoughto avoid overhearing War and Azrael talk, though.

"How on earth did a demon prince get an exorcistinto bed with him, anyway? And why would he risk it?" War spoke quietlyenough that I didn't think she meant for me to hear.

"She must be quite powerful," Azrael replied."He's a little worried about her being pissed at him. Interesting. I don'tthink they're sleeping together. Yet, anyway. He possessed her to save herlife, then left her intact when he departed. She's going to be comfortable withhim because he's familiar, if nothing else. The same goes for Prince Ezra."

Whatever else they were going to say was lost to mymerely human hearing and shortly Ezra had me in the elevator and headed back toour suite. We didn't talk until we were there.

"Chris," Ezra said as I pulled away, headingfor my room.

I held up my hand and he fell silent and didn'tfollow. I needed a few minutes alone. Once I was inside, I slammed the door andslid out of the dress. I wanted clothing I'd chosen instead of the dress I leftpooled on the floor. Mayhem hopped up on the bed and I buried my hands in histhick fur for a moment. He went so far as to lick my cheek.

Darius' words came back to me. "You're getting indeep, Price." He was right, and there was no way out of this one. Demonmarks were permanent as far as I knew. Damn him, anyway. I wasn't sure whichhim I even meant.

Angrily brushing a few tears away, I headed back forthe door and jerked it open. Ezra stood there, hand raised to knock. I stared,trying not to get lost in the endless depths of his eyes. I thought about whatDeath had said. We were familiar with each other because of the possession. Wasthat all this was? Familiarity?

"No," Ezra answered, reading my surfacethoughts as he tended to do. He didn't elaborate further.

"Show me." I wanted to see this mark and Iwas certain if it was visible Mal would have noticed during one of his oftenquite thorough explorations of my body. I shivered at the feelings thosememories evoked. Great, now I was pissed off and aroused. I couldn't even blameSabian this time.

Ezra gestured for me to follow him. I did, frowningwhen he led me into his room and then into the large, attached bathroom.

"Take off your shirt."

This would separate me from my holy water, but after amoment's hesitation that Ezra patiently waited out, I slid out of my jacket. Hetook it and hung it on a nearby hook. My eyes on his, I pulled my shirt over myhead. To Ezra's credit he didn't let his eyes roam. Not that he hadn't alreadyseen and basically touched everything while he'd been in possession of my body,but I still appreciated it.

Ezra grabbed me by the waist, and before I couldobject, lifted me until I was sitting on the counter.

He handed me an ornate hand mirror that I didn't thinkhad come from the hotel, nor did I remember seeing it on the counter as Iwalked into the room. Ezra stepped close and I spread my knees automatically,giving him space to get closer.

I was still pissed, but my ovaries were apparentlylonely because my arousal ramped up a notch and my heartrate picked up to matchit.

Ezra reached around and ran his fingers across my backroughly in a circle. Then I understood about the mirror he had summoned for me.I angled it until I could see my back. A design burned red and orange in sharpcontrast to my otherwise pale skin. Bound by a circle, the sigils rippledacross my skin as if alive.

I shivered despite the heat Ezra gave off.

"What does it mean?"

"Let me explain."

"Ezra, what does…"

He grabbed my jaw and jerked my chin until I wasfocused on his face, now level with mine since I sat on the counter. His eyesnarrowed in anger.

"Price, I put up with your attitude because,abyss help me, I actually like you, but do not forget who I am. I am a demon,and I am a prince," he growled.

I met his glare with my own, but his meaning wasclear. I was close to pushing him too far. I might win in a fight, but heapparently had a significant advantage over me with that mark. I didn't backdown, but he apparently took my silence as acquiescence which was fair. Mayhem,however, growled a warning at Ezra. The demon let go of my chin. I wondered ifMayhem would fight Ezra for me, and truly hoped I never had to find out.

"He's yours. He will fight anyone for you."

I clenched my jaw.

"Possession