I watch as he goes to lift the whimpering Jasper, soothing the baby, who seems to have no fear whatsoever.
Damn that vampire.
How does he do this to me so easily?
“I’m still mad at you,” I decide to tell him, since he’s left me a quivering mess with a lot of embarrassingly wishy-washy feelings.
He grins down at Jasper, shrugging one shoulder.
“It’s all a game, Violet. You don’t stay angry for long, and you love me too much to let me go. Now that I see that, I’ll be patient for a little while longer. However,” he says, eyes meeting mine as a slightly scary and serious expression steals his features, “it’s only a matter of time before I take you as my bride. You should have killed Emit instead of rewarding bad behavior. It sets a bad precedent for monsters who are obsessed with making you theirs.”
While my lips move to silent words I can’t seem to form, he grabs the diaper bag from the floor, pulling it over his shoulder.
“Send me instructions on proper feeding and such. I’ll have him back in a bit, but I don’t want to run into any surprises that lead to a screaming babe. Panic isn’t a pretty sight on any monster,” he jokes…at least I hope he’s joking.
Again, no words leave my mouth, and I just watch as he turns and goes, as though he didn’t just threaten to force me to marry him. Just like Dracula always attempted to do to his bride…at least in the disturbed/romantic versions of the tale.
Oy. Vey.
Fortunately, he’s gone when a crazy-girl smile stretches across my lips.
It’s always inconvenient when I smile about things that normal girls shouldn’t smile about. I’ll blame it on the fucked up monster inside me.
CHAPTER 19
VANCE
My head is killing me. Arion is fussing over a damn shifter baby he has strapped to his chest, which only makes my headache worse. There’s no more disturbing sight than seeing Arion play father to a shifter child.
Our world used to make more sense than it does.
How does one fucking woman change so much?
The child wails like he’s just woken up in a den full of alpha monsters, who are natural predators of his race, due to years of evolving wars and hereditary senses.
It’s a nightmare to deal with the fallouts of our own prejudices mixed with magical DNA.
“Why on earth did you think it’d be a good idea to bring a helpless infant into a circle of alphas?” I snap.
Emit groans as he devours yet another hamburger from one of the twenty bags he has.
Arion’s head falls back, and I can’t help but find it amusing that this psychotic son of a bitch is working so hard to keep his temper and frustration levels in check. His eyes haven’t even turned black yet.
Must be a nightmare for a bloodthirsty, murderous fiend such as himself.
I derive a lot of joy from that. Enough to make the headache bearable.
With his brow still drawn down in concentration, Damien says, “I’m still stuck on the part where he’s an impossible mix of a vampire and a shift—”
“I’ll believe anything at this point,” Emit interrupts, working on his next burger. “Was this pointless meeting about the kid? If so, I need to get back to Violet. I want to share a bed with her for something other than sex, so that she doesn’t misread my intentions. The omegas have filled her in by now, and I want to see what she has to say about it. Hopefully, they’ve sold her on it, because they’re damn good at silver linings and romanticism.”
“Cheater,” Damien mutters.
“Says the prick who tasked his desperate beta-prospect to get you laid,” Emit volleys.
“I thought I was making progress all on my own, before you assholes got jealous and interrupted our moment,” Damien adds on a bitter note.
Rolling my eyes, I pop more of the useless pills. This headache is growing more tedious by the second.
“Jasper isn’t the reason I’m here,” Arion says in distraction, as he reads something off his phone. To himself, he mutters, “Pacifier. Pacifier. What the bloody hell is a pacifier?”
Damien leans over, lifting the oddly shaped thing, and plugs it into the intimidated babe’s mouth. The child isn’t going to stop that wailing when he’s stuck in a room with alphas that painfully enlist his instincts to—
The crying ceases immediately, and the intriguing young thing actually stares up at Arion with wide, fearless eyes now that he’s been left content.
The wee lad got what he wanted.
“She’s spoiled the little crier. He apparently screams until you do what he says, and he hasn’t even learned to speak yet,” Emit states in observation.
