Dorian runs a hand through his hair, putting on his practiced smile, as he approaches Violet.

“I need to go.”

“Why the hell are you going? I want—”

“He’s speaking to Violet.”

The line goes dead, and I start toward the edge of the balcony, straining my hearing, even as the music hurts them when I do. I barely catch a bit of their conversation when he tells her his name.

“Oh! Sorry! I can’t talk to you,” Violet tells him before turning and walking off, confusing him and me.

He actually stands in place, looking around as though he’s been struck.

“Perhaps she is a gypsy freak if she can refuse Dorian’s charm at the mention of his name,” Emit says from right beside me.

Distracted by Violet, I never even heard him approach.

“Why would the werewolf alpha show up at the vampire’s ‘Welcome Back From the Grave’ party when tensions are so high?” I ask him on an angry breath, as Violet picks back up with her horrible dancing far away from the still-stunned Dorian.

“Why is Dorian Gray here?” he asks instead.

“The better question is, where is Arion when he’s supposed to be with Violet and keeping her away from men like Dorian?” I point out.

“I’m right here.”

Arion’s voice has us both whirling around, finding the vampire himself smirking, as he casually leans against the wall behind us.

This room is so full of vampire scents that it makes it far too easy for everyone to sneak up on me right now.

His hands are in his pockets as he glances over the edge at Violet. “Rather peculiar method of dancing. I’ve been underground a while, so correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s wretched, is it not?”

I expect to have to step between him and Emit when Emit’s hands turn to fists.

“Looks like you’re healing, old chap,” Arion chirps, still smirking as he looks over at Emit. His eyes turn to meet mine. “I assume that sheet she was wearing was yours. Tell me, was she nursing your wounds, and things just got too hot and out of control?” he goads.

Emit takes a step forward, and I don’t make any move to stop him.

“You two here to team up and try your luck?” Arion goes on, glancing down at Violet once again. “Because I’m rather positive she hates it when we fight, given the events of last night.”

“What’s your play, Arion? I saw the marks inside the coffin. I know you woke. I’m sure you’re pissed. Out of the four of us, no one loves revenge more than you. I can’t let you reignite the war,” I tell him calmly, trying to remind myself we’re in a home full of really powerful and top-tier vampires. “There’s been a lot of changes this past century that certainly restricts us more than ever before.”

Emit likely reminds himself where he is as well. At least, I’m assuming, since he bites his tongue and keeps himself on a leash. One more night until the full moon. It’s a miracle he’s doing this well with so many vampires around.

“Draining a vampire normally does leave them unconscious. However…I’m an alpha tied to the Portocale curse. When the first one died while I was underground—”

“You felt it,” Emit says quietly, his jaw grinding. “That was maybe five years after you went under.”

“Was it? Seemed like I was under there for an eternity, since I had no perception of time. Maybe next time leave me with a watch or two,” Arion goes on, talking as if it’s no big deal, when we all know better. “Anyway, that certainly woke me, and my hundred-year rest became an agonizing state of unrest after that,” he continues with a conversational tone.

“Then we’ll consider it even and our people can stop trying to kill each other for a past conflict that has been more than substantially paid for in turn,” Emit says, surprising me a little.

More than a little, actually.

Arion cuts his eyes toward him. “Your wolves aren’t finished. They want me eternally underground. You really should take control of your packs, alpha,” he says, smiling bitterly. “Before they show you the same courtesy just for being in their way.”

Emit rolls his eyes. “They are strong-willed, like any wolves. I put Ian in his place tonight—”

“Did you give him a good lecture, wolf? I bet that really did the trick, alright,” Arion interrupts in a sarcastically disgusted tone.

Insert ten minutes of verbal jab after verbal jab between the two of them. I lose interest for a moment, checking my emails to see if there are any leads to my unsolved cases.

“Says the merciless vampire,” Emit dryly counters after one particularly nasty insult.

“Says the disturbingly pathetic wolf, who can’t get over the first wolves he killed to become immortal,” Arion counters in a cold, calculated tone after Emit volleys another insult his way.

Tuning them out again, my eyes flick back over the balcony to find Dorian once again trying to talk to Violet. It’s when he touches her arm in a way that most would perceive as an innocent touch that I start to leap over the balcony.

However, I barely stop myself when I see her quickly disentangle herself like his thrall doesn’t really affect her.

I pay close attention to the way she once again excuses herself, and moves to yet another spot on the floor to dance.

“I think we all know the real reason you two crashed my party and decided to lurk in the shadows. Her name starts with a V, and she lacks any rhythm,” Arion states with some amusement.

