“Idun TV will be on twenty-four seven. All monsters can tune in any time they want to see what the dethroned queen is up to. As far as they’re all concerned, it’s going to be the four of you who took her down and made an example of her,” Violet states as though she’s given this true and genuine thought.

“Idun TV will be streaming from your dungeon, where you plan on keeping Idun bound with no spells?” Damien asks her very seriously.

Violet nods. “I’m confident that Anna is terrifying. I haven’t seen all the memories yet, but I told her to scare Idun the best she could. I did force her to hold back a little, because my monster has way darker ideas than I do. Seems to have worked, based on what I can remember about last night.”

I glance down, finding Emit’s lips curving in a slow grin, as he stares at Violet with even more intrigue and excitement.

“That’s arrogance, Violet,” I decide to point out. “Let Marta help us create a lasting—”

“No offense,” she cuts in, softening it with a timid smile, “but all those fancy curses and excess magic doesn’t ever seem to work out in the end. Caroline is in charge of Idun’s sentence. When she feels she’s been acceptably punished, then Idun can go free. Until then, I’m Idun’s leash. I’m her cage. I’m the bolted door that stops her from seeing the outside world. I’m the lock. I’m the key. I’m completely impervious to her. She can’t do anything unless I allow it. She’s my one and only problem, and it bothers me. Clyde won’t budge or be a problem.”

She looks over at Idun, staring down on her with clear dismissal.

“She knows that now. I once warned her that I’m the only problem she was allowed to have. She should have listened. I would have attempted to play by most of the rules for a while, if she’d only gone after me.”

Then Violet turns and gives us all a pointed look.

“You guys changed the world so you could be in charge and sit at the very top of the food chain, where no one else could ever step on you again,” she says. “In return, you got stepped on by the person you trusted, and the woman you loved so much that you sacrificed your prized possessions to spend eternity with her.”

Violet flicks her gaze to me very briefly, before focusing her attention more on Damien, as though he’s the safest to look at.

“The world has monsters and those monsters need alphas. Alphas don’t need alphas. Here’s your chance to finally be on top. No games. No wars. No sacrifices. I can be your secret weapon, and I can also be the safe harbor for the misfits and cast-offs.”

She gestures above toward Sanctuary.

“I don’t want to create an entire line of monsters. I don’t want to be a Head Alpha. I never asked for any of this. I really just like making bath products and selling them at my store. I like making my own clothes to save a buck or two. I like watching old monster movies with my newfound friends. I like being the girlfriend to four very exhausting men. In short, I like being me. I don’t want to be someone else just because I’m a powerful monster.”

Damien wipes his grin from his face, but it’s back on within seconds. Arion’s the same. Even I struggle to keep a respectable look on my face, because…Violet.

“Oh, and I’ll let you tell the Idun TV followers what’s going on. I don’t want them knowing I’ve been involved in anyway. I’m just the sweet Sanctuary keeper. Nothing more,” she continues. “Is that okay with the four of you?”

“Perfectly okay,” Arion quickly tells her, as he presses closer and closer, until he has her caged against the wall.

I decide to let him do the talking, because I’m still at somewhat of a loss for words.

Violet looks relieved and lets him run his hands down her body, as though she’s given him all the freedom to touch her wherever and whenever he wants. The vampire will never stop smiling ever again.

“I really need a shower, and you sort of need to deal with all this,” she tells him.

“Of course. But then you’ll be my bride,” he says as though it’s important she understands that.

She gives him a small, tired smile. “Can I have a little while to process all this? Then I’ll be your bride. You always scare me the most, because you’re the most consuming and blindly loyal. Make sure to talk things over with them first. I’m not sure you understand how different I am now that all my secrets are out. You still see me as…docile, judging by your whole demeanor.”

The vampire’s eyes glisten with excitement, but he plays it off with a smirk.

“Of course, love. Take your big, bad, scary monster self to the shower. We’ll handle the aftermath for you. You can trust us with that,” he tells her.

His lips brush hers with a teasing touch, and he releases her.

Her eyes immediately move to Emit’s. “I know you didn’t realize who or what you were mating. If you need me to remove the mark, I’ll do whatever you need.”

Emit blinks as though he’s surprised to hear that, and his lips move to no words.

He doesn’t get the chance to formulate a response, before she turns her attention to Damien.

“I know you only get one Flame, but I also know you’ve been left with some severe trust issues when it comes to overly powerful women. I’m strong, but I have no aspirations for dominance. Still, think things over, and let me know if this is something you can really handle.”

Damien keeps a cool smile on his lips, not speaking or giving anything away, as he calmly sits atop a table near the cases.

Her eyes land on me last.

“I’m sorry about what my monster did to you. If there’s a way to reverse it, I’ll find it. If that’s what you want. You’re all free to go at any time. I don’t want you feeling chained to me. This really is a lot to take in, so I’m going to let you have some time.”

With that, she clears her throat and quickly heads up the stairs.

Emit blows out a long breath.

Arion smiles at Idun’s head.

Damien keeps that cool expression in place.

When the door shuts, they all turn to look at me as though I should be the one to say something first.

Chapter 52

ARION

Vance, for the first time ever, looks positively stupefied. One might even accuse him of seeming lost.

Best. Day. Ever.

“Idun TV,” Emit snorts, laughing and groaning at the same time.

“It’s clever. It’ll keep eyes on Idun at all times, so that no one has to worry about what the bitch is doing,” Damien chimes in, a dark and calculated look stirring in his eyes. “Should eliminate the vast majority of her out-of-control fear factor, until she’s diluted enough to be on the same level as us.”

I feel like Damien is finally alive once more.

I know I certainly feel more alive than I have in centuries.

“She put thought into this. She knew she’d win,” Vance tells us, eyeing the display cases, the tarred room, and the camera last.

It’s a simple setup.

Simple.

Now there’s a word that will never be the same after tonight.

“She knew she’d win,” Emit echoes, as though that’s just starting to set in.