Gypsy Truths (All The Pretty Monsters #6)- Kristy Cunning Page 0,94

tiger.

“Because Arion can be sweet when he wants to be.”

My smile falls and I immediately feel guilty for my brief moment of happiness over a costume, when I remember what Emit’s going through.

As if my thoughts have summoned him, Emit ducks to enter the room, and straightens back to his intimidating height.

Autumn eyes stare into mine, proving his wolf is near the surface. His beard has been trimmed, but is still long enough to get a grip on, if needed. His hair is barely damp, as though he came here after a shower.

Dressed in jeans and a sleeveless Aerosmith shirt, he props at a lean against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, as he stares at me.

I’ve been desperate to speak to him, and now I have no words.

“The other night was supposed to be a really good, sacred thing you were sharing with me, and I ruined it by crossing a line,” I blurt out. “I’m sorry, Emit. I wish I had never—”

“We know more today than we did before that day, so it’s best if the truth came out. I knew it was too easy to have her come out like she did. It’s always been a risk to take a woman to bed,” he says, pushing away from the wall, as he comes toward me.

I hate her.

I’ve used that word before. It’s a running joke between Anna and I.

In all my life, I’ve never truly, sincerely hated anyone. However, I hate Idun.

I hate her.

“Arion’s informed me that if I ruin his big day tomorrow, he will destroy me. Don’t let Idun’s many fucked up antics sour the good times, Violet. That’s just one of the many ways she breaks you. You’ll find hundreds of other cruel breadcrumbs like that one. I’m sure it’s only the start of many ways she’s been fucking with our lives,” he goes on, having no leading emotion.

He sounds more tired than anything. Not defeated. Not upset. Not depressed. Not any of the many things I was worried about him feeling.

“You’re okay?” I ask him quietly.

“She killed one of my omegas and switched places with her. I never expected anything of the sort the entire time, and once more feel like a fool, while also grieving another wolf I lost. One that I’d sworn to protect. No, I’m not okay. But it’s not the sort of thing that can break me, Violet. No need to worry so much,” he assures me, tipping my chin back as he invades my space.

A small, content sound vibrates his chest when he runs his hand under the back of my shirt, feeling the scars there.

“I never have to question if you’re mine or not. These can’t be faked,” he tells me. “At least, not to me. I can feel the claim resising in the marks.”

He bends, and I tip my head back, feeling the brush of his firm lips against mine. The soft press of his beard tickles against my cheek, when he runs his lips along my jaw.

“Enjoy yourself very freely tomorrow. I’ve already grieved Fay’s loss, even though I grieved her at the wrong moment in time. I still grieved her loss. I have no desire to do it again. Idun’s done this countless times in the past. I’m desensitized to even this, Violet. Don’t fret so much.”

He cups my cheek, his head pulling back so that his eyes stare down into mine.

“We’ll have a chance to test her strength tomorrow,” he says, confusing me a little. “We have our own plan. Trust us.”

He leans forward. I lean forward. At some point, his lips are pressed to mine, and he kisses me. My arms wind around his neck, pulling him closer, but he breaks this kiss, breathing heavily as his hands grip me at the waist.

“As much as I would love losing myself in you, especially after the rough few days, I’m afraid I have to escort some wolves to the running lands. Also, there’s a stamp on your forehead that spells ‘LOSER,’ and I’m finding it terribly distracting during this really intense moment.”

I jerk my head to the right to where a mirror is hanging on the wall, and my eyes widen in horror. Shera, that bitch, said nothing.

The ghosts who haunt my life in an attempt to make me miserable? Unsurprisingly, they said nothing at all either.

“I’m not even sure what that came from, but—”

Anna snorts, and I turn to where she’s shaking with silent laughter in the corner. When I