Chapter 10 Palmer
Chapter ten
Palmer
Hunter left me on the floor, at my request, and I listened as his shuffling footsteps approached the bathroom down the hall.
A sniffle slipped out as I fingered a blossoming bruise on my forearm.
My entire body felt exposed and beaten up, and my brain was like a cooked egg. The aftermath of too much emotion.
I spotted Jasper out of the corner of my eye, his body flickering like a candle flame in the breeze.
It seemed that his ability to be visible was stronger when he was near me, and it grew stronger the longer he was nearby.
I honestly had no idea how it worked: it was all new to me.
He wasn’t the typical ghost. His eyes were filled with concern, and I could feel his worry through our bond, like a physical touch against my raw, vulnerable soul.
I hated appearing weak, despised the very idea of anyone seeing me as anything less than the strong witch I'd become.
So, I did what I always did when someone got too close.
I got defensive, brushed it off, and pretended I was perfectly fine.
"What are you doing here, Jasper?" I snapped, my voice sharp enough to cut glass. I wiped at my cheeks, erasing the evidence of my emotional breakdown with Hunter. "I thought you were off doing... ghost stuff."
Jasper didn't flinch at my harsh tone. He simply floated closer, becoming more solid as he approached. "I felt your pain. I couldn't stay away."
His words were gentle, but they grated against my nerves like sandpaper.
I didn't want gentleness; I wanted to fight, to rage against the storm of emotions threatening to consume me.
"I'm fine," I lied, turning away from him to hide the fresh tears welling in my eyes. "You don't need to babysit me."
Jasper's cool hand touched my shoulder, and I shivered at the contact. His touch was a stark contrast to the burning heat of my anger and embarrassment. "Palmer, you don't have to pretend with me. I can feel what you're feeling, remember?"
The thought of anyone having that kind of power over me made my skin crawl, like thousands of icy needles pricking at my flesh.
Knowing what I'm feeling? All the time? It's too intimate, too raw, like being stripped bare and examined under harsh fluorescent lights.
And now here was Jasper, casually penetrating every defense I'd built with nothing more than our supernatural connection.
The violation of it burned in my chest, mixing with the lingering ache of vulnerability that I desperately tried to suppress.
I spun around to face him, my eyes blazing with unshed tears and barely contained fury.
"Then you should know I don't want your pity, Jasper! "
His expression softened, and he reached up to cup my cheek. I tried to pull away, but his touch was like a balm to my wounded soul, and I found myself leaning into it despite my best efforts to resist. "It's not pity, Palmer. It's empathy. I care about you and want to help you through this."
My defenses crumbled like a house of cards in a strong wind.
I let out a shaky breath, and the tears I'd been trying so hard to hold back began to stream down my face.
"I'm just... I'm so tired, Jasper. Tired of fighting, tired of pretending to be strong all the time.
I just want to let go, but I can't. I have to keep going, keep fighting, because if I don't..." I trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
Jasper's thumb brushed away a tear from my cheek, and he leaned in closer, his forehead almost touching mine. "You don't have to keep fighting alone. You have me, and you have The Exiled. We're here for you, no matter what."
I shook my head. I wanted to believe him, to trust in the promise of his words, but a lifetime of betrayal and deception had left me wary of relying on anyone but myself.
"I can't lean on you, Jasper. I can't lean on anyone.
The Exiled hate me; they'll never trust me again. I have to be strong on my own."
He sighed, his breath a calming whisper against my skin. "Strength isn't about standing alone, Palmer. It's about knowing when to ask for help, when to lean on those who care about you. It's about trusting that you don't have to face every battle by yourself."
His words struck a chord deep within me, resonating with a truth I'd been too stubborn to acknowledge.
I took a deep, shuddering breath, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to lean on someone else.
I leaned into Jasper's touch, into the comfort and support he offered, and I let go.
The tears flowed freely now, and I didn't try to stop them. I cried for the pain and the loss, for the betrayal and the heartache. I cried for the girl I used to be and the woman I'd become. And through it all, Jasper held me, his cool embrace a sanctuary from the storm that raged within me.
As my tears began to subside, I looked up into Jasper's eyes, and I saw something I'd never seen before—a reflection of my pain, my vulnerability.
