Before she could delve into that, a series of long whistles pierced the air, like an alarmed bird call. Violet turned to Kade. “There’s trouble. Big trouble.” She ran outside and strained to hear more. There was shouting in the distance, angry calls. “Clan wars,” she said. “They’re here.”
She ran back inside and called Jessup. “What’s going on?”
“There’s a lynch mob moving in from the borders of our land. They think we’re the ones behind the murders. I heard Bren say I killed Sam August. Get out of here while you can.”
Sam. Another teenager. Violet clutched the phone. “Jessup, we can’t just hide while?—”
“You’re still weak, and Kade’s memories are unstable. You’ve both been through hell. Stay out of it. We can beat them, Vee.” She could hear the smile in his voice, his eagerness to fight. “We’ll annihilate them the way we did the Garzas. They’re on our land, and they’re here to kill us. We have every right.”
“But you know they think we’ve killed their people.”
“Doesn’t change the fact that they’re here to kill us.”
Kade leaned close to the phone, his cheek brushing hers. “Where’s Mia?”
“With Ryan,” Jessup said. “She’s been practicing with her dagger, and she’s not half bad.”
“But she’s inexperienced when it comes to fighting.”
“Ryan’s going to keep an eye on her. Smitten son of a bitch.” Jessup’s disgust lanced his words. “Whistle if you need us. Use the speaker system if necessary. Look, I gotta go. Be careful.”
Kade’s face sharpened in warrior mode. “We can’t let them fight alone.”
“Well, they’re hardly alone.” She could see that his own hunger to fight was still alive and well.
Another call came in. She didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”
“Violet?” A woman’s voice.
“Yes, who’s this?”
“I hear you’re having a bit of trouble with the neighbors. A shame. I know your mother always runs to the gator house to secure it at the first sign of danger. God forbid something should happen to the family’s livelihood.” She chuckled, while Violet’s blood turned to ice.
“What do you want?”
“You, darling. Alone. Leave your brain-addled lover there. Not that he’d be of much use anyway.”
Violet met Kade’s eyes and mouthed, Ferro’s accomplice. “Who are you? I obviously know you.”
“I’ll tell you when you get here. We can catch up on old times. If I see anyone else, your mother will be alligator stew.” She disconnected.
Violet turned to Kade. “She’s got my mother! In the gator pens.” She had to take deep breaths or she’d be hysterical. “She wants me to come alone. If she sees you or anyone, she’ll kill her.”
Kade shuddered. “With the alligators? Hate those things,” he muttered. “I’m coming with you, but don’t worry. She won’t see me.”
Yes, the orb that camouflaged. “She thinks you’re brain damaged. She won’t be expecting you to help me. Are you sure you’re ready to fight?”
He stretched his arm, the dagger shimmering. “It’s what I am. If I can’t fight for the Guard anymore, I’ll fight for you.” Those moss green eyes shimmered with his conviction and devotion.
Her heart melted, but she tucked the feeling away for later. She dialed Jessup again, hoping he would be able to answer. He was breathless when he did three rings later. “What’s up?”
“I need you to get those men near the speakers.” She wasn’t going to tell him about their mother. That would set him into a rampage, and Violet needed to play this cool.
“What, you gonna serenade us with some soothing music?”
“Just do it, Jessup.” She hung up, driving her fingers through her hair as she headed to the front door. “I can’t lose my ma.” The thought of it pounded through her, raising the old Violet who would also fly into an emotion-driven frenzy. “She’s been through so much. I’m going to tear that Carnelian bitch to shreds when I get my hands on her. I’m going to?—”
Kade took her arms and turned her to face him. “You’re the strongest woman I know, and you’re more than a capable fighter. Hell, you broke me out of the Guard’s prison. If you can do that, you can save her, Vee, but you have to keep your head.”
