Gypsy Moon (All The Pretty Monsters, #4)

by Kristy Cunning

Idun’s returning, so what does that really mean for the mon-star quad?” He snorts to that, apparently by mistake, because he shakes his head like he’s irritated with himself. He levels me with a glare, as if punishing me for making him almost laugh at a bad joke during a serious time.

Somehow I opened a death window while I was asleep without a death spot, and that’s slightly alarming. Maybe it’s because I’ve been letting my heartbeat drop too much lately. I should probably stop that for a while and take a few paper cuts instead of playing with my monster’s dangerous edge just to be more resilient.

“I don’t know why Damien, Arion, and Emit all seem to want you just as much as I do. I do know why I want you, and among a great many reasons…is the almost adorable fact you wanted to protect me from omega werewolves,”

“The fact remains that you really thought you should protect me and chose to do that. You’re quite the opposite of Idun, Violet. You get upset and want an apology. You’re not unreasonable. It’s refreshingly—” “If you say simple, it’s going to ruin this really sweet moment you’ve uncharacteristically been building up to,” I decide to interrupt, since it’s hella intense in here right now. Usually he only looks at me like this when things are a lot more intimate. His smile easily grows, as the amusement doubles in his eyes. “It’s refreshingly different,” he decides to say, though I think the bastard is slightly mocking me with that grin.

“Something that almost worked perfectly. In a game of survival, four strong, virile men could protect the woman they loved much easier. Their children would be safer. Their homes well looked after. Their lives could be better. So long as everyone could share,” he says as he slides his fingers against mine, slowing entwining them as he takes my hand and starts guiding me out. “As monsters, it made twice the sense. One weakness, rather than four. One woman to protect, instead of four. Idun became untouchable. Had all of us maintained our status, you’d be untouchable as well.” “If you compare me to Idun again—” “I was contrasting you, actually,” he quickly interrupts, smirking.

I’m still mad at Damien, but his overreactions always sort of make my heart hurt. No one else has ever bought me flowers or chocolate. I’ll deal with that later.

“Idun pitted us against each other. She liked us fighting, and she loved chasing us when we tried to break away. It isn’t until we stayed done that she started getting desperate. You’d just walk away, Violet. Your nature is to cut and run. You’d never be desperate to pull us back in. You’re not a replacement,” he says very firmly, giving the illusion of a patient man.

“Says the Van Helsing to the stupid Frankenstein’s monster, as she stares down the creepy stairs to the basement that looks to dead-end at a stone wall with fucking chains on it,” I deadpan. “I’ll pass.” His lips do that humored twitching thing again.

“I know you well enough for sex. I don’t know you well enough to follow you into a basket-lowering well where you feed me lotion a few times a day,”

I sigh and ride his shoulder down the stairs, since I can’t get free without being a monster, and that would be dramatic overkill. At least until I find out what’s in the—

“Subtlety seems to get lost amongst the more overpowering personalities I’m surrounded with, but when I try too hard, I simply look pathetic and desperate,” he tells me. Great. He’s seriously going to try to lock me down here and keep me.

“He’s doing something right. I’m the one who always does things right. Not Vance. Vance doesn’t even try,” Arion grumbles, sitting back like he’s just as perplexed as I am.

I follow the stench of sex, reminding myself my probation is temporary. The best part about Violet is that it’s hard for her to stay angry, and she doesn’t really punish us by any true standard of measure.

Her breasts barely peek out from his chest when he moves his arm out of the way, shoving one hand into her hair to draw her as close as possible. Like she’s finally his.

“How do I get from here to there?” Arion asks more seriously, pointing at where he’s standing to where Vance is comfortably lounging between her legs. Vance makes a frustrated sound as he looks up from kissing Violet. “Maybe this is why it only almost worked,” Violet mutters almost too low for me to overhear. Vance resists the urge to smile, like they’re sharing in some inside joke. I’m going to box that cock right in the face the moment Violet isn’t looking.

Vance’s eyes narrow on Arion, even as he keeps his body acting as a cage around Violet, effectively trapping her and staking his claim. I need her to leave so I can clock that pompous prick in the stupid face.

