15. Jasmine
JASMINE
This is all happening in the wrong order.
Jake was never meant to find out this way.
I didn’t think he’d be able to take on a scout alone, not until he knows what he’s up against. It’s not impossible for other paranormal creatures to murder a demon, but demons’ magic can be hard to combat.
Demons aren’t immortal. What makes them hard to kill is their magic.
It’s dark, erratic, and unpredictable. Even with shifters having a lot of strength and speed, eradicating demons is next to impossible with their cunning strategies.
The vines currently being wielded against us would strike Jake before he could even react.
The wind around us picks up, making the field of flowers look decrepit and on the verge of death. The crows caw like an audience to the fight about to occur.
This field will no longer be seen as a safe place for me, but as the place where I had to make a choice.
I could have run, could have saved myself and the small world I created. I could have fled and skipped town for real this time, hoping no one would find me.
If I did, I would die eventually, but for a brief time, I would be free.
The choice was simple, though.
Fleeing was never a real contender, not when the other choice is choosing a future with Jake.
“Let’s get this over with,” I shout to the demon. I don’t recognize him, but I’m sure my father has gathered a whole new army of scouts since my brother was a part of them.
“This is going to be easy. Lover boy, you might want to close your eyes for this.”
The demon winks, then disappears into a shroud of smoke. I freeze.
Fuck.
“Jasmine, what’s going on? Where did he go?” Jake’s behind me, likely pacing or turning in circles to find him. I can’t turn around. If I do, I risk losing focus, and losing focus could cost us our lives.
Shadows fall in buckets from my hands, coating the surrounding ground.
If a foreign object interacts with them, I’ll know.
My skin burns as I use my power, and it’s equal parts pain and pleasure.
I’m draining my magic too quickly. As my eyes close, I call on the other half of my magic, sensing the birds around us to aid me with their eyes.
Suddenly, I’m seeing the world through them.
I see the ground, shrouded in vines and black shadows. I see Jake, torn between wanting to protect me but not knowing how. Then I see him. The demon. He circles me, waiting for my guard to drop before he swoops in.
It’s too bad they always underestimate me.
I felt guilty after killing the first demon the other day. But now? Now, it feels personal.
I drop my head, keeping my eyes closed as I guide my shadows toward the man. They snake across the ground, inch by inch, until they’re in front of him, ready to strike.
He doesn’t see them coming until it’s too late.
Unfortunately, I also don’t see his vine coming.
At the same time, my shadows wrap around his legs, and his vine strikes my ankles.
I scream, and I think I hear Jake calling my name, but I have to finish this.
“Come on,” I shout. My entire body feels as if it’s engulfed in flames, the magic burning with every passing second. I’m minutes away from losing consciousness, the magic taking too much from me.
My voice breaks as I yell, and then the demon’s bones shatter at last. He, along with the vines, turns to black dust and disappears into the earth. Something touches my shoulder, and I whip around, shadows curling around the foreign object before I understand what’s happening.
“Jasmine…” Jake’s voice breaks through the fog as I meet his gaze. “We’re okay. The demon is gone.”
At first, I don’t move. My body wasn’t ready to expel this much power, and every part is numb. I’ll need more time than normal to rest and refill my well of magic.
Then the exhaustion comes. It’s brutal. Tears fill my eyes immediately, and I crash to the ground. My knees hit the mud, and I stare at my hands. Even with the fear of death gone, I can’t catch a full breath.
“What can I do?” Jake’s right in front of me, waiting.
I shake my head. “Nothing. I need…” I groan and clench my fists. “Fuck. I need to recall my shadows.”
“Oh.”
“Just give me a few minutes,” I say. “Watch the grove.”
And that’s what Jake does. He stands and turns his back to me, but he doesn’t move far. He’s a few feet away, and I know if I ask him for something, he’ll do it.
Eventually, each tendril of shadow is gone. The grove is dead. Every flower was destroyed in the fight. I should take this as a sign to skip town, to forget thinking about a new plan, but I’m afraid I’ve gone too far.
I’ve made my decision. Now, it’s Jake’s turn.
“Jake,” I say.
He slowly turns around and stares down at me.
I let him see the markings on my hand, the tattoo, the destruction I’ve caused.
I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to show someone my true demon form and have them decide for themselves if I’m worth being around.
Other demons are lucky because they don’t have emotions to care about things like this.
My humanity cursed me with emotions, but it’s because of those same emotions that I’m able to bond with Jake.
Jake crouches in front of me, his hands tracing the body of my snake tattoo. Every touch is like liquid fire, but I don’t flinch. If I had any sense, I would fear for my life. Jake is here to hunt demons, after all, and I’m right here for the taking.
