Gypsy Moon (All The Pretty Monsters #4)(67)
There’s a robe hanging on the back of the door that must have come with the bathing room, and the shirt I gave her is neatly folded and waiting on the counter.
I’m curious to see which one of those she wears out of here.
Her red coat is hanging on another hook, and I smirk as I ask, “You threw all your clothes at Blue. Why not the coat?”
She seems to be working on getting soap out of her eye as she answers me with distraction. “Felt wrong to de-thread such a nice gift. Where did you find that fabric? It’s so much like Mom’s cloak.”
A small smile graces my lips, because she wouldn’t take the bloody gift, and now she won’t risk it because it’s precious to her. Quite the enigma, our little Violet.
“Portocale gypsies have particular blends of threads they like to wear, based on the clothing option. I plan to extort my knowledge to the fullest extent in order to impress you.”
She looks over her shoulder, eyes meeting mine, as she arches an eyebrow.
“I’m already impressed,” she states like she feels I need to know that. “That’s not the barrier, Arion. Please don’t make me feel guilty for trying to navigate very tricky water. I’m already out of my depth and struggling to stay on the surface.”
“From snowball analogies to drowning ones,” I point out dryly. “When you feel like you’re soaring, I’ll stop.”
“I don’t particularly like soaring,” she states with a shrug, turning back to the water. “I prefer a nice, comfortable speed that gets me to where I’m going and allows me to soak in the scenery along the way. And I like being close to the ground.”
“Enough time around us will give you more of an adventurous spirit, love. To be honest, we could probably use a dose of it ourselves,” I state idly, glancing down to see Vance’s new message stating he wants to speak to Violet.
He can fuck the hell right off.
This is my time. I sent him a video, because I’ve also changed my mind about letting her call him. I want her to myself for a little while.
She gives me a small smile over her shoulder again. “I’m guessing Idun was pretty adventurous.”
I thought the new girlfriends didn’t like discussing the old girlfriends, but Violet seems oddly at ease every single time she brings her up.
It makes me want to taste her blood again just to double check. Then she slips and almost falls, catching herself just barely, and I know for certain it’s not Idun. Idun wouldn’t even fake a stumble. Too much pride.
Violet rights herself quickly, and I answer like I didn’t notice the fact the poor girl occasionally struggles with the basics—standing on her own two feet.
I’m not sure why she hasn’t been under constant surveillance already.
“Quite adventurous, yes,” I tell her conversationally, as I take a seat on the counter next to my folded shirt, wondering how she’d act if I just stepped in with her.
I think I promised to behave…
Why did I do that?
When she grows quiet and just stares at me expectantly, I realize she wants a more elaborate answer.
“She was a top hunter—almost better than even Vance. Like him, she was the only other among us to hunt for sport in those days. The rest of us only hunted for the food we needed, but the trophy hunts made the two of them twice as good as the rest of us. Then.”
My gaze flicks to the mirror behind me, seeing my darkened eyes, as the memories try to turn into a storm.
“Vance was always the one she chased the hardest. Damien was the second most chased. Emit was…not really chased as hard or as eagerly. After immortality, he became a bit whiny.”
She says nothing, and I take it as the cue she wants to hear more.
“Vance loved her hunting spirit that felt kindred to his,” I add, causing her to bristle.
“I hate hunting. I always feel sorry for the animals, but then I also feel hypocritical because I can’t seem to go vegan,” she tells me, causing my lips to curve up in an unexpected grin.
Certainly not Idun.
“With Damien, she had to be crafty. He was a man who loved sex and women, but didn’t really intend to settle down. But Idun could be the most beautiful woman in the room when she wanted to be, and Damien loved to be the man with the most beautiful woman on his arm.”
Violet bristles again, shaking her head.
“Maybe then. Now he just wants to be acknowledged by genuinely interested people,” she points out, and I cant my head as I sit back. “It’s shitty how people just overlook him when they realize they’ll forget him soon enough. Damien makes it hard to get close to him, but he’s still worth all the effort.”
“He spent centuries building that island he’s alone on, Violet. No need to pity him quite so much. He’s playing you most of the time.”
She nods like she believes me.
“Are you agreeing or just nodding so as not to have to argue?” I ask her, suspicious.
“I believe you think he’s playing me,” she answers in a non-answering sort of way.
“He still wants you,” I inform her, so as not to tear that rope out of the ceiling, just in case. “But he does play games, and to him, you’re like a lovely prey he gets to truly enjoy. The first thing Idun will do is lift his curse, though, love. Prepare yourself for that.”