Gypsy Moon (All The Pretty Monsters #4)(28)

Vance resists the urge to smile, like they’re sharing in some inside joke.

I’m going to box that cock right in the face the moment Violet isn’t looking.

“No, it only almost worked because Idun broke the rules,” Arion says very matter-of-factly, as though he’s on the inside too.

Vance looks at him with the same confusion I do, and Violet snaps her attention to us.

“How long exactly have you been spying?” she asks very seriously.

Vance’s eyes narrow on Arion, even as he keeps his body acting as a cage around Violet, effectively trapping her and staking his claim.

I need her to leave so I can clock that pompous prick in the stupid face.

I’ve been fully feeding with Violet enough to get back a surprising amount of strength.

I think I can take him.

My fists unfold when I see her start kissing a trail up his arm with far too much comfort and ease—something she hasn’t really had with him until now. It’s certainly more comfort and ease than she’s had with even me, and I thought I was out in front.

Damn it all to hell. Now I sound as stupid as Arion.

“I’ll let the three of you talk about whatever while I go get supplies,” she says in a small whisper when her lips reach his ear.

Clearly she thinks our hearing is far less significant than it is.

He still has one hand tangled in her slightly messy hair, and he holds her to him like he does a prize trophy around possible thieves, eyes glaring at us.

Now I also see why Vance has been missing in action for two solid days. Why is Violet treating him like her damn boyfriend?

She kisses the side of his neck again, and he reluctantly releases her.

I barely catch a glimpse of all that pale, supple skin before she’s tugging on one of his good shirts.

Vance stands and starts pulling on a pair of discarded trousers.

Arion blocks her way before she can get gone, and her eyes lift to meet his, as she patiently awaits whatever it is he wants to say.

“I may have thought of you as a replacement for Idun while you were presumed very mortal,” the vampire tells her as he presses closer.

She stands still, unflinching.

Vance shakes his head and rolls his eyes.

Arion, careful not to directly touch her, adjusts the warped collar of the button down that hits her mid-thigh.

His eyes grow more serious as they narrow.

“But you’re not mortal. I only learned that just before you went missing. Be glad I learned it, Violet. That monster you threw yourself in front of so quickly was a tamed version, because there was only tempered rage. Don’t ever do something like that again.”

She just continues to stare directly into his eyes until she finally gives a small nod.

He steps out of the way, and she jogs up the stairs.

“You bugged my fucking house, didn’t you?” Vance asks the vampire the second we hear the door shut up top.

Violet’s senses aren’t quite as good as ours.

I look over at Arion, idly wondering if he’s that clever.

Arion nods like it should have been obvious. “Of course I did. She’s not going to tell us directly what we’ve done wrong. I needed to know, and now I do,” he answers unapologetically.

“I really should do a better job of keeping up with technology,” I note aloud to myself.

“I just got tired of waiting on you to come out of the basement. It’s the one room of the house I didn’t bother to bug,” Arion adds on a breath of annoyance.

“How did this even happen?” I decide to ask, gesturing around at the sex pallet they’ve thoroughly ruffled.

Vance’s lips tug into a smirk. “I gave her a gift.”

“She doesn’t like gifts. All that chocolate is wasting as effectively as the flowers I sent,” I’m quick to argue. “Aside from the shit you’ve been feeding each other down here.”

“Wrong gifts, apparently,” Arion says before taking a seat on the floor. “I’m seeing she likes a softer approach. Damien stays in too much trouble.”

Now I want to punch the vampire too, but I don’t think I’ve fed enough to take him yet.

I settle for a bored look to cast in his direction, not letting him see he’s riling me, and look back over to Vance.

“Fuck you both,” I decide to say before turning and jogging up the stairs to where Violet is.

She’s filling a small basket with waters and some sandwich things when I reach the kitchen. Is the damn girl planning a weird basement picnic?

I shouldn’t envy Vance so much in this moment for something so…confusing. Why is a dank basement romantic?

“Whatever he bought you, I’ll buy you five,” I say conversationally as I hop up on the counter next to the basket and take one of the bottles like she’s also including me in this picnic.

“Can they hear me?” she asks in a quiet voice.

“Certainly,” I tell her.

She nods like she expected that and turns to grab a pen and a piece of paper from a drawer, as though she knows where everything in his house is.

I’d forgotten what jealousy feels like, but I really do want to see if I can land a painful punch on Vance’s smug face right now.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her very plainly, and loudly enough for them to hear in case she needs proof that I’m not too prideful to apologize in front of— “What’d you do?” she muses, still writing beside the basket that’s interrupting my view.