Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,149

heart. Bobo is the gentlest man on the planet, who still lives with all his few sins.

“Guilt is heavier than burden, isn’t it?” I decide to ask, my gaze steadily fixed to Bobo, who says nothing. “I imagine it would be even more so for you and yours, given the fact you’re much gentler people.”

“I got angry,” he admits, though it’s noticeably hard for him. “We all got angry. And we made the only decision we could, assuming someone would build an altar and get a little more than they bargained for. It was a risk they’d turn out worse than Idun, of course, but we were desperate. Now Violet has a monster inside her that rivals Idun’s, and we all know what Idun’s monster has done to her.”

He stares at Arion the longest, as if reminding him how very different the vampire is than he was before his sacrifice.

“She wasn’t ever a delicate, caring woman, but we all know she wasn’t this ruthless until after the altar. What she’s done to Caroline…” Bobo’s voice trails off, and his lips tighten, as though he feels he’s said enough.

We all take a moment to hold our silence, because there’s no easy way to explain Idun, as we know her, to him. Though he fears her, he still believes there’s good left inside her, and he blames her monster for everything.

Just as he blames all of our monsters for everything.

When a mute man speaks, everyone tends to listen and remember his words.

“Violet’s been getting angrier and angrier. Silently stewing most days. She turns into a block of ice at the mention of Idun’s name. Since Idun came to town, Violet’s warmth has been chilling to nearly inexistence,” Bobo adds, choking back a sob, as his shoulders start to shake.

“Her monster’s been riled this entire time, and she really has been posturing against Idun,” Vance says as he takes a step back, realization of some sort seeming to dawn on him.

“No,” Marta and Talbot both say in unison.

“She’s not been posturing,” Talbot assures us. “Hyde is linked to the host on a deep level that influences it. We all know that Violet loves collecting toys, making shampoo, and toying with potions because it’s…fun.”

Marta gives us all a dead, tragic look.

“Hyde’s been playing with Idun. It’s fun,” she tells us.

It’s so surreal that none of it is sinking in. None of it is making sense. None of it plays by the rules.

I don’t know whether I want to stick my head in a bucket of water or a box of sand.

“By age four, Violet started talking to ghosts I couldn’t see,” Marta says, her eyes stirring with anger.

“By four she should have been dead, but Hyde’s mind was purged from memories, and it began this journey as a babe this time. It started at the beginning this time. You binding it merely made it smarter,” Talbot assures her. “But I was desperately hoping you’d found the answer to all my problems, and hoped for the best, since it was better attempting to put it in the box again.”

“He’s the reason I faked her death,” Marta informs us, smiling tightly. “Once I was no longer vulnerable, I regretted trusting anyone at all, aside from Tom.”

We all swing our gazes to Talbot, who rolls his eyes.

“I fell for it, and Hyde must have escaped. It was heavily suppressed,” he confesses. “I sensed it again in later years, but never could track it,” he says, his gaze flicking to Vance.

“Until a Portocale gypsy was spotted amidst the hearts of the Head Alphas,” Vance guesses, smiling tightly.

We really were fools to fall for a Portocale.

We were fools in general, but Violet brings that out in a person.

“I still didn’t take it seriously until she raised the Simpletons,” Talbot admits. “I can’t sense Hyde to the degree I used to be able to.”

He abruptly lifts his shirt, and gestures to a very familiar symbol that is slowly appearing on his skin.

“Then this showed up approximately the same time Violet’s head came off,” he adds, pointing to the symbol.

“How were you turned into an incubus? Pandora couldn’t be changed. She tried after her magic dried up, according to my sources,” Zuela says, reminding me he’s even here.

Per the usual, the older Van Helsing seems to think his suspicions are the most relevant item to discuss.

“I was mortal when I turned into an incubus; however, I do believe my unique status elevated my spell’s strength, in the long run. If I