Gypsy Rising (All The Pretty Monsters Book 5)

by Kristy Cunning

  “He’s saying he heard, and he agrees that you’ve done your part,” she states like she can read his mind.

  “No, he’s thanking me for the bed, and acknowledging you exist, because he’s nice like that,” I tell her as Bobo releases me completely, and I turn to head up the stairs, snatching a tablet from Leiza’s hands as I go.

  Predictably, Shera has the file already filled out and marked urgent under my folder, and I pull it up as I head up to the padded room and push through the door.

  Shera was right. This place needed that padded room built first thing. I’m glad I listened.

  “This is the worst acting I’ve ever seen,” Damien groans, throwing popcorn at the TV that I don’t even bother glancing at.

  “Demetria is a mischievous devil, even when she’s in a good mood. She’s not this robotic bullshit Idun is trying to sell us,” Emit chimes in, gesturing to the woman on TV. “Either Demetria is reading a script, or they’ve got one of the other skin-walkers posing as her.”

  I make my way to Arion first.

  “Hey, love. How’s the hotel coming?” the distracted vampire asks me absently, as I try to hand him the tablet.

  He uses my arm to jerk me onto his lap, kissing the side of my throat.

  I shove at his chest, making a frustrated sound for a number of reasons, but mostly still trying to put a big-ass pin in all the emotions.

  With a lot of effort, I manage to force my way out of Arion’s lap.

  “I have a form you need to read and sign,” I tell him, putting the tablet right in front of his face this time.

  “Another beta thing?” he asks as he takes it.

  “No, an omega thing.”

  He snorts and runs his finger over the line, signing it for me without even glancing over the words. Predictably.

  His eyes move back to the TV, already distracted by whatever is going on. I just turn to Vance. “You too. I suggest reading it first.”

  He simply signs it without even a glance, eyes forward, as Idun laughs at something.

  It’s like I’m not even in the room at all right now.

  I forward the signed form to Shera, before I put down the tablet and calmly walk over to the TV. Then I jerk the fucking cord out of it, causing all of them to sputter sounds of surprise.

  “What the hell just happened?” Vance snaps as he stands.

  “Now that I have your attention,” I state as I circle around the TV and toss the cord into the fire, “I have something really important to say.”

  I’m too tired to even have the energy to be as mad as I probably should be right now.

  “I apologize for interrupting the binge-a-thon so abruptly, but this is the last airing Idun TV will have in this House. As of now, you can watch it in all your own homes,” I state very calmly.

  Damien gives me a lazy grin. “Are you jealous, sweet gypsy? Because it’s very sexy to think of you as jealous,” he says to me like he’s thrilled with the prospect.

  “Jealous,” I echo, nodding just once as it gets a little easier to hold in my emotions with that freaking accusation.

  “I don’t think she’s jealous,” Arion points out, while he eyes me like he’s a little worried.

  Taking a deep, steeling breath, I shake my head. “No, I’m not jealous.”

  Emit stays seated, a finger running over his lips, as he observes me quietly.

  “Surely, it looks that way. Clearly that’s the only reason I’d take issue with you almost literally watching your ex-girlfriend’s every move on a channel she made specifically for you to do just that, while you all scheme to figure out a way to keep from doing exactly what she wants,” I say in a flat, dry tone.

  The smile is sucked off Damien’s face slowly, and they all move like they’re going to surround me. I back to the wall immediately, so they can’t do their stupid, predatory circling thing.

  Arion narrows his eyes, as Vance rakes his gaze over me like I’m once again new and fascinating. Damien disappears, probably already within touching distance, if I had to hazard a guess.

  “I get angry, and you prepare to chase,” I say, pointing out what they’re doing. “Then you all say I’m the one who loves the chase, when it’s just you who loves it so much.”

  Emit’s brow furrows as I gesture to the TV and me.

