Gypsy Freak (All The Pretty Monsters #2)(19)

She clings to me like a spider monkey, as I shroud us in illusion, removing us from the naked eye as we walk through the rabid, bloodthirsty battle. It’s mild in comparison to what it once was between these two, so I have no idea why she’s trembling like she is.

“I’m not ready for this,” she groans against my neck, hiding her face there.

My grip tightens on her, and I debate whisking her away to enjoy some alone time with her while she’s in a more…pleasantly touching mood.

Until I hear Emit’s roar from inside. The entire house rattles seconds before there’s a loud crash around back.

“Who wins in a fight? Werewolves or vampires?” she whispers close to my ear.

“Right now, I’m more concerned with the fact Arion woke up in that coffin for an undetermined amount of time, and he may very well kill the mongrel and all the wolves he brought with him,” he answers. “Emit won’t be talked down by you, but Arion just might.”

“Have you lost your mind?” she snaps, pulling her head back, eyes wide with horror, just as a massive wolf yelps and goes soaring out of the home.

I watch, somewhat stunned, as Emit’s dark wolf struggles to stand, badly beaten and bloody. Arion walks out with a smug, careless grin on his face, shirtless skin streaked with more blood that isn’t his, and claws distended.

His eyes move over to me, and his sadistic grin only widens when he sees Violet in my arms.

“How fucked up are you?” I ask under my breath as he struts out, licking Emit’s blood from his claws.

Violet’s breath catches in her throat when her eyes lock on his, and I look between them as I cock my head.

“Hello, love. Fancy seeing you here so soon,” Arion drawls.

Violet stiffens in my arms.

“Now I remember,” she says quietly as a small tremor goes through her, and she clutches me tighter.

“Okay, so this was a terrible idea,” I say to myself. “Where the fuck is Vance?”





Chapter 8





VIOLET


The wolf on the ground across from us groans, and Arion’s attention snaps back to it.

“More, Emit? Really? Haven’t you bled enough for the night?” Arion asks him, grinning like he’s enjoying all of this.

That pitiful wolf is Emit?

Seeing the blood streaming from the deep gashes across his sides, back and face has me scrambling out of Damien’s arms. Fortunately, I’m still wearing boots as I jog toward the large wolf without really thinking.

The wolf turns and growls at me, and I second guess if it’s really Emit or not, the same man who let me feed him cookies like they were the greatest things ever.

His growl tapers off, and he steps in front of me before turning his attention to Damien and really growling.

“Yes, well, I’m the charmer, not the thinker of the bunch. It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Damien tells him defensively.

Emit’s growl rumbles deeper, and Damien takes a step back. “Psychotic alpha vampire on the rabid edge trumps poor-decision-making Morpheous,” Damien adds.

Emit side-steps into me like he’s pushing me back, the top of his back almost eye-level with me, since he’s massive in comparison to all the other wolves toward the front of the house.

My eyes lift and lock with Arion’s again as the memories continue flooding back.

Arion just winks at me. “Choosing sides, love? I’d hoped you wouldn’t do such a thing. It makes me rethink my plan.”

Emit’s growl thunders this time, and he turns abruptly, knocking the air out of me with his back half as I’m slung back several feet, landing hard in the snow.

That’s when he launches himself at Arion.

I really wish I had on my arsenal bra right now instead of just Vance’s sheet.

“C’mon, wolf. Let’s finish this so everyone can get on with their bloody night then,” Arion says in an amused drawl just as Emit snaps his jaws, barely missing Arion’s throat.

Arion moves like a streak of dark wind, and he’s suddenly behind him, kicking him hard in the stomach.

Emit yelps then snarls before snapping again, catching Arion on the arm just enough to make the vampire hiss in pain, before he punches Emit in the face with his free hand.

Five more punches sends Emit off him, but now Arion is cursing his mangled arm.

I’ve never been accused of being the smartest girl in the world, but for a second, I allow myself to pretend that Arion is still Ace, since it makes it easier to run toward him instead of away from him.

Never get in the middle of two dogs fighting…that’s the rule of thumb. No one ever said anything about wolves and vampires.

Just as Emit forces himself up to an unsteady stance, Arion’s attention turns to me. His eyes widen when Emit launches himself once more, and the vampire moves like that streak of wind again.

I feel myself being lifted seconds before the dizzying sensations of spinning, and I clutch whatever is closest.

When we stop moving, I realize my arms are around Arion’s neck, and he’s still holding me off the ground.

“You really shouldn’t interfere, gypsy girl,” Arion tells me, smiling over at Emit, whose growls have intensified to the point of rattling the ground under us.

I can feel the vibrations through Arion’s body, since my feet are dangling.