“How did this even happen?” I decide to ask, gesturing around at the sex pallet they’ve thoroughly ruffled. Vance’s lips tug into a smirk. “I gave her a gift.” “She doesn’t like gifts. All that chocolate is wasting as effectively as the flowers I sent,” I’m quick to argue. “Aside from the shit you’ve been feeding each other down here.” “Wrong gifts, apparently,” Arion says before taking a seat on the floor. “I’m seeing she likes a softer approach. Damien stays in too much trouble.” Now I want to punch the vampire too, but I don’t think I’ve fed enough to take him yet.

“Whatever he bought you, I’ll buy you five,” I say conversationally as I hop up on the counter next to the basket and take one of the bottles like she’s also including me in this picnic.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m sincerely fucking sorry, and I hate you being mad at me while you’re clearly falling hard for Vance.” “You all pretend to be okay with sharing, and yet you make each interaction a competition. It’s very stressful,” she says as though she’s educating me. “If I really have to choose just one, then—” “Whoa,” I cut in, waving my hand in front of her face and causing her to blink over at me. “No one is putting you to the test of choosing, especially when I’m in trouble without knowing why,” I quickly clarify.

“I wasn’t trying to manipulate you, Damien. I’m saying if I need to choose one, I will. I don’t want to be in the middle of a long feud that stays in a constant state of competition. It’s not—” “We’re not important enough for you to fight for. I get it,” I say tightly. She stops writing and huffs out a breath. “You do realize how confusing all this is for a novice, right?” she asks as she glares over at me. “Especially when you mix in monster parts. I struggle to even keep one human man interested.”

“Because Arion is competitive, and I don’t want him doing something terrible just because you’re a self-centered asshole.” I…am supposed to be old and wise… This gypsy is the most confusing little pistol I’ve ever met.

“You wanted me to think he’d abandoned me because I’m some sort of prize you’re both racing to get. Arion was Idun’s pet, and you don’t want history repeating itself with the new girl,” she interrupts, causing me to bristle with how very on-the-nose she hits it, while also missing it broadly.

almost making me groan with the timing of her reminder of what colossal fuck-ups we all really are. Vance included.

You, among others, keep treating me like Idun. Clearly she was a combative and competitive person. I’m not.” “You’re—” “If you say I’m simple, I will never sleep with you again,” she interrupts, pointing a finger at me. “I was going to say softer,” I defend, smiling a little tighter at her. “I’m sorry.” This time when I say the words, I actually fucking mean them.

the shirt Violet is wearing. I’m sure he notices it’s one of Vance’s favorites, and it’s wrinkled… Vance doesn’t even seem to care… I just genuinely apologized for being an insensitive ass… The world has turned upside down.

Emit’s jaw noticeably tics, and Violet makes a sound…as she just barely stops herself from going to him. We all notice the struggle and the way her eyes flick to Vance, before she turns and quickly starts to go inside. Arion darts a glare to Vance, whose lips purse like he’s as aware of what that look meant as we all are. He’s gotten too close, and now she’s torn about how she can be with anyone else. He’s now way out ahead. But…it’s not a fucking competition,

“On the outside, people think having hot, immortal guys constantly wanting your attention would be something no sane girl could possibly complain about,” she mutters while pinching the bridge of her nose. “Curious, does that mean she at least finds us attractive? That’s not suddenly the problem?” Arion asks for clarification. “Someone muzzle him,” Emit grumbles

staring ahead at Vance’s disappearing taillights. He’s currently the one with the most ground to lose.

Somehow she convinces you she’s dull and predictable, always buckling up and watching your speed. Then she throws herself in front of two monsters without a second thought, breaking curses she has no authority or ability to break, slaughters a barn full of wolves, yet still has such innocent eyes… No, Damien, she’s not fucking predictable,” he says with heavy agitation.

Even with a vampire alpha in her front seat, leading her to something she’ll hate us all for, if not handled delicately, Violet is still doing forty-nine in a fifty.

I’m already losing that focus that seems to easily steady the more I’m around her, easing just enough to keep my head from hurting and my need to hunt sated. Arion will hurt for this if this drives a wedge between us after these past two days of having her all to myself.

“You imprisoned my father?” Violet shouts at me, turning on me very quickly and advancing with her bollocks-crushing knee looking raring to go.

“No, he didn’t,” Damien cuts in dismissively, lying to her for reasons unbeknownst to me. “Tom showed up just before you went missing, and despite appearances, we don’t always communicate so well. Vance got left out.” She looks relieved as she turns around, and Vance shoots Damien the same confused look as I do.