  “Like in the game of survival, I rarely even know I’m being chased, unless someone makes it obvious. Everything starts for me when I finally get caught. And that’s exactly when you all seemed to check out. Now you’re giving me stolen kisses on your way to this box. Not one compliment or comment on the hotel you’ve lived in. Not one offer of help while we killed ourselves to make this happen—”

  “Violet, I offered to help you in any way necessary,” Vance quickly interrupts.

  “You offered me your checkbook, Vance,” I counter on a quiet breath. “The very next second, you bypassed Ighan and Bobo as they struggled to get a scaffolding into place. I remember it because you didn’t once glance at them.”

  He opens his mouth and closes it again, doing the surprised blinking he does when I zag on his zig or whatever.

  “And it doesn’t even matter. I’m not leaving you for any one reason, and I want to make that very clear before you finally realize what you’ve refused to read, but insisted on signing all this time,” I go on. “Remember that I would have loved for you to read all the things you’ve been signing, and it was never me intending to manipulate your trust.”

  They all look confused right now.

  “I had a lot of people working really hard, and they were sort of hoping you’d find it all intelligent, mature, and reasonable. Not that you’d care enough about that when you’ve gotten so dead inside that you really plan to kill a pregnant woman just because it’s convenient to you.”

  Vance’s eyes grow really cold, just as the air drops a few degrees. Arion is suddenly right against me, caging me in, as his eyes level mine.

  “I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Violet,” Arion tells me as he brushes a lock hair out of my face. “If we wanted to kill a pregnant woman, we wouldn’t be waiting until after she has the child.”

  “For fuck’s sake, Arion,” Vance says from behind him, as I glare up at my vampire, seeing the detached look in his eyes, even as tears fill my own.

  “No. Her mother sheltered her. We’ve tried to shelter her. Now she’s standing here sounding too much like a Portocale as she spews her better-than-thou shit, like she has any right to judge. And she’s better than that,” Arion says to them, while staring directly into my eyes.

  A tear finally falls from my eye, and he wipes it away with his thumb, as I swallow the knot in my throat.

  “I guess even I have limits as to what I can and can’t judge,” I tell him honestly.

  “She hid herself after we’d called for survivors, graciously taking the time to separate offenders and victims, something Vance took precious time to do just because you’re too soft for the real world just yet, and he worries what will come back to roost,” Arion continues.

  My eyes stay on Vance, as Arion twirls a lock of my hair around his finger. Damien turns visible once again, eyes on me, as he stands between Vance and Emit.

  They’ve spent a lot of time in this box bonding. Arion only ever really wanted them, after all. My purpose has been spent.

  “But the truth,” the vampire carries on, as the other three just keep blank expressions, “is that the world is not so—”

  “She’s in my custody now, and you can’t touch her. Any punishment you give to her, I take upon myself,” I coldly interrupt.

  His entire dark, condescending expression falls.

  “What?” he asks in a much more confused and horrified tone that suggests he thinks I’ve lost my mind.

  “You just signed it. I told you to read it, but you never bother. I don’t know why I bother tossing in so many fair things, when none of you bother.”

  I shove at his chest hard enough to catch him off guard, and manage to mo
ve him enough for me to walk by.

  “You can’t do that, Violet. First of all, it makes no sense. Secondly, why is that even a fucking idea in your head?” Arion snaps.

  “My job wasn’t to raise them from the ground, Arion. It was just step one. The reason I was born was to make people care about them. But I can’t do that when people just won’t care. I spent four months drafting the House documents you all signed off on, but you didn’t even read one word.”

  Vance’s eyes narrow on mine.

  “What have you done, Violet?” the Van Helsing asks like he’s suspicious.

  “Everything I told you I was going to do, but you were too busy chasing Idun to listen. Does that make me sound jealous too?” I ask, pretending to muse it over, before cutting my eyes to Damien.

  He’s not smiling this time.

  “I don’t even get the time, attention, or genuine interest I need from one boyfriend between all four of you combined since she came back. You’re all sitting around, calling each day’s events scripted and obvious, wondering what she has to gain from this charade. Meanwhile, you’re all sitting around watching her day and night. Congratulations. She’s winning.”

