Chosen at Nightfall (A Shadow Falls Novel) (18 page)

Perry released her and shot Miranda a grin over his shoulder. “Just a little bit,” he said, and glanced back at Kylie. “Damn, we missed you. Miranda was driving me crazy she was so lonely.”

“I missed everyone, too,” Kylie said, and meant it with all her heart.

Right then, a group of weres walked past. Kylie first recognized Clara, Lucas’s half-sister. She met Kylie’s gaze and her posture suddenly seemed to express an attitude. Okay, so not everyone was happy to have her back. She could accept that. But then behind Clara, another person moved into view, and Kylie’s gaze slammed right into Fredericka.

She didn’t smile, but she didn’t scowl, and then she offered Kylie a slight nod. A welcome-back nod, maybe even a good-to-see-you nod. Kylie returned the gesture and even offered a slight smile.

For Fredericka, that little acknowledgment was probably more of a show of affection than Perry’s. Especially when Clara shot Fredericka a disgruntled look for her action, and Fredericka gave her a get-over-it shrug.

Kylie drew in a deep breath. It felt good to know that while she might not have gained any friends at Shadow Falls, she’d managed to lose an enemy.

Miranda leaned in. “Did you just do what I think you did? Did you smile at that B with an itch?”

“I told you, her and I sort of came to terms,” Kylie said.

“Which is a good thing,” Holiday piped up. “And I think more people need to come to terms around here.”

“And I think Della’s right,” Miranda muttered. “Kylie’s just too nice.” Ignoring Holiday’s frown, the witch glanced at Burnett. “Speaking of which … is Della back yet?”

“She’s due any time,” Burnett answered as they moved to the dining hall.

When they walked in the door, the chatter filling the large room went silent as if someone had turned off the volume. Heads turned. The only sound bouncing around the large space was forks dropping onto platters. Then, simultaneously, at least fifty pairs of eyes squinted to check out her pattern. Kylie stopped moving a foot inside the door feeling—and not liking—the limelight.

Holiday brushed the back of her hand against Kylie’s. “You want me to do something?” she whispered.

“No,” Kylie muttered, determined to fight her own battles. Besides, she wanted to be here, this was home, and by God, she wasn’t hiding her pattern. Sooner or later, they’d get used to her. Wouldn’t they? Eventually they would stop staring and accept her as one of their own.

“Well, I’m gonna do something,” growled Perry. He moved forward. “You wanna stare at something?” he yelled out. “Well, stare at this!” Perry swerved around, bent to the waist, dropped his pants, and mooned every pair of those fifty sets of eyes.

“Perry!” Holiday squealed, but there was laughter behind the tone. Burnett’s chuckle bounced out of him, but then he slammed shut his mouth when he spotted Holiday’s arched brow at his open show of humor.

“Don’t be showing your ass, Perry!” Burnett said, his voice deep as if still trying not to laugh. “People are trying to eat.”

Everyone in the entire room bolted out with laughter, even Kylie. Leave it to Perry to turn an awkward moment to one of complete humor. Kylie looked at Miranda, who was rolling her eyes, but pride sparkled behind them. And she should be proud. While pulling his pants down might have seemed extreme, it had been done with good intentions, to put a stop to an awkward moment—done to make Kylie feel better. And it had.

Pants back up, Perry turned around and winked at Kylie. As they started moving to the food counter, Kylie leaned in to Miranda and said, “Perry’s a keeper.”

Miranda rolled her eyes again in humor. “I know.” She grinned. “And he has a cute ass, doesn’t he?”

Kylie laughed again. “I didn’t see his ass, it’s his heart that did me in.”

As Kylie stood in line to get served her hamburger and fries—which actually smelled a bit like heaven—several people came over to welcome her back: Mandy, one of Miranda’s witch friends, Chris, the vampire, and Jonathon, who wore a long face, obviously missing Helen.

“How’s Helen?” Kylie asked, and was suddenly washed with a bit of guilt knowing it was probably because of her that Helen was attacked. “I’m so sorry this happened.”

“It’s not your fault,” he said, and bumped her with his shoulder. “But give me a chance to put my hands on that asshole who hurt her and he’ll be sorry.”

“Is she really okay?” Kylie asked.