I shift my attention between Violet and Dorian, barely listening to the vampire by this point. I’ll deal with him later. There’s another alpha who is pissing me off far worse than him right now.

Shera intercepts Dorian before he can make a third attempt to corner Violet, and his eyes swing up to the balcony, just as Arion and Emit perch on either side of me.

“Only a true Portocale could resist the temptation Dorian presents,” Emit says very quietly.

“Only a true Portocale can evoke enough emotion from those heartless bastards to release us from this curse,” Arion states in a droll tone. “Face it. You all want her for what she represents.”

I scrub a hand over my face, staring down at Violet and not saying anything to the contrary. Arion sure as hell can’t know what having her has done to me.

She’s in every thought, every flavor, and every breath right now. I can’t get her out of my head, and I have no idea what the hell to do about it. It’s rather inconvenient, considering how ruthless Arion can be. Not to mention what Damien might do in an effort to steal my one little shard of happiness.

“I’ve offered her the four of us, by the way,” Arion goes on.

I choke on air. Emit makes some really weird rumble of surprise that sounds suspiciously like a stunned wolf. Emit and I both look at bloody absurd vampire like he’s lost his mind, as the insane vampire’s grin grows, his eyes on Violet.

“Don’t look so put off by the notion. She’s like a breath of fresh air in a stagnant, poisoned well,” Arion goes on. “She could have taken sides. She may still. But for now, she’s content to simply learn what she can before making any decision. The only thing I know for sure is that she hates it when we fight.”

He cuts his gaze toward us, sadistically grinning once more.

“It’s rather the opposite of the woman who tore us all apart, don’t you think?” he adds.

“Idun only started the rift. We’ve all widened it on our own. Surely you don’t think sharing some naïve little gypsy girl is going to piece together centuries of bitter, unresolved issues?” I ask incredulously.

“I think she already is, considering the two of you are standing here in my party without weapons or claws. Her gypsy pride is like a beacon, and we’re all drawn to it, feeling the need and desire to protect it.”

“Is that why you made her forget anything pertaining to you when you’re not around?” I ask through clenched teeth.

His grin spreads. “She made a gypsy promise. That little gem just helps her keep it. If she really wants to break her promise, she’ll remember everything and be able to do so.”

Now I wish I’d brought one of those weapons. It’d feel damn good to stab him somewhere.

Anywhere.

“Is Damien going to continue to lurk, or does he want to join in as well?” Arion goes on, just as Damien appears, narrowing his eyes on Arion.

“Your scent is stronger when Gray is near,” Arion says like he’s explaining the unspoken question in Damien’s eyes.

“I’m only here because Dorian is here,” Damien is quick to tell him. “Not to welcome you home.”

“You’re here for the same reason they are, even if none of you will admit as much. I’m going to go drink a little blood and mingle with some bloodthirsty power hogs, who are pretending to be happy I’m home. Keep an eye on our girl until I’ve finished up,” Arion says with twitching lips, as he struts away like he’s found the keys to the kingdom.

“He really has lost his damn mind,” Emit says under his breath, even as he fixes his gaze to Violet.

“That washing machine reference makes more sense now,” Damien states dryly, though his jaw grinds when Dorian finally makes it back to Violet.

This time, she looks defeated and rolls her eyes, as she takes a seat at a table.

Damien vanishes.

Chapter 16

VIOLET

“I’m not sure why you’re chasing me around this party,” I tell the infamous, relentless, nowhere-nearly-as-sexy-as-Damien Dorian Gray.

Maybe it’s all the hype, but the actual being himself is far less spectacular than I expected.

“I’m curious why a Portocale gypsy is caught up in Arion’s Welcome Home party amongst vampires, who have no idea how powerful you’d make them with your death.”

I’m not sure why I find that amusing. Maybe because he’s so blunt, or maybe because he’s trying to do the same thing Arion is—get me to talk and open up, and then trust and do whatever curse-removal plans the alphas have. Maybe it’s because his chin looks sort of like a small butt crack that wiggles when he talks.

Some girls love that sort of thing, I know. But one Morpheous stalker is enough, and Damien has grown on me, unlike this Morpheous stalker with the wiggling chin that doesn’t stop wagging.

They really are a relentless breed.

“It’s a long story,” is all I tell him.

“Does the council know about you?” he muses.

“Does Arion know you’re here and talking to me?” I ask instead of answering the question I don’t have the answer to.

“Arion knows everything that happens in his House. I’m sure he’d be down here if he took issue with me speaking with his guest.”

“Actually, I think I’m his date, but it’s hard to tell with monster alphas. I’m sure there’s a harem for him like there is for Emit.”