Page 50 of Outcast Fae

Carefully, I put a hand on his shoulder. “Vaughn.”

Large eyes flared open, the same green as Vaughn’s human eyes. They widened and zeroed in on me. Was that a flicker of appreciation I saw in their depths?

A horrible squawk drew my attention. When I looked back, the bird swayed, then collapsed heavily, shaking the ground. The others had dispatched it. I dropped my head. That great bird had likely been a pawn in someone’s game. It was a pity we had to kill it.

When I turned back around, Vaughn had transformed into his human self. One hand covered his nakedness.

Embarrassed, I averted my gaze. “We’ll get you some clothes,” I murmured.

“Yeah, thanks.”

I stood up, about to ask Gina if she had any spare clothes in that pack of hers or if she could make some when a shot rang out.

Wally clutched his chest, blood spilling from behind his fingers as his eyes widened. Then, he fell into the grass and didn’t get up.

Chapter Eighteen

I jumped to my feet,my heart climbing into my throat. Someone was shooting. Was Wallydead? I shook my head. No, he couldn’t be. We were here to be rehabilitated, not to be killed. I must’ve been mistaken.

My campmates’ expressions disfigured in shock. They dropped to the ground, hands over their heads, expecting more shots. None came.

The others raised their heads one by one, eyes darting.

On their own accord, my feet moved, taking me toward Wally. He had not been my friend and had shown me nothing but hostility. And yet, my stomach clenched in apprehension. I’d seen the blood. It couldn’t be good.

The rest approached Wally’s prone shape, forming a circle around him, seemingly unable to do anything else but stare in shock.

Blood oozed from a small hole in Wally’s chest, blossoming on his still-naked chest. His face was slack. He wasn’t breathing.

Gods, heisdead.

Who had shot him? My eyes scanned the periphery, but there was no movement aside from the wind-tossed grass.

“We need to get out of here,” I said. “They might start shooting again. We need cover.”

They didn’t seem to hear me.

Gina started pacing and pulling at her hair. “Oh, God. Oh, God!”

Henry dropped beside him shaking his head. “Quick, does anybody know CPR?”

“CPR?” Vaughn asked. “He’s dead. CPR isn’t going to help him now. There’s nothing we can do. We need to get out of here before they start shooting again.”

I felt the same, but no more shots came, just silence. They stared at Wally’s chest as inky lines began to appear on his arms and shoulders, tracing patterns and shapes.

“What is that?” Henry asked.

“His tattoos,” Elon said in a wavering tone. “They took them away when we first came.”

“Is he really dead?” Gina asked in a small voice that was little more than a fearful squeak.

Sinasre knelt at Wally’s side and pressed two fingers to his throat, then he nodded. “He’s gone.”

“Look out!” Elon fell to his knees and tried to use his electric shock. Wally’s body bucked with the force of the current, but his eyes remained closed.

“Shit, shit, shit!” Elon jumped to his feet. “This isn’t supposed to happen. No one is supposed to die here. If my parents had known they would…” He tore at his hair. “I gotta get out of here. What if we’re next?”

Gina turned and faced the sky, her eyes wide in desperation and denial. “There has to be a mistake, a glamour or something. He’s not dead. Help him! Help us!”