  Damien’s eyes widen marginally, and Emit’s as well. Vance’s jaw tics as he tugs at his collar, and Arion’s neck cracks as the vein pulses in his temple.

  “Consider the eye-opening epiphany my parting gift. I’m sure your hands are going to be too full with Idun to worry about a nonissue such as an unregistered shifter, who will register, but remain in sanctuary here. With us. Sanctuary of Carmine.”

  Emit groans as he massages his temples. “Violet, we went over this. You’re not an alpha, you can’t—”

  “Like I said. I already did, and you signed off on it. You all listen as well as you read when it’s just little ol’ me instead of big bad Idun.”

  “Violet, I understand you’re upset, but we’re—”

  “I get it. Idun’s a big deal,” I say in interruption to Damien. “She’s dangerous. She poses a major threat and needs to be taken seriously.”

  They all stare as if they’re too smart to open their mouths right now, since everyone is hesitating to speak.

  “Even though it’s a little insulting, I’m okay with the fact you put a pin in me, so to speak, in order to learn what you could, since it’s a rare opportunity,” I go on, sounding as reasonable as I can. My eyes narrow, even as the ire tries to give way to emotion. “I put a pin in you too, because I’ve been too busy to sit around watching TV.”

  I can’t believe this.

  “I didn’t even get a honeymoon phase, before the four of you jumped into the old-and-married phase of our life like I’d somehow allow that to become the new normal,” I continue, jaw grinding as I let my gaze flick from prick, to dick, to jackass, to brute.

  Emit arches an eyebrow at me when my gaze lands on his, but the asshole almost seems amused, even though I’m extremely upset.

  Are my emotions not channeling to him?

  “Five months ago I pictured the five of us bonding over building this thing, while getting advice and counsel from your many years of experience with the law,” I point out, gesturing mostly at Vance. “It’s better that you didn’t, because the four of you are finally getting along so well that I’m willing to finally step back without worrying about sparking an argument.”

  “You’re being a little hasty, sweet monster,” Damien tells me, using that tone he uses when he’s talking me into a dark corner.

  “If I’m not needed for the relationship, then I’ll take my leave and what’s left of my pride. But I’m young, and I like sex, and it sort of sucks the youth right out of me when the four of you act like you could take it or leave it,” I word-vomit.

  My hands are shaking as my temper really starts to shine, the fleeting moment of surging anger built from months of repressed anger.

  “I don’t have time for four guys who don’t make time for me. Four boyfriends and not one ounce of romance to break up all the hard work I’ve been doing, while you guys watch Idun. Salt on the wound by now. My time’s important too.”

  It’s about four hours shy of the majorly epic speech I cooked up in my head, and sounds nothing at all like the lines I rehearsed so effortlessly in the mirror every time I thought I reached the breaking point before today.

  I turn and walk out, ignoring the ache in my chest. I also ignore the tears burning my eyes, since they’re just one more shot to my pride.

  I hold my shit together until I find a room to dart into, feeling the first few tears start to fall. I wipe them away quickly, mentally shaking myself, as I hold in all the sounds. If I start crying, this entire place full of very sensitive Simpletons will erupt into tears.

  My head thumps back on the wall, happy to have a resting prop…until I hear Shera shouting my Mom’s name and telling her to grab something. Directly after, loud commotion explodes below. My mother is here right now?

  Standing, I dart a quick glance in the mirror and freeze. I see just part of a girl’s face peering out from behind a wall behind me. Her skin is scarred like so many stitches never fully healed.

  A single tear rolls down her cheek, and I shoot her an apologetic look.

  I’m worried those tears are my fault, since that seems to be a growing issue. The houseful of very strong empaths seems to have boosted my own abilities.

  No, I still can’t actually feel anyone else, other than a rare occasion. But my emotions seem to pack a wallop to anyone close by when I let them off the reins.

