AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When she looked up and saw us, her brown eyes widened. She halted mid-step, and dirt spilled over the wheelbarrow’s edge.
With her back to Kit, there was no way Octavia could have seen the spill. Yet she sighed like she had eyes on the back of her head. “Take the remaining soil to the empty row, then clean up your mess.”
Kit’s cheeks tinted pink. “Yes, mother.” Without another glance in my direction, she wheeled the dirt to where her mother had indicated and headed for the back door.
Something was definitely wrong here.
“Kit!” I rushed across the greenhouse and grabbed her arm. “I’ve been calling and texting you. What the hell is going on?”
Her lips pulled up into a bright smile, a look I’d never seen on her before. Her eyes met mine, and I swear they were pleading with me. “Oh, hey. Sorry about that. I’ve been busy helping my mother. You should go.”
She dropped her gaze and continued through the door, leaving me there with my mouth hanging open.
The Kit I knew would have slapped me upside the head for my impulsive behavior regarding Jackson Reed, then dragged me into a fierce hug. She didn’t even ask what had happened or how I got back.
“Where’s Angela?” Thane asked Octavia while I stood stupefied.
She gave a quick laugh. “The dear girl had too much wine last night. I’m afraid she’s still sleeping, but we’ll tell her you visited. If you’ll excuse us, we have work to do.”
Resuming her pruning, she hummed her song from earlier.
On the surface, everything appeared perfect. Kit had thanked her mom, fulfilling the blood oath I’d accidentally sworn. They kissed and made up and apparently forgave each other.
Except there was no fucking way Kit would ever forgive her mother for the childhood abuse she’d endured, and she sure as fuck wouldn’t be helping her with gardening.
Over a row of yellow flowers, I met Thane’s worried gaze. Ivan and Lena exchanged nervous glances behind him, and my stomach clenched painfully.
Something was very, very wrong with this loving family picture.
6
SUNDAY MORNING
I balled my hands into fists. I wasn’t leaving without more answers.
Kit returned with a broom and dustpan. She walked right past me as if I wasn’t there and started sweeping up the potting soil that had spilled.
I followed her and leaned in close. “Kit, talk to me. Are you okay?”
She smiled up at me again, that weird friendly smile that didn’t reach her eyes. It was totally unlike her and gave me the creeps. “I’m great! We’ve just been busy. I haven’t even looked at my phone.”
I blinked at her as she returned to sweeping. This was the woman who had renounced her family for over fifty years, who had warned me about dire consequences when I visited Octavia before the Blood Trials. The woman who lived and breathed tech and would die with her phone or laptop in her hand.
The woman who’d been terrified of visiting this place, convinced her mother would try to control her.
Goosebumps spread across my skin like wildfire, raising hairs everywhere. I licked my dry lips. “I’m glad you’re having such a good time here, but we could really use your help back home.”
Kit stood the broom upright and laughed, though it was a strained sound. “You’ll have to figure this one out without me, I’m afraid. This task can’t wait.” Her gaze flicked toward Octavia, and she lifted her shoulder in a casual shrug. “You may have to go nuclear again.”
Oh, fuck.
That was our coded phrase meaning shit had hit the fan, and it was time to blow the place to smithereens.
Okay, so it wasn’t a super coded message when put that way, but Kit signaled that she was in trouble and needed my help. I just had no idea what was wrong or what Octavia was doing.
I nodded, not wanting to draw attention to the brief lull in our conversation. “Yeah, that’s always an option. Where’s Angela?”
“Like my mother said, she’s in the house sleeping.” Kit picked up the dustpan and headed for a large trash can.
