“You offered me your checkbook, Vance,” I counter on a quiet breath. “The very next second, you bypassed Ighan and Bobo as they struggled to get a scaffolding into place. I remember it because you didn’t once glance at them.”

He opens his mouth and closes it again, doing the surprised blinking he does when I zag on his zig or whatever.

“And it doesn’t even matter. I’m not leaving you for any one reason, and I want to make that very clear before you finally realize what you’ve refused to read, but insisted on signing all this time,” I go on. “Remember that I would have loved for you to read all the things you’ve been signing, and it was never me intending to manipulate your trust.”

They all look confused right now.

“I had a lot of people working really hard, and they were sort of hoping you’d find it all intelligent, mature, and reasonable. Not that you’d care enough about that when you’ve gotten so dead inside that you really plan to kill a pregnant woman just because it’s convenient to you.”

Vance’s eyes grow really cold, just as the air drops a few degrees. Arion is suddenly right against me, caging me in, as his eyes level mine.

“I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Violet,” Arion tells me as he brushes a lock hair out of my face. “If we wanted to kill a pregnant woman, we wouldn’t be waiting until after she has the child.”

“For fuck’s sake, Arion,” Vance says from behind him, as I glare up at my vampire, seeing the detached look in his eyes, even as tears fill my own.

“No. Her mother sheltered her. We’ve tried to shelter her. Now she’s standing here sounding too much like a Portocale as she spews her better-than-thou shit, like she has any right to judge. And she’s better than that,” Arion says to them, while staring directly into my eyes.

A tear finally falls from my eye, and he wipes it away with his thumb, as I swallow the knot in my throat.

“I guess even I have limits as to what I can and can’t judge,” I tell him honestly.

“She hid herself after we’d called for survivors, graciously taking the time to separate offenders and victims, something Vance took precious time to do just because you’re too soft for the real world just yet, and he worries what will come back to roost,” Arion continues.

My eyes stay on Vance, as Arion twirls a lock of my hair around his finger. Damien turns visible once again, eyes on me, as he stands between Vance and Emit.

They’ve spent a lot of time in this box bonding. Arion only ever really wanted them, after all. My purpose has been spent.

“But the truth,” the vampire carries on, as the other three just keep blank expressions, “is that the world is not so—”

“She’s in my custody now, and you can’t touch her. Any punishment you give to her, I take upon myself,” I coldly interrupt.

His entire dark, condescending expression falls.

“What?” he asks in a much more confused and horrified tone that suggests he thinks I’ve lost my mind.

“You just signed it. I told you to read it, but you never bother. I don’t know why I bother tossing in so many fair things, when none of you bother.”

I shove at his chest hard enough to catch him off guard, and manage to move him enough for me to walk by.

“You can’t do that, Violet. First of all, it makes no sense. Secondly, why is that even a fucking idea in your head?” Arion snaps.

“My job wasn’t to raise them from the ground, Arion. It was just step one. The reason I was born was to make people care about them. But I can’t do that when people just won’t care. I spent four months drafting the House documents you all signed off on, but you didn’t even read one word.”

Vance’s eyes narrow on mine.

“What have you done, Violet?” the Van Helsing asks like he’s suspicious.

“Everything I told you I was going to do, but you were too busy chasing Idun to listen. Does that make me sound jealous too?” I ask, pretending to muse it over, before cutting my eyes to Damien.

He’s not smiling this time.

“I don’t even get the time, attention, or genuine interest I need from one boyfriend between all four of you combined since she came back. You’re all sitting around, calling each day’s events scripted and obvious, wondering what she has to gain from this charade. Meanwhile, you’re all sitting around watching her day and night. Congratulations. She’s winning.”

Damien’s eyes widen marginally, and Emit’s as well. Vance’s jaw tics as he tugs at his collar, and Arion’s neck cracks as the vein pulses in his temple.

“Consider the eye-opening epiphany my parting gift. I’m sure your hands are going to be too full with Idun to worry about a nonissue such as an unregistered shifter, who will register, but remain in sanctuary here. With us. Sanctuary of Carmine.”

Emit groans as he massages his temples. “Violet, we went over this. You’re not an alpha, you can’t—”

“Like I said. I already did, and you signed off on it. You all listen as well as you read when it’s just little ol’ me instead of big bad Idun.”

“Violet, I understand you’re upset, but we’re—”

“I get it. Idun’s a big deal,” I say in interruption to Damien. “She’s dangerous. She poses a major threat and needs to be taken seriously.”