Emit takes a seat in the corner, eyes on me as if he wants to turn wolf and have it out like the good ol’ days. Oh, now that would be fun. Maybe it’d give Tom a helpful fright as well.

Arion has been quite merciful, under the circumstances,” Shera goes on, putting the cards down like she’s finished pretending she has to stare at them for longer. “He’s been extremely hospitable and should be rewarded,” she adds like she’s really selling me, while giving Violet a pointed look. Violet’s hand curls on my chest, and she exhales harshly. “Dad, you’re supposed to be at home right now,” Violet says in a way that suggests she’s certainly angrier at her father than me. Shera may get yet another raise for this.

Shera told me not to touch, but Violet wearing Vance’s shirt instead of mine, while in my house, is really annoying. I wonder if she’d change. Shera gives me a look like she’s telling me to keep playing the game by the rules she gave me. Sighing inwardly, my hand curls into a fist at the last moment, and I don’t touch her like I want to.

Tom mutters something about her being too worked up, and Violet takes a calming breath. She’s barely raising her voice, so I don’t know how she’s too worked up. I’d love to see Violet really pissed off—at anyone other than me, of course.

Emit’s eyes narrow on me, as a slow grin spreads over my face, because Violet leans against me like she’s forgotten it’s me she’s touching. At Shera’s guiding little nod, I finally wrap my arm around her waist—not grabbing ass or anything I’ve been instructed not to do. It’s hard to tell a newly impatient man to be patient, but I do like the early spoils of my labor.

I don’t let go. I’m not grabbing ass, so there’s no reason to back away. Shera is giving her a look instead of me, and I grin when Violet stops trying to pull away. Shera definitely gets a raise. She can build herself a mini den or something to match her mini kitchen.

slowly letting my hand slide down her back, until she gives me a look that immediately stops the descent. My lips twitch, and I leave my hand in the safe zone—as Shera called it.

Vance opens his mouth to speak, but Damien cuts in. “Again, he didn’t know,” he says, casually lying, while absently tossing a thumb at Vance. This time, Emit even casts Damien a dubious look, likely not understanding the reason why he’s covering for Vance. Vance is in, and it’d be really nice if he was just a little bit out again, if you know what I mean.

Rugs get ripped out from under my feet fairly often. In fact, it’s become the norm. Usually I do a clumsy flip, but manage to miraculously land on my feet.

Arion turns and faces me, crossing his arms over his chest, undoubtedly annoyed with the fact I’m not all over him for whatever reason.

Why the hell am I all over him? Why are tears leaking down my face? Why do I hurt and feel relief after learning my mother kept so many secrets?

His kiss is the kind of kiss that makes smart girls make bad decisions, even when they’re not forged from broken pieces of lies and secrets. I’ve never claimed to be very smart, so I can only imagine how many bad decisions I’d make if I turned myself over to a man who is truly in love with another monster.

“Thank you,” I whisper across his lips, as he huffs out another breath, leaning back as his eyes narrow on mine. “For not hurting my father, even though he tried to…kill you.” No way to cushion that. My life is entirely too fucked up.

“Damien was so unfaithful that she had to curse him to keep his dick out of other women,” he grinds out. “Vance was so cold and indifferent that she chased him the hardest, constantly working around his tightly crafted walls, even as he had his flings and his spare women.” Again, I try to speak, but Arion is on a mission. “Emit was with any wolf who wanted him the second he got his immortality. He’s lucky he wasn’t also cursed,” Arion prattles on, his tone indignant. “I did nothing, Violet. I was the rock. The most dependable and loyal. Yet you refuse to accept me, almost as though you’re punishing me for being the kind of fellow who doesn’t want just any woman.”

“I still feel like I’m the pin you’re sticking into your own private issues with Idun. I don’t want to be the pin, Arion. I don’t want to be a staple. I don’t want to be tape, or glue, or stitches, or any other form of a metaphorical temporary fix. I don’t even know what I’m doing right now, and it’s—”

“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.”

I can’t figure out what to say. He lied for Vance—twice. I’m not an idiot, and all of them look surprised any time he’s inexplicably nice to Vance. He wasn’t nice to Vance today. He was nice to me—ensuring I didn’t walk out of here alone if I felt betrayed by everyone else.