Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,26

is starting to send it into a frenzy.

“You’re not my beta,” I tell him more firmly.

“I sent a text to Violet Carmine the second you left the arena, requesting she replenish your strength. If she comes, then I’m officially your new beta,” he argues, not sounding defiant, but negotiable.

The last thing I need is for Violet to show up. Or maybe I do want her to show up so I can claim her as mine and be done with any threats Dorian has to offer.

Her body writhing underneath mine as I claim her in every possible way…

When I feel my sick and twisted grin form, I shake my head, forcing the monster back. Damn, I need a minute. Alone. To get myself under control.

“She’s not going to come just because you asked her—”

My door opens, and I dart a very confused look toward it when I smell the wolf stench roll in with the wind.

Emit is going to see me like this too?

I made a point of walking out without showing an ounce of weakness. The one time I try looking strong—

My thoughts cut out as Violet rounds the corner. Why the bloody hell is she wearing a trench coat on a warm day like this?

The scent of the wolf dissipates, as though he was just close enough to let me get a whiff of him, but he’s not here. His scent barely lingers on her, because that son of a bitch has already claimed her as his.

A growl tries to bubble out, but I swallow it down. My monster is more jealous and possessive than I am.

The sight of her…really relieves and infuriates me. I certainly don’t want her seeing what this has done to me.

Not when I’m this close to losing control.

I need a damn minute—

She drops the trench coat she’s donning, and my mind goes blank. She fidgets awkwardly, tugging at the lacy ends of the very scandalous black lace number she’s wearing, complete with garters and stockings.

The negligee is mostly transparent, revealing her scanty, devious underwear. She came to seduce me?

Take her.

Claim her.

Mark her.

Devour her.

She drops the high heels she apparently couldn’t walk in or something, and she juts out a hip, as I barely ignore the monster inside me.

With a firm tone, she says, “I think you should start feeding at least twice a week. At minimum. If you want me back, that’s going to be one of my new expectations. It doesn’t have to be romantic, but—”

“Talbot,” I say in interruption to Violet, as the incubus stares a little too hard at the very edible woman.

“Yes, Alpha?” he asks, almost absently, as Violet blushes, apparently not feeling as brazen as she did when she dropped that coat.

“Go away before I kill you for seeing her like this,” I inform him. “And you’re my new beta. Congratu-fucking-lations,” I tell him as I force myself to my feet.

I end up falling back to the couch, unable to wring out another ounce of strength.

Take her.

Claim her.

Mark her.

Devour her.

Talbot quickly exits, leaving me alone with Violet. With a concentrated amount of effort, I push the monster back.

“You should leave. I’m particularly dangerous in this moment,” I warn her, my vision blurring when the monster damn near rushes to the surface in protest.

She quickly crosses the distance between us, taking my hand, and then abruptly climbs onto my lap.

This isn’t helping me suppress the dark, starving beast inside me. Not at all.

Free me.

Free me.

Give her to me.

My arms go around her, and I fight the urge to rip the daring little outfit from her delectable, tempting body.

I can’t make myself release her. This isn’t going to end well.

Give her to me.

“I’m sorry. About Idun using Dorian. I didn’t understand how broken—”

“Don’t feel sorry for Dorian,” I tell her, closing my eyes and straining for control. “It’s been too long for him to still be this weak. He was weak to a demon’s influence, as he led our family into battle, unknowingly claiming his right as firstborn. He may have been influenced, but he’s made all his own choices. Just as we all have. I genuinely have few regrets, because my conscience is nothing more than a sliver. I’m a monster, I created monsters, and monsters need a monster to keep order. Dorian, however, is a broken monster. A man who couldn’t handle his life as a human and was forced into an alpha role by birthright.”

I run my hand through her hair, inhaling it against my nose. Just her