Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,18

deliberate, determined strides. Something’s amiss.

My phone rings, and I answer, absently glancing around for some sort of clue as to what’s happening.

“Yeah?” I ask distractedly, unsure who I’m even speaking to.

“Is Damien with you?” Vance asks me.

“I just followed him to the Van Helsing rings, but he seems a bit unlike himself. I’m not sure what’s going on right now.”

“Amos called and said Dorian issued a challenge to Damien over an hour ago,” Vance tells me.

“Dorian issues a challenge to Damien periodically. He always tries his best to provoke him. He hasn’t succeeded in centuries. Why is it suddenly important?”

“Dorian slaughtered a houseful of omega succubae just outside of town during the time he issued that challenge. I’m about to deliver my own punishment for that, because there was no justifiable cause for extermination, even if they are his own people,” Vance says, his voice echoing.

I realize he’s walking toward me, and I hang up my phone, really confused by this day’s turn of events.

“Violet’s not going to be happy to hear that,” I say on a groan. “She’s very much too soft for our world. Make sure to leave him in a bloody heap and do some major punishment or something. I don’t want her so outraged that she can’t focus on the four of us. Not when we’re finally making progress.”

Vance gives me a dry look.

“I have to challenge Dorian Gray after a massacre, and that’s what you have to say?” he asks, slowly exhaling.

“Good luck with that. He’s one major pain the ass to spar with,” I tell him, clapping him on the shoulder as I grin. “This is why I made an effort to be at peace with him. Not even I like tangling with that mind-fucker.”

Emit comes jogging up, brushing his hair out of his face. “I’m not missing this fight. If he kicks your ass, it’ll be one hell of a reckoning. Are you sure you can take him?” he asks Vance.

“He’s Vancetto Van Helsing. Even off his game, he can still rock Dorian’s world,” I state, championing the slacker Van Helsing.

He’s going to need the confidence boost.

Dorian really is one hell of a—

My thoughts shut down when Damien comes walking back out, a challenge card in his hand. My brow furrows, and Vance sucks in a surprised breath.

“You can’t seriously decide today is the day you’re finally going to tackle the Dorian issue,” Vance growls. “You haven’t properly fed in far too long. You’re no match. I’ll handle today’s problems. You feed and rest up so you can handle him for the long term, if you finally want to do your part.”

Damien’s eyes lift, and I swear I see the devil in their depths, as he levels Vance with a stoic, yet chilling, look.

“Dorian’s my problem. Not yours,” he tells him in a dead tone. “Keep the vampire and wolf at bay.”

He turns and stalks back inside, only blowing my bloody mind.

“He’s insane if he thinks today is the day to finally deal with this. He fed from Violet today, but he’d need at least a few months of regular, proper feedings to get himself in shape enough for this battle,” I say, running a hand through my hair.

Idiots.

I’m constantly surrounded by idiots.

Why can’t everyone be as smart as I am?

“He fed from Violet today? When?” Vance asks.

“Never mind that. It’s not enough. Go be a Van Helsing and talk some sense into him like the golden boy you are,” I tell him, shoving him toward the door.

Vance turns and glares at me, before dusting the wrinkles off his sleeves, and then he walks in.

I hurriedly follow, because this shit is just too bizarre.

Damien hasn’t allowed Dorian to provoke him in ages, even though he should have taken action numerous times against his bastard brother. What bug flew up his ass today?

“What brought this on so suddenly?” Emit asks, clearly as suspicious and bothered by this as I am.

I slink past him and Vance as they chat, and I move through the hallways, toward the foyer, spotting Damien, as he eyes himself in the mirror.

Just before I can form words, Violet comes rushing toward him, her body clad in a shirt two sizes too big and a pair of sweatpants.

“Damien, you can’t do this,” she tells him on a choked sound. “You need to feed more. I can’t let you—”

He suddenly grabs her by the throat and slams her into the wall, and her eyes widen in horror. My fist is flying toward