  Just as I open my mouth to speak to her, she ducks back into the wall. I hear a false panel shut.

  I’m glad we made the walls wide and tall. Plenty of room to pass each other, for the ones who need to hide. There are more than just Ingrid now.

  A woman’s pained scream has me bolting out of the room in the next instant, just in time to see Avery quickly wheeling in a stretcher with a screaming pregnant woman in the middle of giving birth.

  “Put a pin in it, Violet,” I whisper to myself as I wipe away the last tear. “You can have your moment later.”

  CHAPTER 8

  DAMIEN

  Violet slams the door after her dramatic speech, and I glance over at the other three. They look about as blindsided as I feel.

  Then I yank the door open and glance out after her. My eyes move back and forth between them and her.

  “Did she just break up with us? Is that what just happened?” I ask, gesturing around absently.

  “It appears so,” Vance says as he exhales harshly and scrubs a hand over his jaw.

  “Does she honestly think that’s going to work?” Arion asks incredulously, lips almost twitching like he’s amused.

  “She’s young,” Emit states idly. “I remember being young and having ideal disillusions. Idun comes back, and I remember who I am really fucking fast. Violet hasn’t seen Idun yet. Not the real Idun. I think that’s half of Idun’s game right now, giving Violet a false sense of security. Everyone on the outside of these walls is having a good laugh at her expense for essentially building a House for the misfit omegas.”

  “Give Violet the shifter. The information she overheard is of tedious use if Idun already knows about you hiding the necklace,” Vance says to Arion.

  “Giving Violet this pointless shifter won’t help prepare her for what’s to come. An unregistered shifter is as good as dead whether we kill her or Idun does. Best this stays our problem and not allow Idun to get invol—”

  Shera shouts for Marta, who shouldn’t even fucking be here, and a stream of foreign noises cuts Arion off, because we all stop to listen to the growing chaos. We all head out into the hallway, finding the noise more of nervous pandemonium instead of tireless hammering.

  Usually we have the door shut for a reason. It’s always fucking loud here.

  Bloody hell. I really have been a glorified prick. I really wish at least one of us knew how to stay out of trouble.

  But romance is my fucking department
. I’ll kiss her ass until she feels awful for being cold to me, and then she’s going to be so thoroughly mine she’ll never try to escape me again.

  “She’ll be angry—possibly hostile—for a little while, but if we bother her enough, she’ll start growing weak, and then wishy-washy, and at last, she’ll be ours again,” Arion states with too much confidence.

  “Do not say that to her, or she’ll go out of her way to prove you wrong. And honestly, I hope you’re right,” Vance says, pointing a finger at Arion as if in warning. “Make her stubborn just because you don’t know how to keep your arrogant mouth shut, and I’ll stab you.”

  “If she’d stop me from messing up this bad before it escalates to the part where her soft little top blows, that’d be fucking helpful,” I dutifully point out.

  “Our last serious relationship with a woman we all cared enough about to share…had disputes that were more along the lines of, “You killed fifteen of my people, so I took thirty of yours. Care to try to level the score, Emit? Or do I win this one?” Emit states, his tone almost lifeless. “How did I get in trouble? I deliberately didn’t reignite our flames, because I knew this would be a distraction, and I wanted to wait until I could devote all my attention to Violet.”

  “Don’t say stuff like that aloud,” Arion tells him, cringing and shaking his head. “That even sounds bad to me, and she’s clearly a little sensitive right now.”

  “I was worried when the age-gap was going to become an issue,” Vance states on a tired breath. “Centuries of being monsters…versus her twenty-six-years of being mostly human.”

  “No wonder we stay in trouble,” I grumble, still confused about all the fuss going on below.

  Violet’s a daily reminder of how much better life has truly been. I only thought I remembered all the disgusted, sickened feelings that accommodate that woman’s mere presence.

  “I was a midwife for two decades!” Lemon shouts as she hops from the second floor, chasing after the stretcher that crashes through a set of doors that lead into…I’m not sure what.