Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,179

he agrees with her, or whether or not he’s on Violet’s side is irrelevant. He clearly has sentimental attachment to his mother, because he’s carefully skated over any details outlining their relationship.

“You’ll continue to beta for me, just so I can keep a close eye on you,” Damien tells him. “That is, if you really do wish to stick around and keep an eye on your monster.”

Talbot sits up, eyes narrowed, as he stares at Damien.

Good luck keeping that powerful beta in line. I don’t envy Damien Morpheous. I’m getting Avery, Vance’s tried, true, and most loyal beta.

Damien gets…Pandora’s freak son…

“I may make poor life choices when I’m hammered, but I do take responsibility for my actions. I created Hyde. As great of a terrifying nuisance as that monster has become, I still care for it.” Talbot pauses and gives Damien a pointed look, before adding, “I’m also responsible enough to take care of the ones you left to their own devices, so I’m certainly responsible enough to care for the monster I created.”

“Say that when Violet accidentally sprouts a whole new generation of beta Hydes,” Damien fires back, quirking an eyebrow. “See how responsible you are then. And if you can manage to do that when no one can fucking remember you, then I’ll be impressed.”

Talbot actually swallows so loud it echoes through the otherwise silent house. It’s clearly that beta Hydes are a terrible fear of his.

“So…yeah. I need to know how to not create an entire line of monsters, because that sounds like a lot of hard work that I really don’t want to do. I have more than enough on my plate. I’m not even knocking on thirty’s door yet,” Violet interjects…as Idun’s head falls out of the sling that has apparently grown lax during Violet’s distraction.

I shut my eyes, because I can’t even see this. It’s too surreal.

“Sorry. My bad. Total accident,” Violet is saying, as there’s some rustling and more of those terrible sounds from earlier.

“Well then. I’ll not be eating for a while,” Vance says, clearing his throat.

“Please don’t let this change the way you see me,” Violet is saying, causing my eyes to reopen.

She’s staring at us with a look so…innocently hopeful.

“Though I hate being treated like a delicate flower, that doesn’t mean I want you fearing me, acknowledging my power, or any of that other jazz. I’d rather you just saw me,” she babbles, nervousness radiating from her.

“Are we ever going to talk about the naked wolf in the room?” Anna chimes in, breaking through some of the tension.

Come to think of it, the original ghosts have always been Violet’s biggest cheerleaders, as well as her biggest critics. They’ve been instrumental in many tense moments that could have gotten far worse, had they not been so utterly ridiculous.

Also, she gave me a ‘phantom blowjob’ once, so does that mean she was trying to claim me then?

Now I’m examining every single interaction before this day, and it’s going to be a maddening adjustment period.

“No?” Anna asks, dropping to her knees and wagging her butt. “Arf. Wanna sniff my butt?” she asks me.

Arion snorts.

Damien chokes back a laugh.

Vance stays lost in his own head.

My flat, very unimpressed gaze lifts to Violet, whose eyes widen in slight horror.

“I swear that’s not even a thought in my head,” Violet says very quickly, cheeks burning red. “Like it would never be a thought in my head. I swear on my mother’s old urn. I still respect it.”

“You didn’t handle your mother’s ‘death’ as well as you pretended to,” I note aloud, deviating from her current, pointless, mildly degrading topic. “Which is why Anna was able to break free. You were vulnerable when we met you.”

“Extremely vulnerable,” she states in agreement. “Since my mother’s been back, I’m slowly getting back to my old self. Well, when I haven’t been dealing with a lot of Idun drama.”

She eyes Idun’s head, no expression on her face. Animals make her screech, but gore never seems to have much of an effect.

Un-fucking-believable.

“I only thought I couldn’t love you more,” Arion tells her, eyes glistening with genuine glee.

Violet darts a glare at him.

“You’re seriously freaking me out,” she informs him on a sigh.

“I’m currently struggling to reel my monster in before it claims you, simply because you keep saying that,” he says, giving her a charming smile. “See? I’m soulless and still considerate.”

I swear…he’s always so genuinely proud of the lunacy that spews from his mouth.

Violet exhales a heavy breath, even as