Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,137

screen, and she’s holding a picture of Violet.

A smile is on the devil’s lips, as she stares directly into the camera.

“Attention, fans, followers, and pathetic wastes of life. In the next hour, I’ll be expecting this pointless little girl to be delivered to me. If she’s not, then I’ll kill one hundred omegas from every flock, and no less than fifty betas. If I have to wait another hour, those numbers will double,” she says, her eyes lethal and cold, as the smile slowly slips.

“If you find this unfair, don’t worry. The girl’s a fucking daft idiot. All you have to do is tell her who is keeping me company while I wait, and she’ll come to me all on her own,” she says.

The camera pans to…fucking Tom.

He was supposed to be locked up in Sanctuary.

“I swear Avery said he was taking him to the cellar with the others, Boss,” Shera whispers, her breath fogging the icy room we’re standing in.

My stomach sinks. Tom’s face is barely recognizable—swollen and bruised. His head is hanging low, and he’s chained to the wall.

“For every second I have to wait—”

The wall next to her blows apart, and dust sprays all across the screen, as Vance Van Helsing crashes into the room, looking like one very pissed off silversmith.

Idun actually startles, and she whirls around to face him, while claws immediately extend.

“Thank you for breaking the fucking law in such a spectacular way,” Vance bites out. “You attacked a human, Idun. Now who’s the fool?”

“You dare stand against me? Careful, Vancetto, you don’t look so good. I bet it must have been miserable to be frozen solid. I’ve given Pandora several magical articles to siphon magic from. Magic she can have some real fun with,” she gloats, her grin growing more and more genuine, as excitement lights her eyes.

“This is bad. This really, really bad,” Shera says from behind me, trembling so hard that I can hear her bones rattling.

“Thank you for constantly pointing out the obvious,” I state with a droll tone, exhaling an angry breath.

Fucking stupid, pompous, overreaching Van Helsing.

“No problem, Alpha,” Shera says after a loud swallow, a full-body tremble following her comment, as her wide eyes remain fixed to the screen.

Vance cries out in near surprise, as Idun’s dark laughter floats through the room. My throat feels frozen, and I grab it with both hands, clawing at whatever is burning against it.

“The fuck?” I manage to hiss.

Shera’s eyes widen on me, and she immediately rushes out.

I drop to my knees, same as Vance. Just like me, he chokes and wheezes. Only he’s not sizzling and burning.

It takes me a moment to realize Van Helsing silver is spreading up my throat.

“It’s called an insurance policy,” Idun says through a growing grin. “I know you’re strong, Vance. I commend you for your efforts, because you’ve grown so much over these past centuries, despite your watered-down power—the byproduct of your shallow sacrifice. There was a time I had to water down Arion’s strength just so he wouldn’t effortlessly destroy you and break all your precious pride. Maybe you could even challenge me these days, though it’d be pointless,” she says, her smile beaming brighter and brighter the longer she speaks.

The burn spreads deeper through me, and I catch myself from smacking the floor with just one hand. My other hand is clawing at the growing silver, trying to stop it.

“Pandora didn’t just capture you for the sake of burying you. In the unlikely event you were rescued, she also placed a curse on you. Anyone you’ve come into contact with since your return will suffer the same consequences. I’m not much of one to play guessing games, but if I had to wager a bet, my money would be on the fact you’ve encountered at least the other three boyfriends of mine, who never could understand their places. Even Arion. He liked blowing smoke up my ass and simpering along behind me, begging for my scraps, while desperately starved for my attention. What sort of woman would I be if I respected a monster like that? Then he has the audacity to act like an alpha with that little whore?”

Fucking. Bitch.

My skin sizzles that much harder, as the silver quickly spreads lower.

Shera comes rushing back in, and what feels to be five gallons of cold water is suddenly splashing against me. Isiah comes running up, and he tosses a large tote of blood onto me.

The combination is soothing to the burns, but the