They all stare as if they’re too smart to open their mouths right now, since everyone is hesitating to speak.
“Even though it’s a little insulting, I’m okay with the fact you put a pin in me, so to speak, in order to learn what you could, since it’s a rare opportunity,” I go on, sounding as reasonable as I can. My eyes narrow, even as the ire tries to give way to emotion. “I put a pin in you too, because I’ve been too busy to sit around watching TV.”
I can’t believe this.
“I didn’t even get a honeymoon phase, before the four of you jumped into the old-and-married phase of our life like I’d somehow allow that to become the new normal,” I continue, jaw grinding as I let my gaze flick from prick, to dick, to jackass, to brute.
Emit arches an eyebrow at me when my gaze lands on his, but the asshole almost seems amused, even though I’m extremely upset.
Are my emotions not channeling to him?
“Five months ago I pictured the five of us bonding over building this thing, while getting advice and counsel from your many years of experience with the law,” I point out, gesturing mostly at Vance. “It’s better that you didn’t, because the four of you are finally getting along so well that I’m willing to finally step back without worrying about sparking an argument.”
“You’re being a little hasty, sweet monster,” Damien tells me, using that tone he uses when he’s talking me into a dark corner.
“If I’m not needed for the relationship, then I’ll take my leave and what’s left of my pride. But I’m young, and I like sex, and it sort of sucks the youth right out of me when the four of you act like you could take it or leave it,” I word-vomit.
My hands are shaking as my temper really starts to shine, the fleeting moment of surging anger built from months of repressed anger.
“I don’t have time for four guys who don’t make time for me. Four boyfriends and not one ounce of romance to break up all the hard work I’ve been doing, while you guys watch Idun. Salt on the wound by now. My time’s important too.”
It’s about four hours shy of the majorly epic speech I cooked up in my head, and sounds nothing at all like the lines I rehearsed so effortlessly in the mirror every time I thought I reached the breaking point before today.
I turn and walk out, ignoring the ache in my chest. I also ignore the tears burning my eyes, since they’re just one more shot to my pride.
I hold my shit together until I find a room to dart into, feeling the first few tears start to fall. I wipe them away quickly, mentally shaking myself, as I hold in all the sounds. If I start crying, this entire place full of very sensitive Simpletons will erupt into tears.
My head thumps back on the wall, happy to have a resting prop…until I hear Shera shouting my Mom’s name and telling her to grab something. Directly after, loud commotion explodes below. My mother is here right now?
Standing, I dart a quick glance in the mirror and freeze. I see just part of a girl’s face peering out from behind a wall behind me. Her skin is scarred like so many stitches never fully healed.
A single tear rolls down her cheek, and I shoot her an apologetic look.
I’m worried those tears are my fault, since that seems to be a growing issue. The houseful of very strong empaths seems to have boosted my own abilities.
No, I still can’t actually feel anyone else, other than a rare occasion. But my emotions seem to pack a wallop to anyone close by when I let them off the reins.
Just as I open my mouth to speak to her, she ducks back into the wall. I hear a false panel shut.
I’m glad we made the walls wide and tall. Plenty of room to pass each other, for the ones who need to hide. There are more than just Ingrid now.
A woman’s pained scream has me bolting out of the room in the next instant, just in time to see Avery quickly wheeling in a stretcher with a screaming pregnant woman in the middle of giving birth.
“Put a pin in it, Violet,” I whisper to myself as I wipe away the last tear. “You can have your moment later.”
CHAPTER 8
DAMIEN
Violet slams the door after her dramatic speech, and I glance over at the other three. They look about as blindsided as I feel.
Then I yank the door open and glance out after her. My eyes move back and forth between them and her.
“Did she just break up with us? Is that what just happened?” I ask, gesturing around absently.
“It appears so,” Vance says as he exhales harshly and scrubs a hand over his jaw.
“Does she honestly think that’s going to work?” Arion asks incredulously, lips almost twitching like he’s amused.
“She’s young,” Emit states idly. “I remember being young and having ideal disillusions. Idun comes back, and I remember who I am really fucking fast. Violet hasn’t seen Idun yet. Not the real Idun. I think that’s half of Idun’s game right now, giving Violet a false sense of security. Everyone on the outside of these walls is having a good laugh at her expense for essentially building a House for the misfit omegas.”
“Give Violet the shifter. The information she overheard is of tedious use if Idun already knows about you hiding the necklace,” Vance says to Arion.
“Giving Violet this pointless shifter won’t help prepare her for what’s to come. An unregistered shifter is as good as dead whether we kill her or Idun does. Best this stays our problem and not allow Idun to get invol—”