Page 71 of Demons In My Head: Exposing the Exiled
"I'll lead the way," Jasper said, his form already moving toward the door. "I remember exactly where it is now." Jasper suddenly started flickering like a lightbulb about to blow out. “Fuck, my energy level is low.”
“Just go full ghost, I’ll still be able to see and hear you. Save your energy.”
Jasper nodded and took my advice. I saw the slightly worried looks on Talon and Felix’s faces, like they were scared he wasn’t coming back. “Don’t worry, he’s just preserving energy. He’s not going anywhere.”
“He’d better not be going anywhere! We just got our brother back, and we haven’t even had a proper reunion yet,” Talon said, trying to maintain his positive attitude, but he was scared. How could any of them not be?
So, I did something I normally wouldn’t do. Like, ever.
I hugged him. A full-on, squeeze the anxieties and fear right out of someone kind of hug. Talon loved hugs, so he melted right into it and squeezed me back.
“Wow, I feel so much better!” Talon abruptly released me when I gasped for air. “Sorry, Bun-Bun, got a little excited there, forgot my own strength.”
“Are you two done now? We have things to do,” Rhodes grumbled.
Talon narrowed his eyes in Rhodes’ direction but then controlled himself and spun toward the door without a word. The others followed him to the door, but the mood was strange. I guess that made sense though, the amount of information that had just been dropped would’ve been enough to shellshock anyone.
As we filed out of the cabin, I felt a hand grab my wrist. Rhodes. His eyes were still red-rimmed, but something else was there now—determination, maybe even hope.
"If you're lying about any of this," he whispered, his grip tight but not painful, "if this is some elaborate trick..."
"It's not," I promised, meeting his gaze steadily. "I know you have no reason to trust me, but I swear on my parents' graves—everything about Jasper, about why I left, it's all true."
He studied me for a long moment, his eyes wild with sparks of hope that shadows of distrust tried hard to extinguish. His expression softened slightly, and he released my wrist. "We'll see."
It wasn't forgiveness, it wasn't even acceptance, really. But it was a start. And right now, with a room full of trapped souls waiting to be freed, and Scorpio still out there plotting who knows what, a start was all I could hope for.
"Coming, Bun-bun?" Talon called from outside, his voice carrying that dangerous edge of excitement that usually meant something was about to explode.
I squared my shoulders and headed for the door. "Yeah, I'm coming. Try not to blow anything up before I get there."
His answering laugh echoed through the night, wild and promising. "No promises!"
Chapter fifteen
Rhodes
My boots hit the ground with mechanical precision as I followed the others toward the castle, but my mind was a fucking tornado.Jasper. Here. Sort of.My chest constricted at the thought, memories threatening to overwhelm me.
"You good?" Felix asked, falling into step beside me.
I grunted noncommittally, keeping my expression neutral even as my demon clawed at my insides. The last thing I needed was any of them getting suspicious. They didn't know—could never know—the real reason Asrael killed Jasper. That it was all my fault. We played a dangerous game, going behind Asrael’s back, carrying on our relationship even though we both knew there would be consequences. The small voice of logic in my brain still tried to convince me that there’s no way I could’ve anticipated it would’ve ended the way it did, but that was what trauma did. It warped and fucked with your memories and thoughts; logic was irrelevant.
Palmer walked ahead with Misha, her fingers trailing through the air beside her in a way that made me wonder if she was touching him.Jasper. My stomach rolled. All this time, he'dbeen here, watching us. Watching me. And now he was mated to this witch who stormed into our lives and turned everything upside down.
"Fuck," I muttered, rubbing my temple where a headache was forming. I needed to focus. I needed to maintain control. We were about to free a bunch of spirits, which sounded stupid as fuck, and I couldn't afford to be distracted by ridiculous thoughts. And yet—
"Stop," I growled under my breath, clenching my fists. "This isn't the time."
But my traitorous mind kept spinning. If Palmer could see and touch him, if they were truly mated, then maybe... No. Hope was dangerous. Hope was what got him killed in the first place. I learned that lesson in blood and tears—
"Rhodes!" Ashland's sharp voice snapped me back. "We need your input on entry points."
Thank fuck. Strategy I could handle. Plans and tactics didn't betray you. Didn't brutally die in front of your very eyes while you were powerless to stop it.
I strode forward, pulling up the castle's layout in my mind. "The western servant's passage is our quickest bet."
Palmer's head snapped toward the empty space beside her, her expression softening into something intimate. Something that made my demon want to roar and destroy everything in sight.
