"But I'm not lying. The results really were inconclusive," he insisted.
Cara scoffed, her voice dripping with disbelief. "Even a fool could see you're lying. Spill the truth. Now."
Darren clenched his jaw. "I can't tell you anything, Cara."
"Why?" she snapped, her patience unraveling.
Before he could respond, she was already inside his mind, peeling back layers of fear and hesitation. What she found only deepened her curiosity—Darren wasn't just afraid of *her* He was terrified of his boss at the lab. And that meant whatever he had uncovered was bigger than she had anticipated.
"I just *can't* tell you," Darren muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "If I do, they'll kill my family."
Cara exhaled, forcing herself to ease back. "Fine," she said, her tone deceptively casual. "Just give me a hint—was it vampire blood?"