“You can be anything but na?ve, Violet. Closing your eyes doesn’t make the problem go away,” I barely hear Shera say. “She’s our worst problem.”

Idun’s eyes finally lift, revealing the cosmic blue that was always her best feature, as the few tendrils of curls fall from her hairpins.

“I’m sure the guys are already on their way by now. She’s clearly very much their problem,” we all hear Violet say loud and dismissively.

For fuck’s sake, is she trying to rile her?

Idun makes no expression as she murmurs, “I guess you’ve warned her about me.”

Certainly an anticlimactic entry line. After a thousand years, I expected something a little bigger to come out of her mouth.

Arion’s eyes narrow on her, both of us trying to figure out this very underwhelming entrance.

I dart a glance to the hotel to find Emit and Damien standing across the street, staring over like they’re taking the second line of defense.

I’m paired with the neutral fucking vampire who won’t lay a hand on Idun when she does finally strike. This is about to get ugly.

“Can you run upstairs to the third floor and grab my toolbox?” I hear Tom yelling in the mostly silent household, aside from Violet muttering curses about the expense of an elevator she’s going to get installed.

The gravity of the situation escapes her, and she’s only riling Idun, even though Idun feigns disinterest.

“And go grab my specs from the fifth floor,” Tom shouts like the town needs to hear him. “I’m going to have my guy come out and make blueprints happen.”

He’s the fool who put a stake through Arion’s heart. Obviously he doesn’t understand the severity of this situation.

We wait on Idun to make the first move, and she simply clears her throat, before saying, “Since the gang’s all here, I—”

“The fifth floor?” Violet shouts, cutting Idun off like she can’t believe she has to climb more stairs. “Really?” she adds just as loudly.

Idun doesn’t even glance toward the hotel, and seems remarkably unbothered by the interruption. It’s all an act, of course. She always enjoys the added drama of suspense.

“I guess you haven’t made me sound too horrible,” Idun says tightly.

Damien snorts from across the street, and Idun’s eyes lift to glance over at him. I can feel the angry heat of his glare on her from here.

“I know what you all think,” she says when we just remain silent.

“Room five-oh-eight!” Tom shouts abruptly.

Is he really fucking advertising her exact location?

Are all my knights outside? Does anyone fucking have eyes on Violet?

“Stop announcing her location in here step by step,” Shera shouts from a different location than Violet’s voice is.

I try not to make any subtle moves, waiting to hear Violet’s voice again, hoping she makes a sound, as Idun seems to stall.

“I highly doubt you know what we’re thinking at all,” I point out.

“You’re worried about her right now. Worried I have someone in there who’s going to hurt her,” Idun says, actually telling me what’s on my mind.

I fucking hate her.

“Damien is envisioning me dead, when we all know I can’t die, much to your dismay,” she says softly, suspiciously contrite.

Arion’s narrowed eyes only narrow more, as he slowly moves away from me, keeping his gaze warily affixed to her.

“Emit is checking the air to see if his wolves are coming yet, and feeling disappointed that they’re not,” she carries on, likely nailing each one.

“Found them!” Violet says, causing some ease to fill me.

Idun’s eyes move to lock onto Arion’s for the first time, and she just stares at him for a brief second. “And you’re about to leverage my necklace over me to keep me from being the monster none of you want to deal with.”

Her eyes flick from us to the sidewalks, where people are walking through, and she stays seated, as she pensively observes them.

“I don’t want the necklace back,” she says calmly, eyes still on the people who don’t even pay her any attention.

Most of them are more curious about the knights in front of the hotel, who look like security, drawing way too much attention to it.

“Violet, are you bringing my stuff or what?” I hear Tom shout, listening for her response.

“Y-yeah,” I hear her call back, sounding somewhat unnerved. “On my way.”

I glance through the window to see her running a hand through her hair, as she hurries down the stairs, her lips moving but no sound reaching me, as she seems to speak to someone.

I just catch the one glimpse of her, but never anyone else.

“You don’t want it back?” Arion asks with clear suspicion.

Violet and her father begin to go back and forth, talking about the work that needs to be done…like nothing at all is going on out here.

Emit and Damien draw closer, and Idun gently shakes her head, as she drops her gaze to her lap again.

“I don’t want to see it. Hear about it. Be tempted by it in anyway, Arion. Keep it far away from me. Bury it in or under hell for all I care. I can’t be close to it,” she says as she stands.

I immediately put my hand on my sword, and she grimaces, which is highly unexpected. She loves it when I prepare to fight her.