Chapter 14 #4
"He'd take control of me for days at a time," I admitted, shame burning in my gut despite knowing intellectually that it wasn't my fault.
"I'd 'wake up' with full memory of what I'd done.
" I shuddered. "My mind felt every bit as dirty as he made my body feel.
It didn't matter that my brain screamed NO while I did the things he said; I had no control. "
"I'll kill him," Rhodes said suddenly, his first words in minutes. My eyes snapped to his face, somewhat shocked. I thought he hated me, but his eyes were hard, focused. "Slowly. Painfully. I don't care if he's human or demon or fucking god."
"He's none of those things," I said. "Not entirely.
He was born a mage, but he's been experimenting on himself, injecting demon blood, consuming magic, trying to become something new.
Something more powerful. His affinity used to only work by his blood entering a victim's body.
Now? He's figured out how to turn his blood into a gas. "
"Fucking hell," Felix cursed.
"Is that why Asrael kept him around? Because he was useful?" Misha asked, his tactical mind already connecting dots.
I nodded. "Asrael discovered what he was doing to me, and instead of stopping it, he studied it—used it.
He eventually kicked Slade out of Montague Industries when he became too dangerous, too unpredictable.
He knew he had to choose either Slade or me, but as always, he wanted everything. So, they stayed in contact."
"And then he got you in that cab?" Felix asked, trying to work it all out. "But that's too convenient. You're talking to Asrael moments prior, and then magically Scorpio rolls up?"
"You're right, brother," Talon said grimly. "That was a set-up."
Ashland began pacing as I continued.
"Remember fight night? Scorpio talked to me there.
I had no idea he was Slade, but he'd been watching me.
Waiting for the perfect moment to get me alone.
" My hands started to shake at the memory.
"He drugged me, took me to his compound.
Had this whole sick setup waiting. An immaculately decorated bedroom, clothes in my size.
Everything precisely as he remembered it.
A woman who looked like me led me to believe she was going to help me escape, but it was a trap. "
Jasper's energy wrapped around me like a protective shield. "He only fucks women who look like Palmer."
"Fucking sick bastard!" Talon roared, pacing back and forth. I could see the energy building up inside of him, and I knew he was seconds from detonating. So when he grabbed a wooden chair and launched it against the wall, I didn't jump. I wasn't surprised.
"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 we all like 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 is everything."
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?"
"Because she can't," Rhodes said, his voice raw. "None of us can run anymore."
Jasper's energy pulsed with hope. "Rhodes..."
"Don't." Rhodes held up a hand, stopping Jasper mid-step. "Just... don't. Not yet."
The pain in his voice made my heart crack. I knew that kind of hurt—the kind that reshapes your whole world when it finally breaks open.
"We need to talk about Scorpio," I said, desperate to give Rhodes space. "He's not done. Not by a long shot."
"Let him come," Talon growled, his eyes flashing. "I've got some new toys I've been dying to test out."
"It's not that simple," I argued. "He's different now. Stronger. The things he can do with his mind control..."
"You're stronger now too, darling." Jasper pulled me against his chest and kissed me, igniting fire along our shared bond.
Someone wolf-whistled, and by someone, I meant Talon.
We ignored him, and the kiss deepened as all of Jasper’s feelings for me came through the bond.
His admiration and pride, his fear for my safety, his love.
A flicker of an image materialized in my mind and then vaporized all within the blink of an eye.
I broke the kiss and blinked up at my demon.
"What was that?"
"It's called a whistle, Bun-Bun."
"Not that, Talon! Jasper, what was that room?" I pressed, curiously.
Energy crackled as all five demons and I gave Jasper our undivided attention. "Asrael has a secret room that's full of trapped souls. That kiss just now unlocked another memory."
Felix's brow pinched together. "Why would he have a room full of trapped souls?"
"I think it has something to do with all of the atrocities he's committed." Jasper started moving back and forth, though the confined area limited his restless wandering. "He couldn't very well have souls of innocents running around telling spirit mages and witches what he was up to..."
"Wait," I said, holding up my hand. "What exactly do you mean by trapped souls?"
