Page 75 of Outcast Fae

Vaughn.

I tensed and shakily rose to my feet. Daniella offered me her support as I swayed, lightheaded. The spell passed, and I nodded to let her know I was all right. She smiled reassuringly and took a step back.

“You’re okay,” Vaughn said as he came closer, his green eyes traveling the length of my body as if checking for injuries.

“No thanks to you,” I spat.

His expression grew defensive right away. “I told you to follow my lead, but you—”

“They were about to inject me with something.”

“What?!” Daniella exclaimed.

Vaughn turned to her. “Daniella, can you let us talk in private?”

“No,” I protested. “She has every right to know what’s going on here. They all do.”

“It’s not safe, Tally.”

“And you think the lies make it safer?” I demanded.

Vaughn seemed conflicted for a moment, then he threw my question back at me. “I don’t know. What doyouthink?”

I had no idea, but it wasn’t fair or right to keep the truth from our campmates. They needed to know there was something sinister happening on this island. They already knew their lives were at risk, that no one was safe, but it seemed to me that whatever was going on under that dome could mean a fate much worse than death.

“I think Daniella and the others need to know what’s at stake,” I said. “Besides, they sent me back, didn’t they? Even after what I witnessed.”

Vaughn opened his mouth to say something, then closed it.

“They did,” he admitted in a quiet tone. “But what did you witness? All I know is that they took us to a different room, and there was a struggle. I decided to keep pretending I was unconscious like Horace said I should. Then you were screaming, and before I could decide what to do I was back here.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember.”

Was that true? Everything had happened so fast. I had been trying to get Bor free from his restraints and next thing I knew something hit me, rendering me truly unconscious.

“Who’s Horace?” Daniella asked.

Vaughn ignored the question.

“You realize what yourfriendsaid, at least,” I told Vaughn, still suspicious. “He delivered us to some guy to getadded to his roster,to get prodded.”

“Prodded? What do you mean?” Vaughn asked.

“He stuck something in my mouth and whirled it around. He tore some of my hair out. He put something in me.” I pointed at the crook of my arm where a pinprick could be seen.

“Oh, God.” Daniella took a step back, a hand pressed to her chest. “I have a very bad feeling about this.”

Vaughn scrubbed a hand over his face. He narrowed his eyes. A million thoughts and questions seemed to flash across his face as he considered. “It sounds like they were… gathering genetic material. Are you sure he was trying to inject you with something and not draw blood?”

“I don’t know,” I answered in irritation. “I don’t understand half of the things you humans do.”

“I would bet they wanted a sample of your blood. But why?” he asked, more to himself than anyone else.

“For nothing good, I’m sure.”

Vaughn stepped closer. “What else did you learn?”