Page 67 of Outcast Fae

She rolled over and stared up at me with red-rimmed eyes. “Did someone else die?”

“No. I need a cloaking spell again. Just for a few minutes.”

“Why?” she asked, sniffing.

“If I could tell you that, I wouldn’t need a cloaking spell.”

She glanced at Henry. “I’m worried I’ll get in trouble.”

“I know,” I said as reassuringly as I could, “but this is really important.”

Gina pondered this for a moment and then nodded, but as she reached in the bag for her egg, I held up a hand. “I need it for me and Vaughn.”

“Ohhh,” Henry said, in a singsong way, perking up considerably. “For a little kissy-kissy. I’ve seen the way you two have been looking at each other.”

“No,” I shot back. “It’s for… something else. Just... please.”

“Fine,” Gina said. “Go get him.”

Jumping up, I ran over to Vaughn, but as I approached, a self-conscious feeling I wasn’t used to took hold of me. I was shy now? What was happening to me?

“Vaughn.” I cleared my throat, hoping the shyness didn’t manifest in my voice. “I think we should talk before we go to the dome. Gina can help us out.” I nodded toward where she sat waiting.

“Oh.” He began to rise as Sinasre streaked over.

“I want to be a part of this. I’m tired of being left in the dark,” Sinasre said.

Vaughn tightened.

I put a hand on his arm. “Sinasre’s okay. He’s family. My cousin. I trust him.”

Vaughn’s eyes widened, but he asked nothing further before heading toward Gina.

Sinasre raised one eyebrow as we hung back. “You told him our secret? Things have changed between you two. Yes?”

Heat flared up my neck again. “I don’t know. I guess so.”

Concern darkened Sinasre’s features. “I don’t need to tell you to be smart and not let sexual feelings cloud your judgment, do I?”

“Stop,” I said, more embarrassment flooding me. “It’s not that.”

“It’s not?” Sinasre looked dubious.

“Just… let’s hurry up.” I walked away before he said anymore about sexual feelings, and I died of shame.

Gina was ready for us when we all arrived. She had Vaughn, Sinasre, and I sit in a circle in the sand before surreptitiously casting her cloaking spell.

As soon as it was down, Sinasre spoke. “I’d like to know everything that’s going on. I’ve been kept in the dark for too long.”

Vaughn glowered but didn’t stop me as I told Sinasre everything we’d found out. For his part, Sinasre listened carefully, his cat eyes zeroed in on my face until I’d finished.

“It was smart trying to win. We need to know what’s inside, how we might get in, and what they might be planning.”

Vaughn’s jaw clenched, but his tone was even. “We’ll be looking for all that, yes. But we will also be guarded. I have some friends inside who might help us be able to snoop around, but they need to be careful. If they are compromised, they will be executed and I can’t take that risk.”

“I understand the risks,” Sinasre said. “But it seems we don’t have much time. They’re picking us off one by one.”

“Vaughn and I will find out as much as we can,” I said, reassuring Sinasre. “We promise. And we’ll share what we learn.”