Page 83 of Demons In My Head: Exposing the Exiled
Palmer's display of power kept replaying in my head. The way she stood there, channeling all that energy, directing those spirits like she was conducting a fucking orchestra. And the look in her eyes—determined, fierce. No hesitation.
"Kukolahas some teeth," I muttered to myself, resheathing the blade.
A floorboard creaked behind me, and I tensed, but it was just Talon. I could feel him hovering in the doorway.
"Not now," I growled before he could open his mouth. I just wasn't really in the mood to talk, or listen, for that matter.
"Wasn't gonna say anything," he replied, but stayed put. Annoying bastard.
The silence stretched between us until I couldn't take it anymore. "She could have killed herself pulling that shit."
"But she didn't."
"Not the point."
"Then what is the point, Mishy?"
I turned to face him, jaw clenched. "The point is, she's got more power than she knows what to do with, she's mated to our dead brother's ghost, and we've got Scorpio breathing down our necks. That enough points for you?"
Talon held up his hands in surrender, but I caught the hint of a smile playing at his lips. Asshole always did find my rare outbursts entertaining.
"Go back inside," I told him. "Someone should be watching her."
"There's plenty of people doing just that," he said, but turned to go anyway. "Don't stay out here brooding all night."
I flipped him off without looking, returning my attention to the darkness beyond the porch. The night air carried the scent of pine and something else—something electric, like the aftermath of Palmer's power surge. It reminded me of the smell after lightning strikes.
Maybe that's what she was—lightning in witch form. Beautiful, dangerous, and completely fucking unpredictable.
And now she was part of our fucked-up family, whether any of us were ready for it or not. But oh, I was ready. I'd been ready.
I pulled another blade from my sheath, larger this time, and started practicing forms. It was better than thinking. Better than wondering what other surprises were waiting to blow up in our faces.
At least the repetitive movements would keep my mind off the fact that our dead brother was currently watching over his unconscious mate in the living room.
Fuck my life.
Sheathing my blades, I stepped back inside, my boots silent on the wooden floor. The living room was dimly lit, the fire casting long shadows across Palmer's sleeping form on the couch. Jasper's spirit hovered nearby, a faint blue glow that made my chest ache because he was here now, but would he be able to remain? That was the question nobody was acknowledging.
Ashland sat in an armchair, his ice-blue eyes fixed on our ghostly brother. "So, Scorpio, tell us what you know?" he commanded, voice low but firm.
I moved to lean against the wall, close enough to hear but far enough that the others wouldn't try to drag me into the conversation. My fingers still itched for my blades, but I forced them still.
"Scorpio showed up at Haunt with her best friend, Hunter, and used him as bait. The three of them were close back in their training days at Montague. He's been watching," Jasper replied. "For longer than any of us realized. He's obsessed with her. Disturbingly obsessed. Like she told you, at the compound, there was a woman who looked just like her that he was involved with."
My hand unconsciously moved to one of my daggers. The thought of Scorpio anywhere near Palmer made my demon blood boil. On the couch, she stirred slightly, mumbling something in her sleep.
"We need to move her," I said, pushing off the wall. "This cabin isn't secure enough." I was fairly positive Scorpio had never been in Besmet, but that fucker was psychotic, and the moment you underestimate a psychopath is the moment you lose.
"Agreed," Ashland nodded, clearly having had the same thought process as I had. "But first, she needs to rest. That display with the spirits took a lot out of her."
"I think once she's up, we need to get back to Haunt. At least there we can lock it down and we have advanced surveillance,"Felix thought aloud, scribbling furiously across the only countertop in the cabin.
"Where's her parents?!" I hadn't seen them in a few minutes. We promised they'd be here when she woke up. If they—
"They went out for some air," Jasper stated calmly. "They're not going anywhere, not yet." I released a breath of relief. Thank the gods. "But," he continued, "whether we're here or there, Scorpio will come for her. He needs to be eliminated, as soon as fucking possible."
His form flickered, and he met my eyes. For a moment, I saw the brother I used to know, the one who died too young, too soon. "Jasper," I growled, piercing him with a sincere gaze, "Fuckin' missed you, brother."
