Free Hunted (Talented Saga # 3) by Sophie Davis

that they needed human test subjects?
    “When Mac said they were going to use the prisoner for research, what did he mean?” I asked Erik.
    “You probably don’t want to know,” Erik sent back, his grip on my hand tightening.
    That was what I was afraid of. But I did want to know. I hated how ignorant I was. For years, I had thought Toxic did great things for the Talented. Protected our rights. Gave us jobs. And even more importantly, they protected the entire country from threats. But at what cost?
    “Does the Agency use human test subjects a lot?” I asked as we started up the first escalator.
    Erik seemed conflicted, like he wasn’t sure how much he should say.
    “Does the Agency use human test subjects?” I repeated, growing angry at the thought that maybe I was the only one that didn’t know the dirty little secret.
    “I don’t know for sure, Tals. Some people think that they do. Some people think that the School and Toxic are just one big experiment. Let’s just say that it doesn’t surprise me that they are sending a prisoner to a research facility.”
    I didn’t like his answer. I wanted Erik to be as appalled as I was. The fact that he wasn’t sent Crane’s words flying through my mind. You have no idea what your Agency does to innocent people.
    “Conditions at the prisons, particularly Tramblewood, are not good. I’ve heard that some inmates go crazy after years without sunlight and proper nutrition. The Agency may be conducting a study on the long term effects of incarceration.”
    “Maybe,” I replied, noncommittally. I knew Erik meant to comfort me by suggesting a benign alternative to the nightmarish alternatives parading through my thoughts, and I might have bought it if I hadn’t been absorbing Mac’s feelings. Whatever research Mac had planned for TI-912 was serious, vital to the Agency even.
    By the time we made it back to the gate, the adrenaline rush that came with our near miss was gone, replaced by confusion and frustration. I would find out what Mac was up to. I just had to wait until his guard was down. Then I could infiltrate his thoughts. In theory, it should be easy. In practice, I doubted it would be.

     
    Chapter Seven
     
    “Damn it, Kelley. I thought for sure you’d been caught,” Arden said by way of greeting the moment we stepped through the gate.
    “You underestimate me.” Erik’s tone was light, jovial even. His mental vibrations told a different story, a dark and disturbed one. Mac’s appearance in the metro had obviously unnerved him, whether he was willing to admit it or not.
    “Just get back to the hotel before you get me in trouble.” Arden made it sound like an order. He gestured in the direction of the Hamilton with his startlingly large gun.
    “You got it. Thanks again,” Erik replied giving the older boy a mock salute. Arden didn’t look amused in the least. I honestly couldn’t blame him. If we had been caught, Arden probably would have been in just as much trouble as us.
    “Thanks, Arden,” I muttered when I passed him. He managed a small, strained smile in response.
    Erik and I walked back in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts. Desmond and the other guards nodded to us when we entered the hotel. Erik pushed past without stopping to talk, dragging me behind him before I could thank them again for letting us out.
    At the door to my room, Erik kissed me softly on the cheek, running his hand absently through my curls.
    “Don’t you want to come in?” I asked, surprised when he turned to leave.
    “I can’t,” he said, shaking his head regretfully.
    “Why? I haven’t seen you in weeks,” I demanded. I blanched at the harshness in my voice. Softening my tone, I added, “Besides, I really need you right now.” I knew that I was being unfair. I wasn’t the only one showing the telltale signs of stress and exhaustion. Erik’s tired eyes stared down at me as he contemplated his next words carefully. Then embarrassment clouded his