My headache only marginally eases.
I’m not sure why we’re all staring at the baby like it’s going to burst into flames or something.
“It’s scary having this sort of responsibility. Anything at all—big or small—happens to that baby on our watch, and Violet will definitely be angry for many, many centuries, depending on the severity of the infraction,” Damien points out. “Take it back. It’s too much trouble.”
“The vampire is more nurturing than the fucking Morpheous. Why do I bother trying to make sense of things anymore? I think that’s the reason for the increasingly frequent migraines,” I confess on a tired sigh.
I massage my temples to punctuate the point, suppressing a groan.
“Fuck’s sake, Arion. Get him out of that contraption,” Emit growls as he goes to unstrap Jasper from the weird chest strappings. “Babies need connection when they’re held.”
The small lad almost disappears into the massive trunks Emit calls arms.
“The kid is going to suffocate between those rock walls you’re so proud of,” Damien gripes, as he goes to snatch the baby away, showing far more knowledge of proper care than any of us should know.
He even goes so far as to rattle off a few instructions about head, neck, and body support.
It’s a little eerie to find Arion’s eyes on me when I glance away from the weird sight of Emit and Damien arguing about who knows more about kids.
“I called this meeting, because we’re Pandora’s Box,” Arion states very randomly, eyes not leaving mine. “We’re all very fucking stupid.”
Emit and Damien cease arguing to arch an eyebrow at him. “And you thought that was the perfect thing to say right now because…?” I prompt, urging the vampire along so I can get everyone out of my house and get some rest.
Maybe I’ll sneak over to Sanctuary and see if Violet would be opposed to sharing a bed with me instead of the rough and jagged wolf. I’m not quite sure how to get out of trouble. Idun always chased me. I never did much chasing.
In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had to chase a woman very much at all. Violet is impossibly taxing to a man with no practice in this department. I’m simply unsure how to proceed. I’ve reached a low level, because I’ve decided to go to Anna for advice, even though I should probably slay her instead of listening to anything that ludicrous ghost may spew.
“Pandora’s name wasn’t so famous back when Idun introduced her as her new best friend,” Damien points out in a confused tone. “We were there too. We know what magic we dabbled in. Hindsight is a wretched thing. Why bring it up at all?”
Arion flicks his gaze over to Jasper. “Violet started Sanctuary. It’s effectively drawn everyone’s attention. She’s an anomaly, and because she’s essentially getting her way about everything and shaking things up, unique creations, such as Jasper are popping up. I highly doubt he’s the first. He’s just the first who’s had a safe option of hiding out with a very accepting monster, who will take the lashings for an unknown, unregistered shifter, while making a mockery of Idun in front of the entire nation of immortals,” the vampire continues.
My eyes flick to Jasper again. “If this was an issue, I’d already know about it. Unlike some of you, I keep an eye on what’s going on,” I decide to point out.
“We had a horde spring up with
ungodly numbers. Technology being what it is, and limitless knowledge resting just at the edges of anyone’s fingertips…we haven’t adjusted quickly enough,” Arion goes on. “Idun came out of the ground and fascinated us with Reality TV. Violet saw her scam to the core. We only saw a piece of it.”
Damien mutters a curse. “I hate that little monster is even right about that. Can we not tell her we’re huge idiots anymore? The damn girl is too young to be right so much,” he adds on a frustrated breath.
“Damien was ready to die, until she came to town,” Arion states quietly, glossing over Damien’s interruption.
“Now I’d rather see all of you die so I can just enjoy her by myself for a while,” Damien mutters like a petulant child, as he sniffs the baby’s ass and wrinkles his nose. “I’m not tending to that. You brought him, Vampyre. He’s your responsibility.”
Arion sneers. “As if I know how to tend to a paper shit catcher. I’ve been underground. What was wrong with cloth diapers? The downside is the trash this era has created out of laziness and—”
“Why are you off on this tangent to begin with, Arion? I really do have a searing migraine I’d like to sleep off,” I cut in, my voice raising enough to make the bloody infant cry.
