Page 21 of Feral Possession

Bishop stood with his thick arms folded and his legs braced. The look on his rugged face sent a fight-or-flight jolt through her. He was like a lion standing over his kill. This was so not good. Bishop was never far from…

She leaned, peering around his bulk. Sure enough. There was Steele.

Her benefactor lingered in a darkened corner of the store. While the annoying hood obscured his expression, his fury was a palpable force. His dark presence slid over her flesh, sucking the warmth from her bones.

She shivered and drew a deep breath for courage, cramming her cheeks into a smile. “Hey, guys. How’s it going? Funny running into you here.” For now, she’d ignore the body on the floor.

“You!” boomed an incorporeal voice.

Or not. Crap.

Static sparked along Dove’s glyph and the hair on her neck prickled. She whipped her head around. Next to the counter was a misty version of the dead guy that only Dove could see.

Their eyes met. Dang it. She really shouldn’t have done that. “Me?” she squeaked.

“It’s all your fault.” The spirit snarled, raised the transparent knife he clutched in his hand, and charged.

“Wait, you don’t want to do that.” Every muscle in her body tensed. She raised her palms, cringing. “I can’t watch.”

“Watch what? What’s going on?” Celeste hissed behind her.

The apparition slammed into Dove’s chest, and she stumbled back a step, more out of reflex than necessity. On impact, the spirit disintegrated. Icy tendrils spiraled around her. Clouds of frozen breath puffed from her lips.

“Ugh. So gross.” She shook out her skirt and ran her fingers through her hair, shaking out the ghost cooties. With any luck, the spirit would rematerialize on the other side. At least, she prayed that’s what happened. The thought of destroying a soul, even one belonging to a criminal, made her want to vomit.

Celeste shivered as though chilled, glancing around the room with wide eyes. “By the goddess, did you feel that?”

Dove wrinkled her nose. “Oh yeah. I felt it. Might want to perform that thing we discussed earlier here as well.” If Mr. Stabby survived, there was a slim chance he may stay awhile.

“Absolutely.” Celeste was quick to agree.

“Leave us,” Marcus growled.

Unfortunately, Dove figured that command was intended for Celeste and not her. Too bad.

“Um, sure.” Celeste gestured to the body. “But what about—”

“Close early,” Bishop said. “My team will take care of everything while you’re gone.”

Dove’s cheeks warmed. Not much fazed her, but this situation was about as awkward as it got. Especially when she was trying to make a new friend. “She turned to Celeste. I’m really sorry about all of this. Hopefully, I can return some other day.”

“Certainly. Come back anytime,” Celeste said while her heated gaze remained locked on the surly bodyguard. She shook her head as though coming out of a daze and shoved the boutique bag into Dove’s hand. “Don’t forget this. And. Call me.” She leaned in, whispering, “Seriously, Bishop and Marcus Steele were inside my store. I’ll be the talk of the town. Don’t you dare lose my number.”

The knots in Dove’s shoulders relaxed a bit. “I won’t.”

Celeste wove a path around two displays, cutting the corpse a wide berth. Next to Bishop, she paused and held up a ring of keys. He held out his massive palm, and she dropped them in his hand. “Just make sure you lock up when you’re done. And by the way, my apartment is three blocks north on Fifth Street.” Her voice turned sultry, and she winked. “You can bring me my keys there later.” With that, she flipped the sign on the front door to ‘closed’ and left.

“I’ll be outside,” Bishop said before he too was gone, leaving Dove alone with Marcus. Well, mostly alone. No point in counting the deceased.

Silence stretched between them. Dove squirmed. If he was going to yell at her, she’d rather he get it over with. She stomped on the dead guy’s back, hopped over, and moved to stand in front of her brooding benefactor, the space between them thick with his displeasure.

She gestured to the body. “Friend of yours?”

“One of Zion’s. He was here for you.”

She swallowed. “I kind of figured.” What with the stabby ghost and all.

“He was waiting outside Celeste’s private showroom.” Marcus took a single step, nearly smashing her toes. “Do you have any idea what would have happened to you had he caught you without your guards?”