Page 56 of Outcast Fae

“She’s just one fae bitch. Are you willing to risk everyone else for her sake?” Rick’s gaze switched between Vaughn and me.

“I am.” Vaughn’s immediate answer left no room for misinterpretations.

Rick exchanged a glance with Horace. “What do you say to that?”

Horace hesitated for a moment, then said, “I trust Vaughn.”

A growl sounded deep in Rick’s throat. His grip tightened for an instant, then he let go, though not without raking his nails across my neck.

I gritted my teeth, letting out a hiss of pain. Blood stained my fingers as I pressed them to my neck.

Vaughn stepped forward as Rick rose to his feet. “You bastard.” He shoved him and sent him staggering back.

As soon as he regained his balance, Rick squared his shoulders and charged in Vaughn’s direction. Horace let go of my ankle, shooting Vaughn a reproachful look, then quickly blocking Rick’s path.

“Let’s not fight amongst ourselves,” he barked. “Much less over a girl.”

I scooted backward on my bottom, then got to my feet next to Vaughn. Anger rolled across my chest in waves. If they made another disparaging comment about my kind or my gender, I would gouge their eyes out.Blaigeards. They had no reason to hate us. It was us who should despise them for destroying our realm and treating us like garbage.

Rick’s chest rose up and down as he stared at us with fiery hatred. His eyes flashed blue and his muscles flexed under his skin.

“Calm down, Rick.” Horace placed a hand on his chest.

To my right, Vaughn appeared unthreatened. He was breathing calmly and wore a slight smile on his face, which only seemed to infuriate Rick further.

“We can’t let a kid dictate what we do,” Rick said, his voice barely human.

Vaughn stood straighter as if to emphasize how much bigger than Rick he was. “I am not a kid.”

“For fuck’s sake, Rick. This is not a pissing contest. Calm yourself down.” This time, there was a command in Horace’s voice. As if by magic, the flashing blue color in Rick’s dimmed and his muscles settled down.

When the aggressive streak had passed, Horace turned to Vaughn. “You can’t deny that she's a risk.” Horace gestured in my direction.

“I take responsibility for her,” Vaughn said.

“Are you certain?”

“I am.”

“Fine,” Horace said. “I know you have a good head on your shoulders. I hope you’re not letting…beautyblind you.”

I blinked in surprise. The comment was unexpected. Glancing sideways at Vaughn, I tried to judge his reaction. There was none. His face remained as unreadable as a closed book.

“We’ll go, then.” Horace nodded at Rick, who quickly shifted into his werewolf shape and snapped his jowls toward me in a clear threat. I shuddered and took a step back.

“Youhave tohelp,” Vaughn told Horace.

“We’ll do what we can,” he responded, before assuming his own animal shape, turning tail with Rick, and scampering down the hill.

We stood, watching them go for a long moment. I didn’t dare glance toward Vaughn—not naked as he was, not after following him and putting him in a situation where he had to stand up for me. I still couldn’t believe it. He had saved me from the other werewolves, whoever they were.

“Um, thank you,” I squeaked in embarrassment.

Vaughn said nothing. Instead, he shifted and trotted away, back the way we’d come.

I followed, marveling at his size. His furry shoulder blades came up to my waist and his paws were the size of coconuts. He moved fast, forcing me to run to keep up.

“I’m sorry,” I said.