Page 72 of Demons In My Head: Exposing the Exiled
"Jasper says there's a faster way," Palmer announced, and my whole body went rigid. "Through the old wine cellar.”
Of course he'd remember that. We'd used that route ourselves, back when... I forced myself to breathe normally, to maintain my mask of indifference.
"And we should trust this information, why?" I asked, my voice coming out harder than intended.
Palmer's eyes narrowed. "Because Jasper would never steer us wrong. He loves—"
My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might shatter. "Fine," I bit out, cutting her off and struggling to maintain my composure. "Lead the way then, since you two seem to have all the answers."
Palmer's eyes softened with something that looked dangerously like pity. I wanted to reach out and shake her until that look disappeared. Until she stopped reminding me of everything I'd lost.
We followed her through the grounds, my demon growing more agitated with each step. The air felt thick with tension, or maybe that was just the weight of unseen eyes on my skin. I kept my gaze locked forward, refusing to acknowledge the empty space beside Palmer that didn't feel empty at all.
"Here," Palmer whispered, stopping at what appeared to be a solid stone wall. "Jasper says there's a lever disguised as—"
"Loose brick, third from the bottom, fifth from the right," I interrupted, annoyed. The words escaped before I could stop them. "I know."
The silence that followed was deafening. I could feel the others' questioning stares, but I ignored them, reaching down to trigger the mechanism. The wall shifted with a grinding noise that set my teeth on edge.
"How did you—" Felix started.
"Move," I growled, shoving past them into the darkness of the tunnel. I needed space. Needed air. Needed to get away from the suffocating presence of the past.
The passage was exactly as I remembered it. Every twist, every turn, every fucking cobweb in the corners where we used to—No. Focus. The mission. That's all that mattered.
"The spirit chamber should be through here," Palmer said, following close behind me. Too close. "I can sense them. They're in pain."
My steps faltered. Pain. Like the pain in his eyes that night when he realized what was happening. When he knew it was too late. When I failed to—
The stone walls around me faded as the memory crashed through my carefully constructed barriers, dragging me back to that night—the night everything ended.
Jasper's body was warm beneath mine, our limbs tangled in silken sheets that smelled of sandalwood and sex. His auburn hair splayed across the pillow like spilled wine, and I couldn't help but trace my fingers through it, marveling at its softness.
"What are you thinking about?" he whispered, those green eyes holding mine with an intensity that still made my heart race even after months of secret meetings.
I lowered my head, pressing my lips against the curve of his neck. "That if I die right now, I'd die happy."
His laugh vibrated against my mouth. "Dramatic as always, Rhodes." But his hands tightened on my back, pulling me closer as if he feared I might actually disappear.
We shouldn't have been there—in my private chambers within the palace, a place where even servants rarely ventured. But we'd grown bolder over time, more reckless with our stolen moments. That night had been different, though. Jasper had seemed desperate, almost frantic in his need for me, as if sensing something I couldn't.
"I love you," I murmured against his skin, words I'd only recently allowed myself to say aloud.
The slow clapping that followed froze my blood.
"Bravo. Truly touching." Asrael's voice sliced through our sanctuary, dripping with mock admiration.
I jerked upright, instinctively positioning myself between Jasper and Asrael, who now leaned against the doorframe, a cruel smile twisting his handsome features.
"You thought you were so smart, didn't you?" Asrael pushed himself off the door, stalking into the room like a predator. "That you could hide this from me? I know everything that happens within this fucking realm!"
My mind raced, calculating escape routes, weapons within reach, anything to protect Jasper. But Asrael's guards were already filing in, blocking the only exit.
"Asrael," Jasper's voice came from behind me, surprisingly steady. "This isn't what it looks like."
I turned to see him wrapping the sheet around his waist, his face a perfect mask of contrition. Gone was the passion, the vulnerability from moments before.
"It's just sex," Jasper continued, not meeting my eyes. "Rhodes doesn't mean anything to me. I was bored, and he was... available."
