If Violet cared to consider it, maybe it made sense. The Fringers were on the edge, in more ways than one. But she didn’t care to consider it. This Deuce had a lot of nerve to write off her concerns, to dismiss the death of her brother and four other Fringers as the byproduct of a Deus Vis deficiency.
Violet stood, snatching up her paper. Her cheeks burned when she saw those who had been listening, smirks on their faces. Kade’s expression, as he paused outside the door, held curiosity, as though he were trying to figure out who she was. The last time he’d seen her she was grimy with mud, having just come from feeding the alligators.
Kade stood near a brass plate that read LT. ALEC FERRO
Maybe the lieutenant would be more open-minded. She aimed for Kade, pasting on a docile expression.
Kade wasn’t buying it, not by the way he shored his shoulders and shifted his body to face her. The jerk was a waste of honey-colored hair and a mouth made for sin. Too bad a scar marred his gorgeous face, though the waves of his hair partially hid it. She remembered when the wound was fresh, bleeding like a bitch down the side of his cheek. His mouth curved in a smile. He was looking forward to tussling with her.
Double jerk.
She feinted left at the last second, pushing open the door and approaching a middle-aged man at his desk whose fire in his eyes indicated he was Dragon like her. Good. He came to his feet.
“I’m sorry to barge in on you, sir, but your officer isn’t taking me seriously. My name is Violet Castanega.”
A hand clamped onto her arm, followed by the scent of sandalwood. Kade took her in with a surprised expression. “You’re Violet Castanega?”
Yeah, the one who jumped on you. She tried to yank her arm away and focused on Ferro. “I need to talk to someone reasonable.”
“I’ll escort her out, sir.”
Kade started to pull her away, inciting her Dragon. Getting into an altercation with a Vega at the station—or Catalyzing to Dragon—was only going to prove how uncivilized Fringers were. Or crazy, as the Argus had implied. She would not prove them right.
“Dragons are being murdered.” She kept her gaze on Ferro as Kade pulled her toward the door. “Someone is targeting the Fringer families, starting a war … “
Ferro held up a hand. “Wait, Kavanaugh.”
She’d been out the door, but Kade stopped at his commanding officer’s order. Ferro crooked an elegant finger, indicating that Kade close the door. Several officers, including Mia, hovered, ready to tackle her.
Mia Kavanaugh. Ah, the two green-eyed jerks were related. Even though Kade looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, he seemed older. Mia was probably younger than Violet.
She focused on Ferro. He was distinguished and poised, the benefit of having lived a long life filled with privilege and pride. Behind him, a large, gilt-framed portrait showed a Dragon incinerating a village. The plate mounted on the bottom of the frame read DRAKOS. Dragon god of war, and one of the Tryah. This man apparently idolized him. Maybe not so good.
Ferro said, “Finish what you were going to say.”
Her control had paid off. She pulled free of Kade’s grip, handing Ferro the paper on which she’d outlined the timeline of deaths. “Someone is killing and Breathing Dragons, and they’ve chosen the Fringe clans because they know the Guard will figure it’s us misbehaving. One of the most vengeful families was targeted first. An unprovoked attack on the Peregrines guarantees a violent backlash, so who in their right mind would do it? Then the Peregrines killed one of the Wolfrums, their biggest and closest foe.”
Ferro leaned back in his chair, perusing the list. “Sounds like the typical barbarian activity we’ve seen before.”
“But the initial attacks weren’t provoked. You hear things in the Fringe, at the least, rumors. Three people were killed, so the victims’ families felt they had reason to take revenge. We don’t kill without reason. Someone wants war. I’m asking you to find out why.”
“What would one hope to gain by inciting the clans?” Ferro rubbed the gold pendant he wore depicting the ancient symbol for Drakos. “That’s what I’m hoping you can find out. Being the authority, and outsiders, maybe you could ferret out more information than I can.”
“Fringers aren’t exactly cooperative where the Guard is concerned. Which, frankly, is why I’m surprised that you’ve come to us. Does your family know you’re here?”
She almost snorted. Thank gods she held it in. “No. We don’t exactly have a cordial relationship with the Guard.”
Kade did snort. “If only you would stop breaking the law … “
She flashed him a flame-eyed look, even if he was right. The Fringers, her clan included, had a long history of flouting authority. When they claimed the land at the edge of the Field more than three hundred years ago, they’d decided they also lived on the edge of the law. She turned back to Ferro. “If the Guard intercedes and conducts an investigation, the clans will back off.” She hoped.
Ferro glanced at her list, then at her. “I know it’s upsetting to lose one of your family members, but these feuds have been going on for … well, since Lucifera. I remember the warnings about wandering into the pirate clan territories.”
“You were there? On Lucifera?” The island had been destroyed ages ago.
He gave a curt nod. “Even then, the Castanegas and other clans had a reputation. The island’s Deus Vis drew ships to it like a magnet, trapping the inhabitants the way we are trapped here. Some were pirate ships, crewed by barbarians. Those pirates were already enemies, and their hatred for one another erupted into battles. They were banished to the far side of the island and carved out territories adjacent to one another. Just as they did here.”
She craved more information about the island and the legends. None of her living clan members had been on the island. “So you remember the war?” She nodded to the painting.
