Page 56 of Demons In My Head: Exposing the Exiled
"Later," she cut him off, already spinning away to the next threat.
Together, they fought, their movements syncing in a dance as old as time. Rhodes literally had no option. This moment was life and death. He knew what kind of fighter she was, and he respected her for it. Rhodes' strength and Palmer's speed complemented each other perfectly. They were a whirlwind of death, a force to be reckoned with, and I watched, my heart swelling with pride and something else. Something deeper, something more profound.
I was in love with her, and I'd loved him for so long; seeing them like this was incredible. With his strength, her courage, both of their unyielding spirits, how fucking stubborn were each of them not to see they were meant to be? I wanted nothing more than to join them, but I couldn't.
I stayed invisible, a silent guardian. I watched her back, my eyes scanning the battlefield for threats, my form ready to intervene if needed. But she didn't need me. She was a warrior, a queen, and she was glorious.
They fought with a synchronicity that spoke of years of training, of battles won and lost, and a bond that ran deeper than blood. And Palmer, she fit among them like she was always meant to be there—like she was the missing piece of their puzzle, the final note in their symphony.
And me? I was the echo, the whisper in the wind, the unseen force that stood beside them, fought with them, and loved them. I was a ghost, a demon, a spirit bound to this world by unfinished business and unkept promises. But I was also a brother, a lover, a friend. And I would stand with them and fight with them until the very end.
Because this was my family, my love, my existence. I would not let anyone take that from me again. Not without a fight. Not without a war. Not without a battle that would shake the very foundations of hell itself.
Palmer went to take off after a group of soldiers, and Rhodes grabbed her wrist, pulling her back against him. “Don’t think you’re going to disappear,” he growled.
“I traveled all the way here, I’m not going anywhere,” she said, casting a pointed look at the guards who were getting away, thanks to Rhodes’ interruption. “But I can help. Let me go.”
I could tell he was torn. He didn’t trust her, but he couldn’t argue with the fact that she was in Besmet. Rhodes was arrogant and stubborn, but at his core, he was a curious creature. His curiosity to know more would always override any rash or emotionally driven decisions.
“Fine,” he said, releasing her wrist. “Iwillfind you afterward.”
Palmer lifted her chin with a level of defiance that rivaled Rhodes’. “Not if I find you first, monocle.” And with that, sheleft him standing there in total confusion. He didn’t get long to process any of it though, having to jump to action moments later.
Well, good, that was a start to rebuilding their relationship.
As the battle raged on, I caught sight of my other brothers. Talon, his eyes wild with battle lust, swinging a baseball bat like a madman. Felix, movements precise and calculated, his every strike a work of art. Misha, his massive form a bastion of strength, his fists crushing all who dared to stand against him. And Ashland—wait.
Where the hell is Ashland?
Chapter thirteen
Ashland
The metallic tang of blood was thick on my tongue as I surveyed the battlefield sprawling out before me. Bodies were scattered like broken dolls, some still twitching as they fought the inevitable, others eerily still. Chaos reigned supreme as clashing steel, screams of pain, and roars of battle filled the air. The skies above Besmet were no longer an empty void—they were alive with dragons, their massive wings casting shadows over the ground as they dove and wheeled overhead.
Fuck, it had been a long time since I'd seen dragons in action.
It had been a long time since I'd seenhim.
My focus shifted to the platform where Prince Bram and Asrael were facing off, along with a third demon. My father.
His back was to me, so he didn't know I was there, watching. His hair was shorter, and he still had the whole salt-and-pepper combo working for him. He wasn't much older than me, having only been in his early twenties when he "found me" in the woods. My stomach twisted at the thought. I turned my head and spat. Fucking murderer.
"I think it's you who's the fool, Az!" Khol boomed, taunting his old pal.
Asrael didn't appreciate his tone or his words, evident as he swung the tightly gripped executioner's axe at Khol. "Guards! Kill them all! Anyone who doesn't stand with me is against me, and they'll meet their death today!"
Khol easily dodged the blow and continued talking shit. "You know, Asrael, I expected better from you. All those years we spent fighting, taking over different towns, raiding and plundering. I figured you would have learned from the mistakes you made back then, but it seems you're just as stupid as ever." Khol pointed directly at Asrael. "You should know by now that you can't force the people to bend to your will and still expect loyalty in exchange!"
Even though he was speaking to Asrael, I felt his words as though they were barbs, right to my heart. I should have been entirely focused on the battle, on Asrael's forces charging toward us in waves, on keeping my brothers alive, but something inside me felt... off. Broken open. Raw. I wasn't used to feeling this much, and it was fucking with my head. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe with my mask on, and I ripped it off, greedily sucking down lungfuls of air. I ran my hand through my blond hair, which was sticking out in a very Talon-fashion.
Just breathe.
I glanced back to the platform just as Khol spun and my ice blue eyes collided with his. Time seemed to crawl as his brow pinched, recognition dawning.
"Ace?" he breathed in awe a moment before a guard slammed into his side, knocking him to the ground.
I can't fucking do this. Not now.