Emit and Damien soothe the lad, and I get glared at like I’m the one inconveniencing us all.
“If the boy is scared when he’s returned to Violet, we’ll all be in trouble,” Damien states as if I’m an idiot. “Be cool, Van Helsing. Just this once, be cool.”
I’m going to stab him as soon as that baby is out of my house. The Morpheous is going to cry like a baby before he leaves.
“Emit’s wolf is now sated for the first time in centuries, and he’s been gradually stepping back into his true alpha role,” Arion goes on.
Emit narrows his eyes over his shoulder, staring at Arion, who doesn’t seem to be trying to provoke the wolf for once.
“Vance has been steadily gaining focus to an intense degree, especially when and where Violet is involved. He’s also stepping up his game and breaking habits he’s had for centuries,” Arion adds, giving me a pointed look. “Just as I’ve finally learned every telling twitch and tic.”
“Because you somehow managed to be a creep, even from your casket, you damn relentless bastard,” I’m fast to point out.
“And I was ready to manipulate you all to raise Idun from the ground, handle her differently, and move forward with a different goal. Now I realize it would have all stayed the same had Violet not come to town.”
We all sort of study him as he goes to pour himself a glass of whiskey.
“I’d still be underground. Idun would still be up. All of you would be oblivious because you’d all gotten too complacent. We’d have never pulled together enough to handle that horde as effectively as we did. Tensions would only be higher between vampires and wolves,” Arion goes on, for once not earning a growl from Emit, who’s still silent as he remains content to listen.
“What’s the point to this ramble?” I ask, this time softer and far more curious about the direction he’s going.
“The metaphorical and literal box was smashed, unable to seal Pandora’s Box ever again. Hope was released into all of us—Pandora’s way of balancing the scales in an attempt to keep us as human as possible,” Arion continues, slowly sipping the whiskey as he stares ahead at the wall.
“The point being?” I prompt.
His gaze collides with mine.
“She told us that Hope was the most powerful magic released. I once placed all my hope in Idun. I feared it’s what made her more powerful, but I felt her holding back. She’s not shown us her strength, because she wants us to believe her weaker. That necklace was a way for her to harness more power, but she’s not upset by its loss. She’s too calm in spite of the tilted scales, and unruffled by our rebellion. She’s not playing with us. She’s playing with Violet through us.”
Emit scrubs a hand over his face, glancing over at Damien and me to see if we’re buying this. Arion’s a damn good salesman, just like most any proud gypsy from our days.
The vampire cuts his eyes toward Emit. “Your wolf just claimed her, and you’re sounding more and more like the sure-of-himself werewolf alpha we need you to be at a time when it’s needed most. Violet’s timing is a godsend.”
He does have a valid and convenient point in that regard.
“Or you’re twisting the facts to set up the answer you want us to believe,” I reasonably counter.
“You’re saying Violet is a form of hope?” Damien guesses, sounding thoughtful, taking Arion very seriously.
“I’m saying Violet is more than we realize, and she does inspire hope. Maybe our hope was dormant after Idun raged uncontrollably and uncontested all these centuries. I have no speculations beyond that, but she’s certainly caught Idun’s attention to the fullest extent, if she’s less concerned with us and more focused on her,” Arion explains, turning to face us more fully. “Violet’s intriguing to all alphas. Hell, even Zuela is breaking his rules for her, after barely sampling an audience with her. Simpletons are being spoiled and taken care of in a way not even their own viciously protective matriarch could manage.”
“Unique children are being left in her care for longer and longer periods of time,” Damien murmurs, gingerly stroking the cheek of Jasper, as he finishes cleaning up his disgustingly distracting diaper.
“And omegas are sensing their alpha’s new mate before he even knows it for himself,” Emit goes on, running a finger over his lips in pensive concentration. “I joked about my omegas thinking of her as my mate. I never realized the wolf would surge forth to lay claim.”
