Page 88 of Demons In My Head: Exposing the Exiled

"You know," I said, picking a piece of beet off my chest, "I came here for food for Palmer."

Faris sat up, milk dripping from his curls, orange cheese still rimming his nostrils. "Palmer? The spirit witch?" He wiped his face with what had once been a clean towel. "The one who stabbed Asrael in the back?"

"That's my girl," I said proudly, then caught myself. "Well,ourgirl. Long story."

"I'd like to meet her," Faris said, standing up and offering me a hand. "Anyone capable of getting the jump on that bastard is worth knowing."

I took his hand and pulled myself up. "She's fucking incredible. And she'll be fucking hungry when she wakes up." I surveyed the wreckage around us. "Think there's anything edible left?"

Faris grinned, revealing those sharp fangs again. "There's always the bread I stashed."

"You sneaky bastard."

The surrounding mess was totally worth it—this was almost as fun as, well, that time Palmer let me almost knot her. I would be doing that very soon.Focus, Talon.

"You know what?" Faris wiped debris from his chest. "I like you. You're crazier than they said."

"Aw, people talk about me? I'm touched." I pressed a hand to my chest, accidentally smooshing a banana I'd forgotten I was holding. "Shit."

Faris laughed. "The stories don't do you justice. But seriously—" He gestured at the mess we'd made. "We should probably clean this up before—oh fuck, that cheese powder is still burning like a fire."

"What in Jupiter's name is going on in here?!" Ashland's voice boomed behind me, and I spun around, revealing Faris at the exact perfect time for him to sneeze out an orange cloud of mac and cheese dust directly in Ashland's face.

I'd never seen Ashland's face turn quite that shade of orange before. It was magnificent. Like a sunset made of processed cheese. Faris and I looked at each other with huge eyes. Fuck.

"Before you get mad—" I started, but Ash held up a hand, cheese dust falling from his face like demonic dandruff.

"Too late." His ice blue eyes locked onto Faris.

Faris gave an elaborate bow, somehow making it look both mocking and sincere. "I'm Faris, blood mage, mated to Saige, and apparently now a food fight champion." He straightened up and gestured at the chaos around us. "Though your boy here gave me a run for my money."

"He stole my bread!" I protested, then remembered why I'd come here in the first place. I’d been gone too long. "Shit! Is Palmer awake?!"

Ashland's expression softened slightly at Palmer's name, though it was hard to tell under all the cheese dust. "That's why I followed you. She's starting to stir."

My heart did a little flip. "Really? Is she okay? Did she say anything? Does she need—"

"Breathe," Faris interrupted, already gathering up the abandoned bread loaves and some fruit that had survived our battle. "Here. Take these to your witch."

"Fine," I sighed, accepting the food. "But this isn't over, blood bitch. I demand a rematch."

"Wouldn't have it any other way. Next time, I think we should go full out. My crew versus yours." He winked at me, then turned to Ash. "Sorry about the cheese thing. Heat of the moment, you know how it is."

Ashland looked like he very much did not know how it was. Faris wiggled his fingers at both of us, and then he disappeared. Before either of us could speak, Felix's voice crashed into my head.

'Get back here NOW. Palmer's awake and she's... different.'

My stomach dropped.'Different how?'

'Just hurry.'

"Ash, we gotta go. She's awake!" We were back in the cabin in half a second, and Palmer was sitting up in bed, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. But that wasn't what made me drop all the bread.

Holy demon balls. Palmer was floating. Like, literally hovering a few inches above the bed, her hair moving in some nonexistent wind. But that wasn't even the craziest part.

Jasper wassolid.

Not just visible but actually physically there, holding Palmer's hand while she levitated like some kind of sexy witch balloon. His form was still slightly translucent, but I could see actual color in his cheeks. Auburn hair, just like I remembered.