Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,203

concern is turning into Idun, because she doesn’t like the feeling that accompanies being alpha—the satisfaction one derives from a good fight.

She’s literally scared of becoming Idun at this point.

It’s her worst fucking nightmare.

We’re really fortunate that monster landed in Violet.

“It’s not a fair fight, in her opinion, so she’s going to stick to a role she’s chosen for herself, and she can’t do that if people fear her,” I continue, watching as Avery struggles to hold back his own smile, even as his eyes mist like he’s gone and gotten sentimental. “She’s downright worried we’re all going to be afraid of her, and genuinely concerned about such.”

“Want the next plane named after her?” he asks, causing me to snort and release a huff of laughter.

“May as well name the next plane, train, and ship after her. If I have any submarines, name them after her as well,” I say, causing him to muffle his own small, accidental bout of laughter.

There’s a moment of silence that falls after that. There’s been a pressing weight lifting little by little, as I allow myself to believe it more and more.

“Idun’s been dethroned,” he says as though he’s warily coming to grips with the possibility.

“It’ll take a while to trust it, Avery. But from what I witnessed, I’m believing it more by the passing second. It’s just…taken some time to really sink in. I mean…I’m still not entirely sure exactly what I saw,” I confess.

He nods like he’s attempting to be understanding. “Then I’m glad I don’t remember,” he confesses.

The male ghost pops up in the corner. He’s faded in and out for the last several hours, as though he’s only mildly curious what I’m up to.

Avery runs a hand over his jaw, drawing my attention back to him, as he remains oblivious to the apparition he’s unable to see.

It occurs to me that we educated Violet a lot on ghosts…for no reason at all.

None.

It was completely irrelevant.

I feel a fool for that too. I never considered they could be anything else at all.

“I want to know all the things, because I was blindsided today,” I tell Avery, to which he nods as though he understands me completely.

“The world changed in a single night. I thought there was nothing left to see and that I’d lived long enough. Eternity seemed greedy,” he tells me.

“But now you’re considering turning wolf,” I state, deciding I may as well have this conversation now, since it sounds like that’s what he’s leading up to.

Arion’s bedding Violet and taking her as his bride, so it’s not as though I can speak with her right now, even though I’d love to.

I’ll wait until he’s had his moment. Besides, there’s a mess to clean up. Someone’s got to do it.

Violet handled the hardest part. Clean-up detail is the least I can do.

“I’m going to submit to Emit Morrigan, unless you recommend otherwise, or take offense, Sir Van Helsing,” Avery says, bowing at the waist.

“You’re submitting to Emit, instead of turning wolf and staying a knight, because of Leiza…correct?” I ask.

I need to know it has nothing at all to do with the wolf being a better eternal option than me. This is extremely important.

Avery’s lips curve, and he straightens, before standing at ease again—feet spread shoulder’s-width apart with his hands locked behind his back.

“Indeed, sir. She’s a woman I never thought I’d have much in common with, but over the years, I’ve grown fonder and fonder of her. If I turn wolf and join the pack for her, she’ll turn monogamous and be my mate. She wants to stay with her pack. I want a woman who’s only sleeping in my bed. Given our individual natures, our sacrifices are about equal. Now that peace feels like a true possibility, I’m willing to leave the knights.”

“You’re sure that’s what you’re going to want even a hundred years from now? Because there’s no coming back from submitting to another—”

His look stays steeled, and I cut myself off, while he holds his pose in front of me.

Of course he’s given this a lot of thought. It’s Avery. It’d be disrespectful to even suggest otherwise.

My lips tug in a damn near sad grin, and I glance down at Jasper, who has drifted off to sleep.

“Very well. I’ll speak to Emit,” I tell him, as I gently put Jasper in the bassinet I stole from Sanctuary when I took him with me.

That letter’s going to say Demetria can’t keep him.

That letter’s going to ask Violet