Jasper's form flickered slightly, a tell I'd learned meant he was agitated. "Asrael had this... collection. Spirits he'd literally trapped within glass bottles, preventing them from moving on or lingering. I remember seeing him do it once, but I didn't understand what I was watching at the time."
My stomach churned. "Like a spirit prison?"
"Yeah, exactly like that. Wait," Jasper's voice hardened. "All of that power… do you think he figured out how to use it to enhance his own power?"
"Fucking hell," Felix breathed, running a hand through his hair. "That's why he was so strong."
I felt Misha shift behind me, radiating protective energy. "Where is this room?"
"Below the castle," Jasper replied. "There's a hidden entrance in his private chambers."
Talon bounced on his toes, that familiar manic energy returning. "Well, what the fuck are we waiting for? Let's go ghost hunting!"
I grinned wildly at Talon, matching his energy. “Let’s fuckin’ gooo!”
Ashland's ice-blue eyes narrowed, and it was like someone had dropped a bucket of ice water on my excitement. Still, I braced myself for his hot and cold whiplash. His guard was still up. "And we're just supposed to trust you with this?"
"Yes," Jasper snapped before I could respond. "You are. Because she's my mate, and because she's probably the only one who can actually help these spirits move on."
The tension in the room thickened as Ashland and Jasper stared each other down. Finally, Ashland's shoulders dropped slightly. "Fine. But we do this carefully."
"Always so cautious, Ace," Felix teased, but there was an edge to his voice that suggested he understood the gravity of the situation.
I pulled my knife from its sheath, checking the edge. "We should go now, while the castle's still in chaos from the battle. Less chance of running into any loyal guards."
"Smart girl," Misha rumbled approvingly, making my skin tingle.
"I'll lead the way," Jasper said, his form already moving toward the door. "I remember exactly where it is now." Jasper suddenly started flickering like a lightbulb about to blow out. “Fuck, my energy level is low.”
“Just go full ghost, I’ll still be able to see and hear you. Save your energy.”
Jasper nodded and took my advice. I saw the slightly worried looks on Talon and Felix’s faces, like they were scared he wasn’t coming back. “Don’t worry, he’s just preserving energy. He’s not going anywhere.”
“He’d better not be going anywhere! We just got our brother back, and we haven’t even had a proper reunion yet,” Talon said, trying to maintain his positive attitude, but he was scared. How could any of them not be?
So, I did something I normally wouldn’t do. Like, ever.
I hugged him. A full-on, squeeze the anxieties and fear right out of someone kind of hug. Talon loved hugs, so he melted right into it and squeezed me back.
“Wow, I feel so much better!” Talon abruptly released me when I gasped for air. “Sorry, Bun-Bun, got a little excited there, forgot my own strength.”
“Are you two done now? We have things to do,” Rhodes grumbled.
Talon narrowed his eyes in Rhodes’ direction but then controlled himself and spun toward the door without a word.
The others followed him to the door, but the mood was strange.
I guess that made sense though, the amount of information that had just been dropped would’ve been enough to shellshock anyone.
As we filed out of the cabin, I felt a hand grab my wrist. Rhodes. His eyes were still red-rimmed, but something else was there now—determination, maybe even hope.
"If you're lying about any of this," he whispered, his grip tight but not painful, "if this is some elaborate trick..."
"It's not," I promised, meeting his gaze steadily. "I know you have no reason to trust me, but I swear on my parents' graves—everything about Jasper, about why I left, it's all true."
He studied me for a long moment, his eyes wild with sparks of hope that shadows of distrust tried hard to extinguish. His expression softened slightly, and he released my wrist. "We'll see."
It wasn't forgiveness, it wasn't even acceptance, really. But it was a start. And right now, with a room full of trapped souls waiting to be freed, and Scorpio still out there plotting who knows what, a start was all I could hope for.
"Coming, Bun-bun?" Talon called from outside, his voice carrying that dangerous edge of excitement that usually meant something was about to explode.
I squared my shoulders and headed for the door. "Yeah, I'm coming. Try not to blow anything up before I get there."
His answering laugh echoed through the night, wild and promising. "No promises!"