Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,150

hadn’t been too drunk to give the ceremony the exactitude it needed, Idun may have been dug up and destroyed several centuries ago when I first unleashed Hyde,” he babbles.

Everyone’s phones start going off, which can’t be a good sign.

“Explain yourself,” I state to the shifty new player on the board.

“I’m explaining that the monster I created is stronger than any monster my mother could have created, because I was a blood-witch incubus. The only one of my kind, as far as I’m aware. You boys are the first models. Idun’s the enhanced version, due to an extorted detail. Now that Hyde is immortal, Violet’s the bloody upgrade.”

No one really knows what to say. It sounds insane.

Violet has a more lethal monster than Idun? The girl who froze among wolves trying to tear her apart because she couldn’t decide if it was right to kill them? The girl who built Sanctuary because life and death suddenly felt tricky? The girl who has dolls and toys scattered around her home?

The girl who’d rather sew some awful outfit together, as opposed to spending money?

It’s not even feasible.

She’s not an alpha.

An image of her stumbling over her own feet, while escaping the house full of botched-potion fumes flits through my mind. Red-faced and mortified, she struggled her way through our very first meeting.

“The upgrade?” Damien asks, as though he’s unsure if he’s heard correctly.

“The wolves are fending off the Neoprys near Sanctuary. We have to go there. Emit, you’re with us. Damien, you’re worthless until you recharge. Take your beta and see if you can track down Violet and Idun. Then see how true this is or isn’t with your own damn eyes. Fucking find her,” Vance directs.

“If you’re wrong, and she suffers for all this, all because you got drunk and wanted a change, I’ll make your life a living hell,” I say through a growl, as I look over my shoulder at the blood-magic incubus.

“I was no less miserable than you were when I made the decision, and it’s not like it could have been much worse. You were bitter, cold, and empty shells after you finally got her underground,” Talbot answers too casually. “If not for your omegas and betas who cared for you and kept you from neglecting your duties completely, I’d hate to see the world today.”

“You’re too frank for someone I already don’t like,” Zuela informs him.

“You’re too old to find this that surprising. Pandora made opening a box seem simple enough. However, it’s simply not simple at all to change the entire universe, and a hell of a lot harder than I ever imagined it could be to clean up after a mishandled box, while also tending some of your neglected issues. Be glad that I at least have a sense of responsibility.”

I twist in the air, dropping to the ground on all fours, after shifting, and kick off to chase after the others. I manage to catch up to Vance, who looks to have hung back to deliberately allow me the time to do so.

“How tight is Violet’s security system?” he asks, picking up the pace to keep up with me.

I’m forced to shift back to two legs, barely breaking stride, so that I can answer him.

“During lockdown, it held me back. But Idun could still break through. It’ll hold back the Neoprys,” I tell him. “Hopefully,” I add.

He makes a grunt, before running that much harder.

“Put on some fucking fur. I can’t take you seriously when you’re naked, and it’s more disturbing than ever, now that you’re my daughter’s mate,” Marta grinds out, catching up to us.

I don’t argue, because it has started feeling awkward to be naked around my mate’s mother…

It’s a nice distraction from the fact my mate is somewhere, with my ex-mate, locked in battle. Especially since I have no idea if what Talbot and Marta are saying is true.

It doesn’t feel…possible. Or plausible.

I drop to the ground on all fours, racing toward Sanctuary. That’s when I hear the loud barks and howls igniting the air.

Chapter 43

VANCE

Left.

Go left.

My urge to hunt has me desperately wanting to turn left to chase after the biggest, unlawful threat.

That means Idun is likely in that direction, and I hurriedly pull up my phone to shoot Damien a text.

A loud explosion has me pocketing my phone and hurrying that much faster, passing Emit, while my muscles scream from the extra exertion.

A closer explosion rattles the ground under my feet, and ash starts raining from the sky,