Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,4

five senses,” he boasts, just as another wave of blades stab me.

I can’t even scream this time, because I’m gagging for every breath against the mouthfuls of blood that are drowning me.

Clawing at my throat and gasping for a breath, fighting through the excruciating pain, as my heartbeat ratchets up, making each strike twice as miserable, I begin to panic.

But not even my panic draws forth my monster. It’s the first time I’ve ever started panicking without the liberating relief of a faint.

My heartbeat is too fast and refuses to drop even a little.

I can’t see what’s really going on, because in my head, we’re in a roomful of mirrors. Dorian is now at the of the hallway, while I strip out of my clothes, baring my body for him.

No!

“That’s a good girl,” he tells me.

My mind screams for relief, as I watch myself spread my legs in invitation, grinning at the devil I’d never really accept with such ease.

“I’ll let my monster loose on you and see how resilient your lovely little body really is,” Dorian whispers in my ear and in the illusion, giving the words a surrounding-echo effect.

This time, it feels like he’s added two thousand blades, and my heart rushes to a rhythm that leaves me more vulnerable, exposed, and powerless than I’ve ever felt in my life.

“Please, no,” I manage to beg, only to choke on twice the amount of blood in the next painful, barely catchable breath.

Chapter 2

VANCE

“I’ve already told you what you have to do in order for me to take you on as a beta,” Damien tells Talbot Lane, his new shadow, who seems to be popping up too frequently. “For now, I have an alpha meeting to attend. Idun is doing all she can to regain our attention, and this is just yet another stunt of hers we have to deal with.”

Impromptu fucking alpha meetings? Idun is looking desperate by this point.

She’s done all she could to lure us back into watching Idun TV, and since that hasn’t worked, now she’s resorted to this.

Talbot takes a calming breath, bowing as if he’s conceding. For now. He’s certainly too persistent to give up. He almost stares after Damien longingly, as the deviant walks hastily toward us, genuinely incensed about this meeting.

I’m incensed about the fact I have a pressing weight on my shoulders, as though I’m forgetting something important. A desire to return to Violet claws at my mind, and I blame it on the fact I was seconds away from being able to enjoy her again.

Before Idun TV ruined our day.

This morning started out so promising. All four of us had Violet in our clutches, and she was really considering taking all four of us. Then the bloody wolf and vampire got her all to themselves, because of the screaming omegas, who heard Idun’s threat.

“I’ll be calling an alpha meeting with the Heads of all Houses to discuss reinstating trial-by-combat. Any alphas not in attendance will forfeit their right for input and will willingly sacrifice no less than thirty omegas in penalty. It’s within my right to request the Van Helsings uphold our laws, no matter how old they may be. To me, the law is still relevant. We’re monsters. We’re not mere mortals. I think it’s time we remember our roots, instead of catering to a greedy world that’s forgotten how to be humble. Trial by combat is just one of the many great reasons monsters are better than men. We settle our scores with the fairest, simplest survival rules—survival of the fittest.”

Fucking cunning bitch. She’ll build her armies quickly enough with that speech. After centuries of living in hiding for fear of persecution for their many war crimes, shifters have gotten harder, more ruthless, and far more vindictive. Meanwhile, their ruthless, vindictive alpha left them to rot on their own, showing weakness for the first time. The strongest will always return to the flock, because they love the violence. They will fight until the death—always.

“Instead of alphas duking it out over House disputes, why not let our betas have their chance at last? We’ll give you your voice with the combat trials. It won’t be for personal conflicts. It’ll be for your House!”

She sounded on a roll, and just kept giving her scripted, sinisterly motivational speech. She’s always done this—used the fiercest, loudest people to push her agenda. Catering to bloodthirsty betas is her specialty.

I genuinely thought we’d finally have the upper hand. But she’s coming out with a