His muscles bunch, and he glances to the door, just as he’s done every ten or so minutes. He’s in a hurry to get back to her. I want to stab his dick just to ensure it stays out of her for a little while, dammit.
“She built a sanctuary in five months, and had all the laws passed she needed to create an effective baseline for her future goals. She’s attempting to create peace and trust, starting at the ground and working her way up,” I conclude, sinking back in my seat and wondering if we’re just romanticizing the girl’s feats into disillusioned pieces of faux grandeur.
Or what if we’re overlooking something.
“Anyone seen Pandora in a while?” I muse aloud, glancing around at the four of them, particularly Arion, since he apparently had a private audience with the living while we thought he was laid to rest.
“I searched for her, curious what the crazy bat was up to, since she hasn’t surfaced in too many centuries to count,” Arion confesses. “But I couldn’t find any trace of her. I got distracted by Violet and forgot I was even searching.”
I nod in understanding, since Violet has certainly been the largest distraction I’ve found in too long. My lips curve at the thought of showing her the ring I finally decided on.
She took the fucking wolf. Surely she’ll accept me. Once I figure out the proper way to make amends for…being far too insensitive to her young, more emotional needs.
Leaning back in my chair, I study the vampire.
“You think Pandora had something to do with Violet’s existence,” I surmise. “That’s what you’re suggesting?”
He nods slowly. “After Idun started using Caroline as her science experiment, Pandora went crazy trying to limit Idun’s power, to no avail. If Idun hadn’t crossed a line with the Simpletons, Pandora would still be at her side. There’s no doubt Pandora made Idun stronger. We’ve all determined as much over the years. Idun wants Violet to play with her. Pandora may have played a part in creating Violet.”
“Why choose Marta Portocale for a mother? Pandora only sided with Idun because of how vicious the Portocale family grew to be,” I remind him.
There’s a long pause, as though the thought hadn’t occurred to him.
“All of these conspiracy theories usually end up with a kink like that,” Damien says quietly as he lies down on the bed next to Jasper, wiggling a s
et of keys that light the babe’s fancy, judging by the enamored look in his eyes. “How does a shifter/vampire exist? Did Pandora contribute to that as well?”
Arion’s expression changes to frustration, as though he aslo hadn’t considered that.
“Maybe evolution has hit the next level and we’re farther behind the curve than we realized with keeping up,” I suggest, which draws a nod from Emit.
“It’s more likely than Pandora hand-crafting a girl we all can’t resist. What would be the purpose? Violet isn’t vicious enough to handle Idun. Three wolves escaped her. Idun would have done more damage in less time,” Emit adds, sighing as though he’s upset we’re still stuck with no answers about Violet’s existence.
“I don’t believe her to be an omega, despite her softness,” I continue. “She’s not particularly a beta. Omegas push more personal boundaries with alphas than betas do, because betas have different instincts. Talbot had me toying with the impossible idea of her being an alpha, but that’s not even in the realm of realism, because she took that beating from Idun with pride. She lost no dignity from that, and she gained power instead of feeling chastened. We all know better.”
There’s another long moment of pause. Even Jasper grows quiet, as though he realizes this is a heavy conversation topic.
“Violet took Caroline’s manic rage and somehow managed to restrain her monster enough to not hurt her too severely, even after being attacked. Yet still feels like she’s done wrong by losing that much control,” Emit murmurs quietly.
“I worry about us being there and upholding her rules about not involving ourselves, in the event one of them has an uncontrollable fit like the one Caroline just had. I’d honestly rip the girl to shreds before I could even think about it, regardless of her own personal mental problems that have piled on by this point,” the wolf adds on a small groan as he scrubs a hand over his face.
“Aye,” Arion murmurs, throwing back another drink. And another. “I’m too alpha to allow the woman I love to take a beating like that in front of me. Even Idun was punished. Trust me, freezing her was pure torture for her.”
Gypsy Rising (All The Pretty Monsters Book 5) Page 28