Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,85

Anna.

“Am I wrong?” Anna goads, grinning as she skips along beside us. She turns her attention to me. “By the way, you’re probably an even worse dresser than Violet.”

I look down my body, remembering how I’m dressed, belatedly. I don’t even argue with the ghost. It’s been a shit day.

“Sharing my mate is harder than I remember. Especially so soon after mating you,” I tell her as I pull away, threading my fingers with hers, after her hand falls from my side.

We get a few eyebrow raises. Her poorly structured dress gets just as much attention as my bare upper body. The shoulders are uneven, and her hem is four different lengths. It’s done in a way that doesn’t look at all intentional.

“I told you to buy off the rack instead of making your own clothes. You’re too cheap even for that,” Anna groans.

“I’m not cheap. Have you seen how much running Sanctuary has cost me? If I was cheap, I’d still have money buried in the mountains,” Violet argues.

“Why do you have money buried?” I ask, only because I keep hearing mention of it and it makes no sense.

“Because people bury treasure when they want to keep it safe. They keep their mouths shut about it if they don’t want people hunting their treasure. Now there’s no more money buried, so it’s no longer a secret,” she says on a sad sigh, as though this is terribly tragic.

“I’ll never understand your priorities,” Anna states, rolling her eyes, as she disappears.

“Violet?” I say quietly, just as we near the edge of my property, the tall gate coming into view.

“Yes?” she answers, distractedly staring into the horizon where the sun is setting.

I release her hand as we walk through the gates, because I feel my skin tingling, promising a shift is on the verge of being forced.

“The reason this wasn’t told to you, is because it’s a sacred, private thing among our people. Only some of the alphas know about it. We’re the most dangerous on this moon, because we can act with a clearer head and greater strength. However, no wolf fights. No wolf leaves our lands, because that’s where the magic is strongest. It’s a high like no other, and even some without gypsy blood can glimpse the dead. We all have those we miss.”

A small smile curves one corner of her lips.

“Thanks for bringing—”

Her words end on a squeak, just as we round the corner of my house, because I can’t deny the burning in my veins any longer. Twisting through the air, feeling weightless for a brief moment, my muscles pull with that familiar, easy stretch.

She stumbles back, as my fur grows and my body fully changes, all before my front paws feel the grit of dirt under my pads. The air smells crisper, the wind feels closer, and the scent of wolves surrounding us doesn’t cause me to worry.

For once.

That serene, peaceful bliss slides over me, almost comparing to the moments I can steal inside a bubble with Violet. One of those bubbles where nothing and no one can penetrate our moment.

She’s smiling over at me when the sky echoes with unified howls, and I turn, tipping my head back to join in.

I forgot to tell her she’s the only outsider I’ve ever allowed in.

Chapter 23

VIOLET

A raw, deep, guttural, almost longing howl sounds as though it’s dragged from Emit’s throat, his instincts demanding he join the others.

I don’t know why I find it so fascinating to simply watch him.

He glances at me, and then he turns to start toward the others. He struggles to keep a slower pace, so that I can keep up.

The moon is so bright that it feels like it’s doubled in size. The rings that are glowing off it give it such an illusion.

I get only mildly alarmed when I realize there isn’t anyone else in skin, and historically, wolves have a tendency to want me dead.

But the worry is fleeting, because Emit brought me here. He would never deliberately bring me into the center of danger.

Some wolves barely even spare me a glance. Some actually bow for both of us, as Emit walks me through the widening path of wolves stepping aside for their alpha. It’s the greatest show of respect I’ve seen the collective group offer him yet.

He moves at an even gait, as they all move to their bellies, until not a single wolf is standing. Deciding to pay respect, I move to the ground, also lowering to my