Chapter 16 #2
Kade’s dagger slid automatically into his hand.
He would have to kill Ferro if he had any chance to get out of this alive.
Ferro wouldn’t be able to maneuver as Dragon in the small space, but as a First Gen, he didn’t have to Catalyze to use some of his powers.
Ferro’s face shimmered, both man and Dragon.
Kade ducked the dark rope of smoke that whipped out like a snake, the signature of an Obsidian Dragon. He sent an arc of magick slicing across Ferro’s shoulder that cut through shirt and skin. Blood bloomed through the torn material. Why hadn’t he tried to avoid it? The man hadn’t even moved.
Ferro spun toward the door and opened it. “Code red!”
Come immediately, be ready to fight.
And they did, Arguses and Vegas rushing toward the door to find Kade with his dagger at the ready, Ferro’s shoulder bleeding. Ah, that’s why he hadn’t evaded the swipe.
“Get him!” Ferro shouted, pointing to Kade. “He’s gone Red!”
Not the same as a Dragon going Red Lust, but it meant the same thing—magick psychosis.
Kade brought his dagger in, raising his arms. “Ferro’s having innocent people killed. He’s—”
A flash of magick hit him, knocking him against the desk.
He gained his footing just as four of his fellow Vegas tackled him.
A cuff snapped over his wrist before he could use his magick to throw them back, these containing a larger dose of Lucifer’s Gold.
His magick died. The Vegas shoved him against the wall and jerked his hands behind his back before snapping on the other cuff, these meant to restrain physically as well.
“Sorry, buddy,” one of them said in a low voice.
As he was pushed out into the pit and down toward the prison entrance, the last thing he heard was Mia’s terrified scream.
* * *
Violet stared at the phone every few minutes as she researched the names Kade had given her—all Dragons, all dead. She didn’t like that he’d hung up so abruptly and hadn’t called back. It’s only been twelve minutes. He’ll call back soon.
When her phone rang, she lunged for it. Not Kade but Ernie. She frowned. Why would he be calling her?
“What’s up?” she asked. Please don’t let my clan be there causing trouble.
His voice was low as he said, “You’d better come on down here.
A few of the clans are having a meeting.
Didn’t start out that way, but they’re talking.
And that would be a good thing, but they’re talking about your clan and the murders in the same conversation.
You didn’t hear it from me.” He hung up.
She thought about bringing her brothers but decided against it. They would cause more trouble and, really, she had enough right now.
There were only a few vehicles in the lot when she pulled in a short time later.
At the door, she took a deep breath, smoothed her shirt, and walked in all casual-like.
A group of men and women clustered at the low tables inside Ernie’s bar.
Peregrines along with the Augusts and a few Murphys, the people who had likely killed Arlo.
Rage rippled through her and burned where her Dragon resided.
She put her hand at her waist and sauntered over.
“Well, lookee who’s here. Fancy that,” one of the Murphys said, shooting a glare at Ernie, who was wiping glasses.
“I came in for a beer. Been a helluva last few days.” She took them all in, anger simmering in their eyes. “Fancy you all sitting here playing nice.”
Toth August came to his full, lanky height. “That’s more than your clan is doing.”
Danger prickled over her skin. “What are you talking about?”
Bob Murphy stood too and held up a key ring. “One of yours came onto our land and killed Dan. Left this for us to find.”
Bren said, “My cousin saw you pick up something over at our place, after Butch got killed. You came over, pretending to be all concerned, but I think you were hiding evidence. I know you’re trying to protect your brothers, but someone’s gotta pay.”
They started moving in on her, fists at their sides.
“Stop!” She held out a hand, standing firm. “We’re not murdering people. The Guard is.”
They paused and looked at each other. Then burst out laughing.
“The Guard snuck onto our land and planted your key ring, did they?” Bob said.
Well, when he put it like that. “Look, I know it sounds unbelievable. I haven’t had a chance to figure out the why of it.
Marshall,” she said to the Peregrine patriarch she’d spoken with, “you said there were footprints leading to the Wolfrums. And you,” she said to the Augusts, “You found a handkerchief that likely belonged to the Spears boy. Think about it. Suddenly members of three clans independently decide to murder someone and leave evidence, to boot. Blatant evidence.”
“Why not? Everyone’s getting restless, with the solar storm coming. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to put up with it.”
The solar storm. How did the power of the storm factor in? It made the Deus Vis fluctuate, affected weaker Crescents and made others loopy.
She turned to Toth. “You’ve got to call your people, tell them to watch out for Kaitlyn.”
“Is that a threat?” Bren’s eyes narrowed.
“No, it’s a warning. Someone in the Guard has a map of all our territories, and he’s methodically targeting us.
We caught a female Carnelian about to Breathe Paul Slade…
after she murdered him.” She met their gazes.
“Everyone who’s been killed so far has been Breathed.
She’s doing it for the power, but we stopped her from Breathing Paul. ”
“Who’s we?” Bren asked.
“The guy I was with.” She wanted to check her phone again and see if he’d called. She had a bad feeling about him going back to Headquarters. “He’s Guard, but he’s been helping me investigate this on his own time.”
“The Guard?” Bren said. “You brought the Guard into our business!”
“The very Guard you’re saying is trying to get us to kill one another,” Bob said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“He left the Guard over this, because he suspects corruption.” She wasn’t going to get into all that. “I want peace here. I don’t want to have to bury my family, and I know you don’t want to bury yours either.”
Toth at least seemed to be listening to her. “Why would someone target Kaitlyn? She hasn’t been Awakened yet, so it’s not for her power.”
“If someone wanted to incite war among the clans, killing a child would do it.”
Bren blew out a skeptical breath. “I think someone in your clan has gone haywire, and you’re trying to cover his tracks.” He glanced at the others. “I say we make her tell us who it is.”
Several men grabbed for her. She Catalyzed and blew out a swath of darts. Two hit targets, sending them to the floor. Several Catalyzed too, knocking tables and chairs across the room.
“Enough!” A shot rang out, and they all turned to see Ernie holding the gun aimed at the ceiling. His own Dragon eyes flickered fiercely. “You know the rules. No Catalyzing except in the Conference Room.”
“Fine, we’ll take it in there,” Bren said with a nod.
She went cold as she Catalyzed back to human and grabbed up her shredded clothes. If they all got her in there…
Ernie shook the gun. “No ganging up on one person, ignats. What kinda place you think I’m running here? She’s not the one killing your folk.”
“No, but she knows who is,” Toth said.
She shot Ernie a grateful look. He wasn’t Switzerland when it counted. Then she turned to the group. “I do. Lieutenant Alec Ferro of the Guard and his Carnelian cohort, identity unknown. Ferro’s a First Gen, by the way, whose sire is Drakos.”
More disbelief moved across their expressions. Clearly most of them knew Drakos was one of the Tryah.
She continued before they could start arguing with her again.
“I’ve seen Ferro’s map of our territories, and he’s got yellow pins for potential targets.
There was one in the Slade territory right before Paul was murdered.
And another one in your territory, Bren.
With Kaitlyn’s name written next to it.” She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, but now wasn’t the time to answer it.
“Damn it, call your people, you…ignat.” She gave Ernie a look of solidarity, using his particular word for the Fringe favorite idjit.