Gypsy Moon (All The Pretty Monsters #4)(34)

Damien is arguing they were going to keep this quiet until they had things squared away with certainty, so as not to give me false hope or information.

I swallow the bile in my throat as they keep talking, filling me in on how gypsy-hopping usually works, and how Mom shouldn’t have been able to gypsy-hop so soon. Then they talk about the limbo she’s supposed to endure for so many years, and blah, blah, blah.

I realize this is important chatter, but my mind only hears white noise when it all comes crashing down.

A tear tries to fall, but I clear my throat and hold the single, persistent tear at bay, as Emit shoves at Arion’s chest, calling him a string of names for the way he’s handled this delicate situation.

Dad keeps getting frustrated about the arguing, telling everyone to lower their voices, as I touch my chest. The thing draining spirits…was Mom. Somehow, she attached something to me so she could beat the odds and return early.

Now it’s gone.

Is she back, or did I somehow manage to screw up her early return without even meaning to?

Vance kneels in front of me, as everyone else continues to argue, aside from Shera, who is making a conscious effort to feign interest in stacking up the deck of cards…one card at a time.

Vance gently turns my face so that our eyes meet, and my chin wobbles just enough for his jaw to tic, as he glares over at Arion.

“Can you take me home?” I ask Vance, causing a rapid silence to descend over the room.

“Of course,” he tells me quietly as he stands, jaw tensing.

Shera nudges me with her elbow, and I glance over as she gives me a subtle, sharp look. She deliberately glances over at Arion before standing. She says a lot without words, and she places the deck of cards in front of my father.

Then she walks out, as Arion makes a frustrated sound and stares out the window like his plan fell apart at the witching hour.

Damien and Emit walk out. Emit punches a hole through the wall as he goes, giving one last lethal look to the back of Arion’s head.

Arion continues simply staring out the window, hands in fists, as he perches there.

The vampire with no soul doesn’t really understand how to break life-altering news to someone.

I put a small pin in my emotions. I’m getting sick of all the revelations.

“I’ll get your father a ride home,” Vance tells me as he gestures for Dad to stand.

Dad shakes his head and crosses his arms.

“I’m not going anywhere without Violet.”

“You’re going downstairs, and Shera is going to take you to my house, because I have a lot to process,” I tell Dad very directly.

He stands and walks out without more argument, and Vance stares expectantly at me.

“I’ll meet you downstairs,” I tell him.

Arion cuts his head just slightly, proving he’s listening, even as he remains at the window.

Vance glances from him to me, before nodding and walking out, and a heavy breath passes through my lips.

Arion turns and faces me, crossing his arms over his chest, undoubtedly annoyed with the fact I’m not all over him for whatever reason.

“I told you the truth. You keep rattling on about wanting it, and I gave it to you, and yet you’re leaving with Vance—”

He shuts up abruptly when I grab the back of his neck and start pulling him down, and just like always, he consumes me when his lips land on mine.

Why the hell am I all over him? Why are tears leaking down my face? Why do I hurt and feel relief after learning my mother kept so many secrets?

He groans against my mouth in relieved surprise, lifting me, as both his hands grab handfuls of ass like he’s been dying to do that all day.

His kiss is the kind of kiss that makes smart girls make bad decisions, even when they’re not forged from broken pieces of lies and secrets. I’ve never claimed to be very smart, so I can only imagine how many bad decisions I’d make if I turned myself over to a man who is truly in love with another monster.

My ass lands on a hard surface, and his hands travel up my thighs, spreading them as he steps into the space he’s created, kissing me harder as he reaches between us like he’s about to undo his jeans and seize the moment on this window’s ledge.

He groans against my lips again, more frustration than relief this time, when I grab his wrists to stop him and break the kiss.

His hands move fast, breaking my hold, as he drags me to him and starts kissing me again, like he’s quickly distracting me before I end this entirely.

“I’ll slow down,” he murmurs against my lips, even as he grinds against me in a way that suggests he’s showing me what I’m missing.

It’s surprisingly hard to break the kiss the second time, but my head is so overwhelmed that it’s the distraction I need to remind myself why resisting Arion is the only thing I can do.

“Thank you,” I whisper across his lips, as he huffs out another breath, leaning back as his eyes narrow on mine. “For not hurting my father, even though he tried to…kill you.”

No way to cushion that. My life is entirely too fucked up.

His face doesn’t change. “I don’t want gratitude, Violet. I want you. I proved I can be as damn dependable as all them, and—”

“And we’re leaving soon to prepare to raise Idun,” I remind him, causing him to make another frustrated sound, as he abruptly releases me and runs a hand through his hair.