He grips my hand, turning and rotating it to look at the black digits as they fade away.
“Say something,” I plead.
“You…” Jake shakes his head. “You’re a demon.”
I bite my lip and nod. “Well, half demon.”
“Half demon?” His hand stills over mine.
“Yeah, uh, there’s a lot to explain if you’d let me.”
Jake doesn’t answer right away, so I add, “But I’d understand if you want nothing to do with me.”
He scoffs. “That’s far from what I want. I’m just… I’m taking it all in. I don’t know. It’s a lot to come to terms with. My mate, a demon, the very thing I’ve been sent here to hunt.”
My eyes widen at the mention of him hunting, even though it’s what I figured he was here for all this time.
Ever since we met and our future became linked, I would tell myself it’s not because of the bond, or the hope of a normal future.
But I’d be lying to myself if I said that I was only close to him because of his job here in Fernhollow and his possible connection to the Council.
I’m getting ready to say something, but my mind blurs as my body tells me it’s time for a nap.
No matter how many times I blink or open my mouth, my eyes still dip closed and my body slumps forward.
It’s enough movement that Jake’s hands grip my elbows to steady me.
“Whoa, there. Take it easy. If it’s anything like shifting, I know you need to rest,” Jake says.
I’m surprised by how well he’s taking this, and he must see it on my face because he tips his head and looks at me with a soft smile.
“I can walk,” I say, or try to. My voice is barely there, exhausted from screaming.
Jake shakes his head. “Let me help.”
He lifts me off the ground, then helps me limp down the path.
I keep my eyes down, unable to make small talk.
Part of me is glad this is all out in the open, and I don’t have to worry about keeping it a secret.
I’ll tell him about my dad later. I’m not ready to dive into my childhood.
There are too many layers, and it’s hard to explain why I won’t go back to the Underworld. Would Jake even understand?
After what feels like a very long twenty minutes, we make it back to my apartment.
Jake leads me up the stairs, still holding my hand but walking behind me to ensure I don’t fall.
I’ve managed not to pass out, which is a plus, but every so often, I’m on the verge of collapsing. I’m lucky to have him near me.
“Can I get you water? Food, maybe? We need to take care of your ankle,” Jake asks after we enter the apartment.
“That’d be great. Our dinner from earlier is in the fridge. And could you grab the salve from the bathroom? That might help the residual ache from using my magic.” I sit on the couch, still unable to make eye contact with Jake.
These demons won’t stop coming for me until I’m dead, yet I don’t know how to stop them. It’s scary.
Jake hands me the glass and salve, sets the food on the coffee table, then plops next to me. There’s enough distance between us that our legs aren’t touching, but I’m glad he’s here and choosing to stay.
He leans back on the couch, crossing one leg over the other. After I apply the salve and mentally thank the witch who made this because it’s working fast, I steal a glance at Jake. The silence is irritating me. I’m surprised when I find his head leaning back on the cushion and his eyes closed.
When he moves a second later, my eyes flit back to the ground.
“Do you have questions?” I ask, daring to look at him again.
Jake opens his eyes and rolls his head to the side for a better look at me. He nods.
“Do you want to ask them?”
“Of course I do.”
I’m at a loss for words, unable to comprehend why he’s being so nice about all of this.
Why isn’t he angry? Why isn’t he storming out of this room?
I would have expected the opposite reaction to finding out I’m a demon.
Yet here he is, choosing to sit in silence.
He’s giving me time to process. He’s giving me space.
Except, why? I grumble. Does he have some endgame I don’t know about? Did he already know I was a demon and was faking all of this?
“Was any of this real?” I ask—no, demand—of him.
He bolts to sit up. “Was any of what real? Our relationship?” Jake repeats, pointing between us.
“Yes. I mean, did you know?”
“Did I know what? That you’re a demon?”
“Yes,” I say. “You’re not angry at me. You’re just—”
“I’m not angry, you’re right. But I’m frustrated. You could have told me.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Your pack, the reason you’re here…”
“That’s…” Jake huffs. “I know. But that doesn’t change what we are to each other. It complicates it.”
He repositions, sitting straighter. He grabs my hand.
“What are you doing?” I ask. He doesn’t answer.
Instead, he brings it to his chest, resting my palm flat over his heart with his hand on top of mine.
Jake says, “Our bond is fated, but how quickly my feelings have developed for you isn’t a requirement. It doesn’t matter that you hid your true identity, or that we’re enemies, my heart beats for you the same.”