Free Demonically Tempted (Frostbite) by Stacey Kennedy Page B

as possible.”
    “Ask him more about this, Tess,” Kipp said. “If you need protection, we have to know how to get it.”
    “Fine.” I huffed, forcing myself to keep from glaring about Dane’s continuing assumption that I had no sense at all, but kept it close by just in case he deserved it. “What do I need to do?”
    “You need to stop letting them in.”
    I urged him on with a wave of my hand. “Which means, in English?”
    “Since you refuse to listen to me about how to keep them out, and insist on seeing what I’m telling you is for your own good, we’ll need to go about it in a different way until I get you to see sense.”
    He dug into his pocket and held out a gold medallion strung through a black ribbon. “Turn around.” He stepped forward. “I suspected I might need this for you and you’re only lucky I thought ahead.”
    I caught a quick glimpse at the necklace. Engraved into the round medallion was a warrior of some type holding a sword out in front of him. I peeked sideways at Kipp, and he nodded, so I obliged.
    Dane swept my hair over my shoulder, and his fingers skimmed along my neck. My eyes fluttered closed as energy swept through me. Whatever power he held or maybe because of our shared connection, affected me right down to my toes.
    He wrapped the ribbon around my neck, tying it to sit like a choker against my skin. I reached up and ran my fingers over the warm metal. “What is it?”
    “It’s the Archangel Michael.”
    I spun around and laughed. “Some Archangel is going to protect me from spirits who wish me harm?”
    “Who do you think fought off evil before we did?”
    “Okay, first off…” I gulped. “I don’t fight anything evil , and second, are you seriously suggesting that you believe in the Archangels?”
    “It’s not a matter of believe or not believe. I’ve seen the strength of these symbols, this magic—”
    “Whoa!” I raised my hand cutting him off. “Hold up, there. Don’t go spitting out about magic as if it’s normal conversation.”
    He sighed, shaking his head at me. “I have a hard time understanding how this is all so unbelievable to you. You see ghosts. Yet, an angel, a protector, and magic that offers a way to guard us is completely mind-blowing to you.”
    I gave a firm nod. “Yes, it’s completely mind- fucking blowing to me. What kind of magic is this that you’re talking about?”
    “Spells.”
    The more he spoke, the more I realized I didn’t know jack-shit about this man. “How do you know about spells?” At his arched eyebrow, I added, “Okay, so you’ve used spells before and they’ve worked?”
    “Every single time. I’ve been doing this for years, Tess.” He lifted his chin, widened his stance. “Before I joined the F.B.I., I dealt with things you couldn’t even imagine. And that’s exactly why I’m coming down on you. I know things you don’t. I’ve seen things you haven’t.”
    “All right.” Not that I agreed with him, but why push his hot buttons? I reached up, and the necklace was surprisingly warm beneath my touch. Somehow I doubted that would change. “What will this do for me? And don’t tell me Michael the Archangel is going to appear in his ghost form and defend me.”
    Dane scoffed. “That’s highly unlikely.”
    “I’d be lying if that doesn’t make me happy.” I glimpsed at Kipp. He laughed, clearly agreeing with how freakishly weird that’d be. “What will it do then?”
    “It provides you with a barrier of protection. Michael, as he always has, places his shield on your body. No ghost wishing you harm will be able to break through that hold. Meaning, they can’t take anything from you, including your soul.”
    I rubbed the necklace. “I think I like this Michael.” I studied Dane, maybe now more interested in listening to him since he knew stuff I couldn’t even fathom. “Have you researched this or something?”
    “Over the years, yes. I have a very close friend who is a practicing