Gypsy Rising

Violet starts jumping up and down, and everyone cheers when she starts the chorus over, dancing just as horrendously as…Violet always dances.

“As charming as I find her, I see the horrified looks on your faces and wonder how in the world my daughter ended up with all four of you,” Marta notes with a very snide, but also extremely confused, tone.

My eyes settle over the crowd, really taking in the scene, as I pointedly ignore Marta. Quite literally, they’re all dancing just like Violet. She’s found her tribe for the dance floor.

“Ah, so that explains the dancing. Can’t believe I managed to forget how bad they are at it,” I say almost as though I don’t really know what else to say right now, recovering from the momentary speechlessness.

Damien lifts his phone, videoing the scene with a broad grin on his face. Marta quickly loses interest in us, her gaze back on Violet. Even as she shakes her head, tears fill up in her eyes and a small, genuine smile graces her lips.

She’d never allow such a reaction if she worried we were a threat to Violet.

I don’t like this. I don’t like seeing Marta with even a little bit of her guard down. I hate this woman almost as much as I hate Idun.

Violet has already started singing another song with the same horrendous tone that draws a lot of excitement, and she ends up stealing my sole attention.

“Where’s Caroline?” Marta asks quietly.

“Probably hiding in the walls, if I had to hazard a guess,” Damien states so softly I almost can’t hear it over the music. “I don’t blame her.”

“Why are you videoing this?” I ask him, eyeing his phone as he keeps it trained on Violet.

“I’m sending this to Vance, because he’ll never believe what went on in Zuela’s home otherwise,” he states with some awe.

I spot some of the omegas dancing with some of the Simpletons like this is a perfectly normal day. It’s so loud in here that I’m no longer surprised they didn’t answer my calls.

I smell Leiza before I see her, turning to find her walking toward us, smiling tightly.

I catch a foam bullet before it can hit me. Dropping the Nerf bullet, I step back from the railing before someone sees me and the fun is ruined.

Leiza meets me halfway, keeping her voice low as she speaks. “Vanzuela Van Helsing just pulled up,” she says, wringing her slightly trembling hands. “I caught your scent, and—”

“We’ll handle him,” I say in response to her unfinished request, as I walk toward the window I came through.

Damien is right behind me when I hit the ground, and he lands at my side. But Marta is already almost to Zuela, as he steps out and narrows his eyes at her.

I crack my neck to the side, since he doesn’t look like he’s going to be easy to deal with.

“You can’t be here right now,” Marta informs him.

“So it’s true. Marta Portocale is back once again and acting like she’s in charge,” Zuela says with a sneer. “Why can’t I smell your blood? What trickery is this?”

“The same trickery you use to morph your silver into even more diabolical weapons these days,” she says, arching an eyebrow. “Care to tell us how you manage that, Van Helsing? I heard it’s made you all much more efficient.”

“Stop skipping the point. This isn’t your show, Marta,” he growls, practically spitting the words out at her.

With a sigh, Damien decides to cut in. “In this situation, she’s not wrong. You’re prohibited from visiting these grounds—”

“These grounds are my home, Morpheous. You have no authority here either,” Zuela states through clenched teeth, barely reining in his temper by this point. “You don’t even handle your own alpha House. Dorian has yet to be dealt with, and here you are in my yard instead. Likely camping out and hoping Idun shows up, while my son is off chasing after her. Instead of putting that bitch back underground where she belongs, you simply raised the rest of that contemptuous, pointless family, only empowering the fucking bitch,” he grinds out, disgusted with the lot of us.

It’s not as though he’s any less repulsive to me than I am to him.

“You’re welcome to take this up with Vance, but until then, you’ll go no farther. As by law, the nearest Van Helsing House always turns into neutral territory in a state of crisis during times of peace,” I inform him, silently hoping he does something stupid.

I’d love to fuck something up right now. Zuela would be a lot of fun to fuck up.

I hate him far worse than I ever imagined hating Arion for the things this man has done to wolves.

Marta just stands back, eyes flicking toward the house.

“Times of peace,” Zuela scoffs, throwing his hands up as he shakes his head in disbelief. “The flags of war aren’t flying yet, but only because Idun loves to make a horrible entrance. By this time next year, we’ll be in a war so thick—”

“Violet, go inside,” Marta warns, interrupting Zuela, as she straightens.

I can see her eyes pleading with someone I can only presume is our foolish fucking new monster. I don’t allow myself to cut my eyes toward her, in fear Zuela, the perceptive son of a bitch, will see a quick chink in my armor.

Damien shows the same restraint, smiling tightly, as Zuela looks around us toward the door.