Gypsy Moon (All The Pretty Monsters #4)(36)

She gestures between us, and I groan.

“What are you?” she outright asks.

I…don’t want to deal with this right now.

With a straight face, I answer, “The forgotten monster that made clumsy bumps in the night. You’re safe with me…so long as I don’t panic,” I tell her as I turn and walk out.

I expect some follow-up questions, but when I turn to look over my shoulder, she doesn’t look surprised or even farther intrigued—as if she knew the answer and just needed some sort of confirmation, even vague silliness like I spewed. If anything, she almost looks like she feels sorry for me.

“I’ll remain with your father until you get home to take him into your own custody,” she says, all business, as everything else sort of shuts down on her face. “He’s not allowed to leave town or go unsupervised by someone Arion’s not approved of,” she continues, causing my brow to furrow.

“He has a business, and he doesn’t live here. He even has—”

“He put a stake through Arion’s heart, and too many vampires have heard those whispers. It’s already an issue, Violet,” she cuts in, a slightly annoyed look now crossing her features. “Stupid vampires who masquerade as brave and fearless are too often found in every dark corner of every House. He doesn’t leave your custody because he may or may not be killed by a vampire. Do you see the full extent of Arion’s affections for you, or should I spell it out the rest of the way?”

I take my own breath of annoyance when she grows increasingly condescending.

“He obviously doesn’t receive protection if he makes a threat on an alpha,” I deduce.

“But Arion is extending protection to said fool when in company of his prized possession,” she adds, heaping on the condescension. “Keep rejecting him, and eventually—”

“I just found out my mother quite literally lied to me my entire life, and I’m trying to reason that in my head,” I cut in this time, my tone growing a little harsh.

Shera looks briefly confused as she clears her throat and looks down. Possibly guilt? Do vampires feel guilt?

With the music blaring from somewhere, I’m not too worried about being overheard.

“I’m grateful to Arion, but Arion is the type of guy who will take sex, or whatever it is he wants, to the next level real damn fast. I’m clinging to the brake of a skidding car off the side of a snowy mountain every second I’m with him. I currently don’t have the emotional fortitude to tackle something like that, and to be honest, I’m more concerned with the rest of my life falling into hundreds of pieces all around me while I try to stand under the raining debris.”

My voice cracks near the end, which is the only thing that halts my rant. She continues to look down, and even gives a lazy toe tap, nodding like she gets it.

“Sorry,” she finally says. “Your lack of reaction is sometimes mistaken for casual dismissal. I thought you’d taken your mother’s betrayal quite easily.”

“Just because she lied, it doesn’t mean she betrayed me,” I say as I turn and walk briskly toward the stairs. “Mom always has a reason,” I add very firmly, even as I swallow the lump in my throat.

Arion is staring idly, twirling a pencil in his hand, perching himself next to a desk, as I finish descending the stairs. Dad is nowhere to be seen, and Damien’s eyes are…telling.

“You’re working an illusion,” I say without preamble.

He reaches over and cuts the music off, smiling tightly.

“There’s something going on you don’t want or need to see, love,” Arion says with a dark smile and dead eyes. “You were supposed to take the front exit with your father.”

He glances up the stairs to where Shera is swallowing hard. “Sorry, Alpha. Got distracted,” she says quickly. “I thought you were leaving.”

“I really hate it when you order her to drive me around like I’m incapable and she’s a slave,” I point out with a bit of admitted misdirected anger.

A harsh exhale escapes me once again, but I feel some minor relief when Vance moves in behind me, kissing the side of my neck, as his arms go around my waist.

“We’ve already established that I’m driving Violet and her father home, not Shera. I’ll return. She needs to pack and square the store away with the omegas if we’re leaving in two days,” Vance says, worrying me a little.

Given how very attentive they all are on me, I’m actually glad I can’t see whatever it is I shouldn’t be seeing. Or they’re being deliberately confusing about the driving situation on purpose to distract me from what I shouldn’t be a party to right now.

“Can I talk to you before I go?” I ask Damien.

“Of course,” Damien answers, moving toward the side door.

His brow furrows, as Arion disappears from the room. In less than a few blinks, Arion returns with a pair of red boots and a red coat, both beautiful.

“Tell the animals she’s special, and the animals start treating her like she’s invincible,” Arion says with a roll of his eyes.

Everyone looks confused.

“It’s cold outside,” he adds like he’s spelling it out…for Emit.

Emit gives him a small growl, as Arion holds out the jacket for me, giving it an impatient wiggle when I study how similar the fabric is to my mother’s cloak.