" I’m first up, love,” Arion says as he starts invading my space again. “I thought the only thing holding you back was your fear. Clearly the fear is absent if you’re willing to turn yourself over to the very darkest part of me. It’s amazing you’re in one piece, so clearly you played submissive very well, Violet. It’s because you were ready for me to save you and overcame your fear of me. Now we can be together.”
When I say nothing and simply stare at him like he’s forever losing his mind more and more when we speak, he frowns like he’s genuinely perplexed.
“Arion, no matter what you did, I couldn’t have endured another second of those cries. And you were at Abby’s mercy while in that state. You ripped my throat out and told me to put on some healing potion so you could sit down and watch the fight.”
Apparently, I guess right, because his pupils widen marginally.
“I held your hand when you finished,” he says like he’s defending himself.
“So you could watch the fight.”
“Vance was focused. It’s been ages since he focused. Thing of beauty while it happens,” he says as if that’s important information.
I gesture between us. “That’s sort of the problem. I feel like the conduit for your feelings for them because you have heterosexual body parts with a homosexual mentality. I’m not sure I’m okay with simply being a conduit,” I carefully explain, causing his eyes to widen a little more, as several muffled sounds of amusement spring from somewhere else in the room.
“I’m sorry, love, but you’ve really lost me,” Arion says very seriously, brow crinkling.
“You want this to be a thing between you and me, even though Idun is returning, because you want them back. It looks like you’re getting that without me, so we can be friends,” I suggest, completely rambling.
I don’t think I’m explaining this very well, since they’re all muffling laughter down the hall. Even Vance makes a choked sound of amusement.
Or they’re just really immature about these things…
That’s definitely possible.
Arion scrubs a hand over his face, as someone struggles to cover a surprise laugh with a cough.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t be having this conversation right now. It’s inappropriate to do with an audience,” I babble. “But you’re really intense. And I’ve just survived an apocalyptic wolf storm with your mostly naked beta, whose threads are still in my bra because one set of clothes ended up being enough.”
The look of frustrated confusion on his face doubles.
“I could use a small break before we discuss curses, some really confusing relationship statuses, and the somewhat terrifying woman you’ve all loved rising very soon. And those wolves stole my oranges, so I need to go back and get all of them.”
“I’ve already returned them to your cellar,” Emit says from somewhere behind Arion.
“Then I need to go start using them while they’re useable,” I say as I quickly disentangle myself from Arion and attempt to escape. “I’ll return the shirt.”
“Keep it,” he says quietly from behind me, as I finally take in the other three all standing somewhat close together, smirking at me.
“I’ll drive you home,” Damien says with a slow grin.
“I’m not talking to you, and if you’re a smart man, you’ll figure out why,” I state firmly. “Only when you figure it out will we discuss it.”
“I’ll take you—”
“I don’t want to talk to you right now, because I need to get my cool back,” I tell Emit, whose eyes immediately flick away, as his jaw tics.
He’s had multiple opportunities to explain to me why he told Damien I was a monster, and yet didn’t even bother telling me what I was. All this time, I’ve been patiently waiting, refusing to get too angry.
Now…I’m getting sort of freaking angry, because he still hasn’t said one word about it.
“Guess that just leaves me,” Vance says as he puts his hand at the small of my back and starts guiding me out. "
― Kristy Cunning , Gypsy Moon (All The Pretty Monsters, #4)
