Gypsy Freak (All The Pretty Monsters #2)(27)

Damien snorts with humor this time, and I feel him shaking with silent laughter next to me.

Dad turns and frowns at me again as I roll my eyes. “I wasn’t that odd. I was just tired. And I don’t meow. Do I have mice? Are there other rodents besides mice that come inside? Or snakes? What made the feral cat claim this as a hunting ground?”

“I’ll check it out. I’m going to be in and out all day, so don’t stick around on my account. I’ll let you know when I’ve finished up for the day. Maybe I’ll still be up when you get home from whatever it is you have tonight.”

Damien nudges me, but I’m busy watching the cat dart out, relieved it’s gone.

“I have no idea what time it will be,” I say to Dad, grimacing.

Damien starts silently shaking again.

I really miss Anna.

Speaking of which…

I hop off the counter as Dad heads back out. Again. It really feels awkward having him here. In Mom’s house.

The urn is right where I left it, and I pick it up, carrying it upstairs.

“I thought your mother was buried,” Damien calls from just behind me when I reach the inside of my room.

I was hoping he wouldn’t follow.

“This is Anna. I have to put her in a bunch of my salt balls, per her final request. And I’m going to do it at your house, since you’re clearly determined to stalk me today and I don’t want to be in a house a cat can break into,” I go on.

“My house is wrecked, thanks to Vance. Be sure to bring thick-soled shoes.”

I pause, canting my head. “Actually, I know a better place I can go, and maybe even get away from you too,” I say as I stand, my smile forming.





Chapter 12





EMIT


I’m not sure what to think when I come home from my run and smell the telltale scent of Portocale oranges.

I do know that I want to break a jaw when I see Damien sulking at my counter and eating one of the oranges that are spilling out of the large bowl on the counter.

“What the hell?” I ask, seriously confused.

“Violet said half of these are mine, so fuck off. I drove her over here, and got tired of hearing your omegas talk you up hours ago. They didn’t even acknowledge me standing there. I think Violet’s the only one who even noticed I left the damn room when she tossed me a pity conversation-starter that I promptly ignored. I remember when women used to clamber over each other just to be close to me and hope I might spare them a simple glance.”

He releases a long, frustrated sigh, before popping another orange slice into his mouth.

I scrub a hand over my face. “Exactly half. If you try to take one more than that, I’ll cut off your—” I stop talking when I notice the oranges have not even a single bruise on them.

“Despite her current circumstances, she’s not a bitter girl, that Violet,” Damien says like he’s taken notice of where my attention has returned. “Funnily enough, neither are her oranges.”

I toss aside my keys and phone and move to the counter, studying the bowl a little less hungrily and a little more appreciatively.

They’re flawless.

“Maybe that’s why Marta Portocale didn’t tell her daughter the same story that would have made her as bitter as every other Portocale gypsy.”

“Maybe Violet will be the first Portocale gypsy to listen to our side of things,” he surmises.

“Even hearing our side won’t change the truth of what happened,” I remind him very quietly, since it’s clear she must be here, probably in the omega wing, if I had to hazard a guess.

“From what I’ve gathered during the time I could stomach listening to your omegas exaggerate every good thing about you, Violet is going tonight to try to talk Arion into some deal with real peace between you two. It’s cute how she thinks life is simply that simple. The omegas adore her just for trying to give it a shot.”

He flicks an orange peel away after he licks it clean like he’s the wolf.

“The only good part of all this is that I now know you’ll never again get laid by those wolves, no matter how much they praise you to Violet. They’ve not just picked out a girlfriend; they’ve picked you out a mate.”

I glare at him, and he just grins, never meeting my eyes.

“Too bad I’m way out ahead of you,” he adds.

“I’d say Vance is winning, if this is a sprint instead of a marathon,” I tell him, still not even sure if I actually want her or if I just want her long enough to piss them all off.

“Vance lucked into his moment and failed to follow-through with charming stalkery. She’s leaving a window open for me at night now.”

I roll my eyes as I start heading toward the omega wing.

Sure enough, I spot Violet, but I slow my steps when she walks out in a really nice, long, black dress.

She stumbles when she sees me. “Sorry. I know I really shouldn’t be here tonight of all nights, considering your deal with Arion, but they swore it was okay.”

Fay nods enthusiastically, which is weird, since she has no enthusiasm. Ever.

I don’t like this. They like her far too much.

They’re already treating her too much like pack, and Violet is very mortal, fragile, and not at all pack.