My eyes flick to Jasper again. “If this was an issue, I’d already know about it. Unlike some of you, I keep an eye on what’s going on,” I decide to point out.
“We had a horde spring up with ungodly numbers. Technology being what it is, and limitless knowledge resting just at the edges of anyone’s fingertips…we haven’t adjusted quickly enough,” Arion goes on. “Idun came out of the ground and fascinated us with Reality TV. Violet saw her scam to the core. We only saw a piece of it.”
Damien mutters a curse. “I hate that little monster is even right about that. Can we not tell her we’re huge idiots anymore? The damn girl is too young to be right so much,” he adds on a frustrated breath.
“Damien was ready to die, until she came to town,” Arion states quietly, glossing over Damien’s interruption.
“Now I’d rather see all of you die so I can just enjoy her by myself for a while,” Damien mutters like a petulant child, as he sniffs the baby’s ass and wrinkles his nose. “I’m not tending to that. You brought him, Vampyre. He’s your responsibility.”
Arion sneers. “As if I know how to tend to a paper shit catcher. I’ve been underground. What was wrong with cloth diapers? The downside is the trash this era has created out of laziness and—”
“Why are you off on this tangent to begin with, Arion? I really do have a searing migraine I’d like to sleep off,” I cut in, my voice raising enough to make the bloody infant cry.
Emit and Damien soothe the lad, and I get glared at like I’m the one inconveniencing us all.
“If the boy is scared when he’s returned to Violet, we’ll all be in trouble,” Damien states as if I’m an idiot. “Be cool, Van Helsing. Just this once, be cool.”
I’m going to stab him as soon as that baby is out of my house. The Morpheous is going to cry like a baby before he leaves.
“Emit’s wolf is now sated for the first time in centuries, and he’s been gradually stepping back into his true alpha role,” Arion goes on.
Emit narrows his eyes over his shoulder, staring at Arion, who doesn’t seem to be trying to provoke the wolf for once.
“Vance has been steadily gaining focus to an intense degree, especially when and where Violet is involved. He’s also stepping up his game and breaking habits he’s had for centuries,” Arion adds, giving me a pointed look. “Just as I’ve finally learned every telling twitch and tic.”
“Because you somehow managed to be a creep, even from your casket, you damn relentless bastard,” I’m fast to point out.
“And I was ready to manipulate you all to raise Idun from the ground, handle her differently, and move forward with a different goal. Now I realize it would have all stayed the same had Violet not come to town.”
We all sort of study him as he goes to pour himself a glass of whiskey.
“I’d still be underground. Idun would still be up. All of you would be oblivious because you’d all gotten too complacent. We’d have never pulled together enough to handle that horde as effectively as we did. Tensions would only be higher between vampires and wolves,” Arion goes on, for once not earning a growl from Emit, who’s still silent as he remains content to listen.
“What’s the point to this ramble?” I ask, this time softer and far more curious about the direction he’s going.
“The metaphorical and literal box was smashed, unable to seal Pandora’s Box ever again. Hope was released into all of us—Pandora’s way of balancing the scales in an attempt to keep us as human as possible,” Arion continues, slowly sipping the whiskey as he stares ahead at the wall.
“The point being?” I prompt.
His gaze collides with mine.
“She told us that Hope was the most powerful magic released. I once placed all my hope in Idun. I feared it’s what made her more powerful, but I felt her holding back. She’s not shown us her strength, because she wants us to believe her weaker. That necklace was a way for her to harness more power, but she’s not upset by its loss. She’s too calm in spite of the tilted scales, and unruffled by our rebellion. She’s not playing with us. She’s playing with Violet through us.”
Emit scrubs a hand over his face, glancing over at Damien and me to see if we’re buying this. Arion’s a damn good salesman, just like most any proud gypsy from our days.
The vampire cuts his eyes toward Emit. “Your wolf just claimed her, and you’re sounding more and more like the sure-of-himself werewolf alpha we need you to be at a time when it’s needed most. Violet’s timing is a godsend.”
He does have a valid and convenient point in that regard.
“Or you’re twisting the facts to set up the answer you want us to believe,” I reasonably counter.
“You’re saying Violet is a form of hope?” Damien guesses, sounding thoughtful, taking Arion very seriously.
“I’m saying Violet is more than we realize, and she does inspire hope. Maybe our hope was dormant after Idun raged uncontrollably and uncontested all these centuries. I have no speculations beyond that, but she’s certainly caught Idun’s attention to the fullest extent, if she’s less concerned with us and more focused on her,” Arion explains, turning to face us more fully. “Violet’s intriguing to all alphas. Hell, even Zuela is breaking his rules for her, after barely sampling an audience with her. Simpletons are being spoiled and taken care of in a way not even their own viciously protective matriarch could manage.”