Page 24 of Demons In My Head: Exposing the Exiled
"Jasper, what's happening to us? This isn't... normal, is it?"
His eyes softened as he stroked my cheek. "No, it's not normal. It's extraordinary." He took a deep breath before continuing, "What we're experiencing is called knotting. It's something that only happens between a male demon and his mate."
I blinked, trying to process his words. "Mate? I don't understand."
Jasper's voice was gentle as he explained, "It forms an unbreakable bond between a couple. My body wouldn't have been able to do this if it wasn't fate, if you weren't meant to be mine."
As I considered his words, that memory flashed through my mind again—that first night in the basement at Haunt. Talon had been behind me, and I'd felt that same overwhelming fullness. The others had torn him away before anything could happen. Now, it all made sense.
"Jasper," I whispered, my eyes wide with realization, "with Talon... I felt something similar. But the others stopped it."
A slow grin spread across Jasper's face, his eyes twinkling with mischief and something deeper. Hope, perhaps? "I believe we've uncovered a fascinating truth. Not only are you my mate, but it's very likely you're meant for all of us."
My breath caught in my throat as the implications of his words sank in. "All of you? But how is that possible?"
Jasper chuckled softly, the sound sending pleasant vibrations through our joined bodies. "In our world, my love, many things that might seem impossible are possible. Some demons are destined to share a mate, especially those with strong bonds like my brothers and me."
I felt a mix of emotions—shock, disbelief, and underneath it all, a strange sense of rightness, as if puzzle pieces were finally falling into place.
"So, you're saying that I'm not just your mate, but potentially Talon's, Felix's, Misha's, and Ashland's as well?" The words felt surreal as they left my lips.
Jasper nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "It would explain the intensity of the connections you've been forming with all of us. The way we're all drawn to you, protective of you."
"Well, there's no way Rhodes and I are fated mates. He despises me. He wants to kill me." I took a deep breath as Jasper shifted his hips, and his cock moved slightly within me.
He grinned at my statement, and I scowled back at him. "He does not despise you. The stubborn ass has spent so many years blaming himself for my death, trying to bury his grief by building stone walls around my memory. That night you mentioned my name… You caught him completely off guard. He'd suppressed every thought of me for so long that I imagine that simply hearing my name felt like a slap in the face." Jasper paused, considering. "Which he definitely deserves when I see him again, by the way… but no, he doesn't despise you."
I realized that he was probably right. I'd seen their relationship and how it ended. So much more was now making sense regarding The Exiled and why they acted the way they did.
I hummed contentedly as Jasper's lips found mine, his kiss gentle and reassuring. His tenderness contrasted the intensity we'd just shared, and I melted into it, letting his touch soothe my racing thoughts.
I gasped as I felt Jasper's knot begin to recede, the pressure inside me gradually easing. A warmth spread through my core as his release flooded me, marking me as his in the most primal way possible. When his cock finally slipped free, we both let out satisfied sighs.
"Holy shit," I breathed, my body still tingling from the intensity of what we'd just experienced. "Is it always going to be like that?"
Jasper's laugh was low and rich as he pulled me closer, nuzzling into my neck. "Every time will be unique, but the connection will always be there. The bond we've created... It's permanent."
I should have been terrified by that word—permanent. My whole life had been built around avoiding attachments, staying detached, and keeping myself safe. But as I lay there in Jasper's arms, I felt nothing but peace.
"I can feel you thinking," he murmured against my skin. "Care to share?"
"I'm just... processing," I admitted, trailing my fingers along his arm. "A few hours ago, I thought I was losing my mind. Now I'm mated to a ghost-demon who apparently shares me with his brothers and friends. Oh, and I just discovered that my mentor is actually a murderous, demon psychopath." I paused, letting out a slightly hysterical laugh. "Just a typical Tuesday, really."
Jasper's arms tightened around me protectively. "I know it's a lot to take in. But you're not alone anymore, Palmer. You never will be again."
His words sparked something in me. Memories of all those lonely nights at Montague Industries, training under Asrael's watchful eye. How many times had he remembered exactly what he'd done to Jasper while teaching me to be the perfect soldier?
"We're going to make him pay," I whispered fiercely, turning in Jasper's arms to face him. "For everything he did to you, to Rhodes, to all of us."
Jasper's eyes glowed with an ethereal light as he cupped my face. "Yes, we will. But first, we need to tell the others. They deserve to know the truth."
I nodded, already dreading that conversation. "Rhodes isn't going to take this well."
"No," Jasper agreed, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "But he needs to know. They all do. Don't worry about Rhodes," he murmured against my mouth. "I'll set him straight when I see him. And if something like knotting started with Talon..." He trailed off, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "My brothers are just in denial. Deep down, they have to know you're meant to be ours."
The way he said 'ours' sent a shiver down my spine. It should have scared me, the idea of being bound to multiple demons. Instead, it felt right in a way I couldn't explain.
"But what if—" I started to say, but Jasper's body suddenly went rigid. His hand flew to my mouth, silencing me mid-sentence. His eyes, which had been soft with affection moments ago, now blazed with alertness.
