Gypsy Moon (All The Pretty Monsters #4)(44)

“Thanks for the warning,” I tell him dryly.

“The warning is that you only think you know the many ways her curse differs from all ours. The reality of the situation is that you don’t have a clue. But I do.”

His lips tug up at one corner of his mouth, and my eyes narrow.

“Violet will be perfectly safe once Idun realizes where I stand, and so long as you help me get Violet, I’ll even give the three of you one pass apiece from whatever stupid thing you do to rile Idun,” Arion offers, laying out a deal with the devil before us.

Damien and I stay silent, so Arion reiterates his comment.

“One pass.” He holds up his index finger up in illustration. “Your choice of when to use it as well.”

His confidence is back, but I’ve seen it waver in the past few minutes, possibly because he had no idea she was up and already likely stalking us.

The second that thought crosses my mind, it’s like everything sinks in. She’s already likely stalking us…

“Violet is the first recorded pureblood Neopry, and by chance, she also happens to be the first pureblood Portocale immortal. Is she omega or beta, since she seems to be a combination of both? Her blood complicates the smell, since it’s so strongly Portocale, so it’s impossible to tell that way—”

“Why are you bloody rambling about this right now?” Arion interrupts, shooting an agitated look in my direction.

“Idun’s likely been working on learning the world around her. A thousand years is quite the gap, so even if she’s been stalking us, it’s doubtful it’s been for long. Crossing the sea isn’t as easy as it once was, at least not for someone who doesn’t understand the human world’s evolution. She’s lying low, since she hasn’t left an obvious bloody trail anywhere, which means she’s being methodical,” I explain. “It’s possible she doesn’t know much about Violet, because Violet is rather unremarkable to the passive eye. However, Idun will work the law against us when she returns. We need to be a few steps ahead.”

Damien opens his mouth like he’s about to get angry, so I roll my eyes before adding, “I’m not referring to Violet’s understated beauty as being unremarkable, and I said to the passive eye. Her understated beauty is quite remarkable, and Idun will hate her for it. I’m referring to the very hidden layers of Violet that only surface in moments of trust, abandon, and pure vulnerability. Aside from some of us—”

“All of us,” Arion interrupts like he knows what I’m about to say and points a finger at his chest. “I’ve had those moments from her as well. It’s possibly why I’m so impatient at current. She stopped giving me those moments.”

“When did she start?” Damien asks him on a tired sigh.

“I’m not making it up, but you don’t deserve details,” Arion prattles on like an errant child, as he looks away and sulks.

“She’s stoic with me. I never get any insight into what’s going on inside her head, so clearly you’re all special. Can we move along to the part where Idun is up and some of us can die?” Shera interjects, holding up a finger.

“She won’t be that aggressive so early,” Arion tells her. “And you’re safe. I’ve told you this.”

“I happen to have vampire friends,” she says on a frustrated breath as she shakes her head. “Obviously, I’m my number one priority, but I’d like for some of them to live as well,” she adds like it needs to be said.

“I’m not a bloody miracle worker,” Arion tells her, looking over at me.

“Back to my point: Violet is the first Simpleton pureblood, and she’s…complicated as far as bloodlines go. We have no idea what rules Idun will try to place, and now we know Edmond wants her dead as well. Until now, we’ve assumed the Portocale in her would keep her safe from joining any House. The one thing we could rely on was Portocale gypsies looking out for Portocale gypsies,” I remind all of them. “We need to plan for that, because that’s how Idun will go after Violet.”

“She won’t go after Violet. I can promise that,” Arion drones on.

“To be safe, there should be a system. Surely Simpleton Neopry monsters differ in ways that can’t be imitated, so as to counter the grab-and-switch possibility. Start there,” Shera points out, getting talked over by Arion, as he continues to argue that Idun will stay in her place.

“Shera’s heard a little bit more than I’m okay with at this point, including the part about Violet being immortal,” Damien chimes in, drawing all our attention to Shera at once.

She swallows thickly. “I sharpen your pencils. I even custom designed some especially for sharpening and for toxic poisoning,” she says, smiling brightly over at Arion. “I’m a good beta.”

“She doesn’t talk. She’s perfectly trustworthy,” Arion says with more certainty than he should be capable of.

Shera’s shoulders relax, and she picks up a few folders, stacking them onto her arm.

“I think I’ll take leave now.”

The second the door closes behind her, Damien mutters something under his breath that I miss.

“It’s like Violet discussed—betas and omegas hear far more than we pay attention to, not perceiving them to be our threat,” he says more clearly. “With Idun up, the shit will hit the fan soon enough.”