Page 69 of Demons In My Head: Exposing the Exiled
"Feel better, brother?" Jasper asked, raising a brow at his triplet, who was bent over, his hands resting on his knees as he breathed heavily.
Talon waved a hand, nonverbally saying to get on with it.
Jasper cleared his throat. "Well, that's when I found her. The lookalike got her out of that room and then alerted Scorpio and the guards. I helped her, and our bond deepened while escaping."
"Did he control you again?" Ashland's voice was deadly quiet.
"He threatened to." My chin lifted with defiance. "But I've learned a few tricks since then. Ways to play him, things I figured out along the way to appease his narcissistic side. The only control he still had over me was the ghosts of the past."
"Our little rabbit has claws," Talon said, a hint of pride breaking through his fury.
"She has more than that," Jasper said, squeezing my hand. "She fucking fought him when he showed up at Haunt after the escape… and won."
Five pairs of demonic eyes widened simultaneously, and for the first time since we'd entered the cabin, I saw something like respect in Rhodes' gaze.
"You defended Haunt?" Ashland asked, something in his tone that was a mix of disbelief and admiration.
"Of course I did! Scorpio's developed some new... abilities," I continued, forcing myself to meet their eyes. "Mind control. Way beyond what he could do before. He can control multiple people at once now, use them like extensions of himself."
"Like puppets," Jasper added quietly. "He had a whole mini army of them. Palmer and I had already completed our mate bond, and we were able to link our power together to reverse his control. I don't know what his next move will be, but he's not the kind of person who loses gracefully."
"No, he's not," I agreed. "He'll be planning something. We will see him again, you can count on it."
"So while we were thinking you'd betrayed us, you were actually being held captive by that psychopath?" Felix's voice broke slightly.
"Not the whole time," I admitted. "Besides, you guys were here. You've had your own things to focus on. Everything just got so… fucked up."
Silence descended as everyone processed everything that had just been revealed. What were they thinking? Finally, right before I was about to break the silence myself, Ashland spoke.
"So," he drawled, looking at Jasper. "You're telling us that you, as a demon-ghost, mate-bonded with a witch? Do you know how insane you sound?"
Jasper laughed, his wide smile causing the corners of his eyes to crinkle. It was one of my favorite expressions of his. Genuine amusement. "Oh yeah, I'm fully aware. Then, when we heard about Saige and Bram, it didn't seem quite so crazy."
"But Saige is half demon," Misha added, scratching his beard thoughtfully.
"And she's half bunny, what the fuck does it matter?! She's made for this, she's made for us," Talon grinned wickedly as his eyes slid down my body.
"Made for us?" Ashland challenged. "You can't just decide that."
"Pretty sure Jasper already did," Talon shot back with a grin. "Or did you forget about that mate bond he mentioned?"
Heat crept up my neck. "That's different. Jasper and I—"
"Are mates," Misha cut in, his voice sharp as steel as he stared down Ashland. "Which makes her Exiled. Whether wealllike it or not."
The way he said it made my magic bristle under my skin. "Don't strain yourself trying to accept me, Ash. I'm not asking for anything."
"Bullshit," Felix said softly. "You're asking for everything. It iseverything."
My eyes snapped to his, but there wasn't anger there anymore. Just that deep, endless understanding that made my chest ache, but they needed to understand something right fucking now.
"Let me be clear on something,” I started, my voice clear and direct. “Jasper wanted this with me. As far as anyone else? I’m not asking for you to bond with me; I will be fine with or without it. I won’t beg any man, or demon for that matter, to want me. So no, Felix, I’m not asking for everything. I’m letting you know it’s clearly a possibility, but regardless of what I want, I will not chase any of you. Either be with me, or don’t, but don’t any of you dare think for a second that you’re obligated. I didn’t plan for this, but here we are."
Misha moved closer. "Here we are indeed, kukola." His fingers brushed my cheek. "With our dead brother returned and our runaway mate finally caught."
"I'm not caught," I protested weakly, even as I leaned into his touch.
A dark chuckle rumbled from his chest. "No? Then why aren't you running?"