“Yeah, she’s fine. Her parents say she can come back here in a week.”

“That’s good,” Kylie said.

“Good? That’s like forever. A whole week. Seven days. I’m gonna go bat-shit crazy. She’s like my drug. I’m not used to being without her.” He took off, not a happy camper.

Kylie watched him slump off—his posture that of a hurt and defeated-looking boy. And she got a flashback to how she felt when Lucas would leave. Lonely, empty. Her touchstone in life missing.

Trying to push the thought away, she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up and do a tickling tap dance. Trying to be inconspicuous, but fearing she knew exactly who was staring, she looked over her shoulder at the were table. Sure as hell, he sat there, studying her with wide, blue eyes. Eyes filled with a sad apology. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach.

Would she ever get over being mad enough to forgive him? The question painfully banged against her chest bone with each beat of her heart.

She looked away and shot forward at the same time and ran right into a wide chest—a familiar wide chest. One she remembered leaning against last night in a dreamscape. When she glanced up at Derek’s face, it was as if her brain decided this moment was perfect to download everything that happened. All the missing pieces of the puzzle of last night in the dream came hurling back.

The kiss.

His arms around her.

The gentle way he’d held her.

Oh, shit!

Chapter Sixteen

Kylie had stopped the kiss, but not nearly soon enough. And then she’d rested her head on his chest and cried because she’d felt so confused. He’d held her so close and let her cry. It had been cathartic and soothing.

It had been wrong.

Wrong because of what she saw reflecting in his eyes. Hope. Optimism that when her heartbreak with Lucas was all said and done, they’d find their way to what they’d had before.

That thought brought on an epiphany—one of those startling realizations that usually caused havoc in one’s life. And yes, she felt the havoc, but she also felt … a surge of questions and a need to understand.

Derek had cheated on her, actually slept with Ellie, unlike what Lucas had done—or what she’d thought he had done. And while she’d been hurt by Derek and felt betrayed, this thing with Lucas felt like so much more. Why?

Did it speak to how much she cared about Derek—that forgiving him had come easier? Or did it refer to the depth of her feelings for Lucas? That the feelings she held for Lucas were truer?

“You okay?” Derek asked, staring at her.

She nodded. “Just hungry,” she lied, and moved in front of him in the line, so she wouldn’t have to face him or the lie she’d just told.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “You’re not mad at me, are you?”

She considered the question, and the answer came back.
I can’t be mad at you, it’s myself I’m mad at.

She’d been weak. She should have called the end to the dreamscape before it got started. And she could have done that. So why hadn’t she?

“No, I’m not mad,” she whispered back. “I’m just…” Realizing they were surrounded by vampire ears that could hear all kinds of secrets, she said, “We’ll talk later.”

“That will work,” he said. “I’m shadowing you tonight, so we should have plenty of time.”

Kylie frowned. Maybe she needed to add Derek to Burnett’s no-shadowing list. At least until she sorted out her feelings.

*   *   *

With a food tray in hand, Kylie moved to the table where Miranda and Perry sat. She sat down and glanced at Perry and again felt the wash of gratitude to the shape-shifter. “Thanks,” she said.

“Anytime you need me to show my ass, I’m there for you,” he said, grinning.

Kylie heard someone take the seat beside her and worried again about encouraging Derek. Picking up a fry, she looked straight ahead, trying to ignore the fae as long as possible. Her gaze shifted around the room, stopping on the were table and the four frowns being tossed her way from the weres sitting there. Frowns from everyone but … Lucas.

A certain woodsy scent of the person sitting next to her suddenly filled her senses. The fry slipped from her fingers. Slowly, she turned her head to confirm her mistake.

Mistake confirmed. Her breath hitched a little.

It wasn’t Derek sitting next to her. But Lucas.

Reverting her gaze to the plate of food, she stared at the hamburger that suddenly didn’t smell or look so appetizing. “Shouldn’t you be with your pack?” she whispered without looking at him.

“Actually,” he said, leaning in close. So close his shoulder brushed against hers. Pain, emotional pain from just that light touch, went right to her heart. “I’m exactly where I belong,” Lucas whispered.

She scooted over a few inches at the same time a tray hit the table in front of her. It hit a little too loud. She suspected the owner of the tray might be one pissed-off fae. A glance up confirmed it. Derek dropped into the seat, eyeballing Lucas as if he was infringing on his space.

