The bore wasn’t in there destroying his mind anymore. Violet took comfort in that as it took friggin’ forever to get home. But how much was gone, destroyed, altered?
Once they reached the less congested roads of the Fringe, Violet sped. They drove past her ma, who was pulling weeds in the flower beds. She stood, giving her a curious look at the sight of Ryan and a strange woman crouched in the backseat. Violet gave her a wave and bright smile but didn’t pause to talk. Gods, if she only knew…
Her brothers carried Kade into her home. His legs were stable enough to stand, but his eyes…hardly any mist, no sign of recognition now as he twisted in his constraints.
Violet stepped forward, trying to figure out how to free him. Mia helped as they unbuckled the straps.
Jessup said, “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Violet gritted her teeth at the effort. “Yes. I can’t stand him in this thing for another second.”
It took fifteen seconds, but she and Mia finally unraveled the thing. Kade fought them, pushed them back, and flung the jacket.
“Kade,” Violet said, standing a foot in front of him. “Kade, look at me.”
He did, his eyes wild, his chest heaving with his breaths. Suddenly he swung his hands out, and Jessup pulled her out of the way as magick shot out and shattered her ceiling light. He blew Ryan back against the table with another blast.
“Die, you son of a bitch!” Kade shouted, manifesting his dagger. He saw something, but it wasn’t them.
“He’s caught in a memory fragment,” Violet said. “Not fighting you but someone in his past.”
Ryan picked himself up as Kade swung the dagger in arcs. “That doesn’t help keep my ass in one piece.” He slapped his hand against his chest. “My Dragon wants out bad.”
“No, your Dragon will kill him.” She turned to Kade. “Kade!”
He stopped, looking past her, as though he’d heard a distant sound.
“Stop, Kade.” She walked closer to him, face-to-face, her hands gripping his shoulders. “It’s Vee. Do you remember me?”
He took her in, narrowing his eyes. Yes, she was reaching him.
“Kade, please stop fighting. You’re safe now.” She put her hand to his cheek. “Please.”
He said something unintelligible and raised his dagger again. Jessup knocked him back, sending him rolling over her coffee table and onto the couch where they’d…
He was up, his dagger now a tattoo again, and raced out of the house. Jessup shook his head and went after him, Violet and the others close behind. They came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Kade standing in the yard, looking down, hands fisted at his sides.
“My father wouldn’t do something like that.” He shook his head.
“He’s slipped into another memory,” Violet whispered, her heart breaking for him. In the memory of, perhaps, hearing about his father’s death and supposed betrayal.
Jessup leaned closer. “We have to contain him, Violet. He’s dangerous, to us and to himself. We need to pin him to the wall, just until…”
Until what? He died? Went fully crazy? Jessup gave her a soft look, rare for him. He was right.
“You’re going to do what?” Mia nearly shouted.
Ryan put his hand over her mouth and leaned close. “Damn, woman, calm down and hush up. We’ve got to keep him in this memory right now, the one where he’s not trying to kill us.” He explained what the wall of shame was.
Violet shook her head. “Go get the cuffs from the wall. We’ll contain him here, in my house. He needs to feel safe and comfortable.”
She could tell Jessup was going to argue, but he nodded instead. “I’ll be right back. Ryan, stay close.”
“He didn’t do this,” Kade said, his voice hoarse.
Violet approached Kade, touching his arm. “You’re right. He would never break out a prisoner without good reason.”
Jessup was back within minutes, and Violet distracted him while her brother cuffed Kade’s wrists. “Would you like to see your father?”
