Page 85 of Demons In My Head: Exposing the Exiled

Talon snickered from his perch on the kitchen counter. "Mishy Bear's getting soft."

My blade embedded itself in the wood next to his thigh before he finished speaking. He didn't flinch, just grinned wider.

"Children," Ashland warned, though there was amusement in his tone. "Can we focus?"

I retrieved my knife, ignoring Talon's continued amusement. "We need to figure out what Scorpio's really after. This isn't just about Palmer."

"Agreed," Jasper added. "He's been working on whatever this is for years. There's more to this than we know."

My eyes drifted back to Palmer. She looked so small curled up on that couch, but I'd seen what she could do. The power she wielded... it was both terrifying and fascinating. No wonder Scorpio wanted it for himself.

"Whatever his endgame is," I said, resheathing my blade, "we need to be ready."

Rhodes began pacing slowly. "Scorpio is obsessed with power, just like Asrael was. With that room of spirits… I think Asrael had them stored there for more than just silencing the ghosts of his horrible crimes." He glanced at Palmer. "Do you think he was trying to figure out how to harness their power in death?" His eyes widened. "Canshedo that?"

We all looked at the absolute powerhouse of a woman who was sound asleep, looking so innocent and fragile. She was anything but.

"Well, she was able to link with me and we broke Scorpio's mind control by reaching his puppet's actual spirits," Jasper explained.

"So she's a threat," Talon growled.

Ashland shook his head. "She wasn't always a threat to his power; that was a new development. So now she's a threat and a weapon. I don't think she or Scorpio even understands the magnitude of her power, but Asrael? He fucking knew."

Felix scoffed. "Thank the gods he's dead. I don't think that's information he would've shared with anyone."

Silence fell over the room as we all descended into our own thoughts. Whatever was coming, we'd face it together. And anyone who tried to hurt our little witch would learn why they called me The Carver.

I moved closer to Palmer, studying her face in the dim light. Such a tiny thing to hold so much power. To have death itself as amate. To have all of us wrapped around her little finger, whether she knew it or not.

"Kukola," I murmured, too quiet for the others to hear. "What other secrets are you hiding?"

Chapter nineteen

Talon

Fuck yes! Everything was coming up Exiled today. I couldn't stop bouncing on my toes as I announced to the others, "I'm heading to the castle to raid the kitchen. Our little witch is gonna need sustenance when she wakes up."

My body was practically vibrating with leftover battle energy. How could it not be? First, we kicked major ass. Then my ghost brother—my fuckingghost brother—showed up after all these centuries. And now Palmer was back, which was a whole gift-wrapped package of awesome tied with a bow made of destiny.

"I'll come—" Misha started, but I cut him off with a finger wag.

"Nope. You stay here and keep dream-stalking our girl. It's working for you." I threw him an exaggerated wink that made him scowl. Gods, I loved when he got all broody. Made me want to climb him like a tree. Later though. Food mission first.

Felix's voice slid into my head.'Try not to destroy anything while you're there.'

'Me? Destroy things? I would never.'I projected back the mental equivalent of batting my eyelashes.

'Right. And I'm the Queen of Besmet.'

I snorted out loud, earning weird looks from the others. Whatever. They were used to the twin-speak by now. Though I guess it was triplet-speak with Jasper back in the mix. Holy shit,Jasper was back.

‘Gods damn right, I’m back,’Jasper piped up in my mind, for the first time since he’d rejoined us.

‘Fuckin’ hell, Jas,’Felix said with surprise.‘I’m not used to hearing anyone but Tal.’

My laughter fired through our connection, and soon we were all laughing because, well, what else were we supposed to do? The whole situation was beyond fucking crazy.

‘Welcome back, brother. We fucking missed you,’I told Jasper, meeting his gaze across the room.