Just freaking great, Kylie thought. She considered the right thing to do, bolt out of here, knowing people were probably already watching to see what she’d do. Stay and hope no drama arose between the were and fae, and try to downplay all the gossip.

Feeling forced to pretend everything was fine, she picked up her hamburger and sank her teeth into the soft white bun. While she didn’t think about how it tasted, her stomach must have approved, because it grumbled in appreciation the moment the first bite made its way down into the empty organ. She didn’t give her stomach time to beg for a second bite before she went in for another. This time, the flavor of the slightly sweet bun, mixed with the cheesy beef patty and the tangy zest of ketchup, had her taste buds applauding. She really hadn’t eaten right since leaving Shadow Falls.

Derek, probably reading her desire to avoid chaos, picked up his burger and started to eat. Lucas did the same. The tension let up, but not by a whole hell of a lot.

“Who’s up for a game of basketball after dinner?” Perry asked.

A few voices broke in with a yes. Kylie thought both Derek and Lucas chimed in, but she didn’t know for sure. She did most of her focusing on her food and avoided eye contact with anyone.

Then Derek added, “But it will have to be a short game. I’m shadowing Kylie tonight.”

It was more how he said it, than what he said, that made it clear his goal had been to piss Lucas off. And it worked. Lucas gave his tray a quick shove and it flew across the table and slammed into Derek’s, sending his French fries flying into his lap.

“Give it up,” Lucas said. “We’ll be back together in no time.”

“Are you sure of that?” Derek asked.

“Stop,” Kylie snapped.

“I’m sure,” Lucas growled as if he hadn’t heard her. “You see, I didn’t sleep around on her like someone else did.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t get engaged behind her back,” Derek tossed out.

“Neither did I,” Lucas countered. “The engagement never went through because I didn’t sign the papers after the ceremony.”

Say what?
Kylie looked at him, shocked. She had just assumed … “What about getting on the Council?” she asked.

“You’re more important,” he said. “I told you that already.”

No, he hadn’t told her that. Not really. And he hadn’t told her he’d backed out of the engagement, either.

“I told you it was mistake. That…” He hesitated just a second. “That I love you.”

She didn’t miss how hard it was for him to speak his feelings publicly, and you can bet every ear in the room was straining to hear, but he’d done it. He told her he loved her in front of everyone.

And it annoyed the hell out of her. Perry’s mooning had been much more appreciated.

“And why the hell couldn’t you have figured that out earlier?” She dropped her hamburger, shoved her own tray back, and left the dining hall. As she did, she heard her own footfalls on the tile floor. Which meant everyone in the room, the whole freaking camp, had just been privy to her personal upheaval. Great. Just friggin’ great.

*   *   *

Kylie got outside before she heard someone following her. Thinking it was Derek, and prepared to send him packing, she swung around and Miranda crashed right into her.

“Sorry,” Miranda said.

Kylie blinked away what felt like the beginning of tears. “It’s okay. You don’t have to come. Stay with Perry and finish your dinner.”

“I have to come,” Miranda said.

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do.” Miranda nodded. “First, because you’re one of my best friends and second, because … Burnett told me to. But I would have come anyway because of the first thing.” She hugged Kylie. “You want me to tell Perry to moon them again?”

Kylie pulled back from the hug, chuckled, and swiped at her tears. “I don’t think they could handle seeing it twice.”

Miranda giggled. “Are you kidding? It’s a gorgeous ass.”

They walked back to the cabin and Miranda talked about Perry. A lot about Perry. Like, as in nonstop. Not that Kylie minded; she’d take Miranda going on about Perry over the silence she’d experienced at her grandfather’s place anytime. So what if Miranda talked a bit too much? Kylie still loved her, loved hanging with her, too.

They got to the cabin, walked inside, and both of their gazes shot to Della’s door. Della’s closed door. And that could mean only one thing. Della was home.

Screaming, they both went hurtling inside the vamp’s room.

Della stood, completely naked, in the middle of the room with her bra in her hands.

“Jeepers! Don’t you guys know what a closed door means? Now, turn around while I get dressed.”

“We don’t care if you’re naked. We’re just so happy to see you,” Miranda said.