In that moment, I realized that Jasper understood me in a way that no one else ever had, that he saw me not just as the brave, capable witch I presented to the world, but as the broken, vulnerable girl I truly was.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice raw and hoarse from crying. "Thank you for being here, for not giving up on me."
Jasper smiled, his eyes filled with warmth and understanding. "I'll always be here for you. No matter what."
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead.
I knew that the road before us was filled with danger and uncertainty, that there were battles yet to be fought and demons yet to be vanquished.
But for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like I had to face those challenges alone.
I had Jasper by my side, and we would face whatever came our way together.
With newfound determination, I wiped away the last of my tears and squared my shoulders. I was still raw, still vulnerable, but I was no longer afraid to admit it. I was Palmer Vale, spirit witch and spy, and I would not be defeated. Not by Slade, not by Asrael, and not by the demons of my past.
I looked at Jasper, my heart filled with gratitude and resolve. "Okay," I said, my voice steady and strong. "We have plans to make."
The bathroom door opened, and I heard Hunter laughing at something. He came into view and waved his hand, “Sorry, I just remembered that night I used my affinity to create a mini earthquake as a diversion so we could get back to our dorms after curfew.”
I laughed, remembering that night all too well. “We almost didn’t make it! And you completely demolished the fountain in the square.”
“Well, what good is having an affinity like mine if you can’t use it in times like that?”
Jasper listened intently, a faint smile on his lips, as though he was remembering something. "Sounds like you two have quite the history. So Hunter, I take it you’re an earth mage?"
“I am,” my friend nodded. “My brother is a storm mage. I can’t wait til all of this shit settles down. I really want to see what the two of us are capable of when we use our magic together.”
I groaned playfully. “Armageddon, that’s what. Two mages who are capable of creating natural disasters? Sounds totally safe.” Both Hunter and Jasper laughed at that as Hunter took a seat on the couch.
“Sounds like exactly what brothers do,” Jasper recalled fondly. He stared off, no doubt remembering something from his past, but at least this time, it was a good memory.
I eyed my healing work I’d done on Hunt and pointed to some of the places where the skin was already scarring. “I can fix these, the scars, I mean.”
“You can? What can’t you do, Vale?”
I shrugged, not really wanting to go into too much detail. “It’s not a big deal. I figured out that since a scar is dead tissue, I can manipulate it.”
“No shit?” Hunter studied the marks before shaking his head. “Nah, leave them. I think they add flair to my already devastatingly handsome appearance.”
Jasper laughed at that and agreed, while I rolled my eyes. “Devastatingly stupid men, the both of you.”
"Scars or not, it’s impressive work, darling,” Jasper said as he inspected my work for himself. “Your powers have grown significantly."
I shrugged, ignoring the darling, suddenly self-conscious under his intense gaze. "I've had a lot of practice lately."
Hunter looked between Jasper and me, clearly not ignoring the little nickname, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So, what's the deal with you two?"
I felt my cheeks flush and avoided Jasper's gaze. How was I going to explain this? "We—"
"We're mated."
Thanks, Jasper.
My eyes widened as Hunter's jaw dropped. "You're… mated?" He said the words slowly, as though he'd misheard. A huge smile suddenly broke out across his face, and he nodded, like he knew stuff I didn't.
"Why the fuck are you smiling and nodding like that? Are you trying to look smart?" I laughed. "Because to be honest, you just look dumb as hell."
"My brother, Cam. He's mated to Saige, along with five other men. Well, four other mages, the fifth is the demon prince of Besmet."
"Wait, what?" I leaned forward, my eyes wide. "Your brother's… mate… is mated to six people? Including the demon prince?"
A ghostly crash echoed through the room as Jasper literally fell through the coffee table. His form flickered wildly, like a TV with bad reception. "Bram? Are you certain?"
Hunter nodded, looking between us with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah, Cam's one of Saige's mates. Along with Kai, Fischer, Faris, and Sloane.
And yeah, Prince Bram himself." He winced as he shifted his position.
"They're all in Besmet right now, actually.
Saige was having some difficulties with her pregnancy, so they kind of had to get answers. She's half demon, half witch."