"We should run." Kylie's voice was nothing more than a whisper. Her heart throbbing in her chest sounded louder.
"When things run, they get chased," Della answered. "I'd rather do the chasing."
"Smart girl," a deep voice answered back. And just the sound of it sent chills down Kylie's spine.
Three silent figures stepped out from the shadows. The only noise filtering through the thicket of trees was Della's hiss. Kylie moved to stand next to Della in case they attacked. Her mind still played with the option of running. A good option. But first she had to convince Della.
The slight sound of twigs being snapped under footsteps sounded at their backs. They were surrounded.
Time to find a new option.
Even with only the half moon lighting the path, Kylie was able to check the patterns of the three men fronting them: werewolves. The edges of the patterns were dark, as if their intentions were not good natured. That could only mean one thing: rogues.
The bigger man in the middle stepped closer. Della hissed harder. Kylie felt her blood fizz with the need to protect the little vamp. As badass as Della considered herself, this was no fair match. Not that the rogues would care.
"I will kindly ask you to leave," Kylie said, not sure where her bravado came from, but it was there, and she'd be damned if she wouldn't use it. "You're trespassing. This is Shadow Falls property." She stood with her shoulders back, her chin up. Knowing they could smell fear, she tried not to let the seed of that emotion grow any bigger.
Kylie saw Della, poised to attack, and Kylie touched her elbow, hoping to convince the vamp to wait. Maybe they could talk their way out of this.
"Leave now, or I'll rip your throat out first," Della said to the man facing her.
That wasn't the kind of talk Kylie had in mind.
"We did not come here to do harm," the guy in the middle said to Kylie, and then he cut Della a smirk as if mocking her threat. "But if provoked, that could change."
Della hissed louder.
"Then leave." Kylie's gaze moved over him. She got the feeling the one who spoke was the leader. He didn't look old, but things like the gray at his temple and the fine lines around his dark blue eyes told her he was older than she'd first assumed. Caught by his eyes, her mind tried to place him. She felt him staring, doing the same with her, and then his eyes pinched as he read her pattern.
As sudden as a flicker of light, she knew who he was. She sensed he recognized her as well. That kernel of fear lingering in her gut grew. This man didn't value life. He'd already proven that to Kylie once.
He took another step forward. Della tried to jump in front of him, but Kylie grabbed her.
"Let me handle this." The sizzle in Kylie's blood-the sizzle that came when her need to protect arose-grew stronger.
"I'm not here to spill blood," he insisted.
"Then leave," Kylie demanded.
"Yeah, tuck your tail between your legs and run," Della bit out.
A threatening growl came from behind them. Della swung around, yanking away from Kylie's hold, her eyes glowing brighter. Fear took another lap around Kylie's heart. Not fear for herself, but for what was about to happen. Her blood now buzzed as it moved into her veins. She kept her focus on Della. If anyone put a hand on her, this would not end well.
"Calm down," the leader spoke, and Kylie sensed he spoke to her as well as to his own men. "I just came to speak to my son."
"Then speak to him." A new voice rang out from the trees. "But you and your guards back away right this minute." Lucas's voice, deep and menacing, came from Kylie's right. When she turned, she saw that his eyes glowed burnt orange. She watched him lift his head ever so slightly to pull air in through his nose.
She knew then she'd lost her battle trying to hide her fear. Lucas had smelled it as the others probably had. But she wondered if they picked up on the fact that she hadn't feared the fight. She'd feared the emotional havoc it would've caused. Killing your boyfriend's father couldn't be good for a relationship.
"I said, back off," Lucas ordered.
When the three men didn't back up, Della spoke up again. "You heard him, you jackasses. Back off."
Lucas suddenly stood on the other side of Kylie. His warm forearm brushed against her shoulder, leaving no doubt of his loyalty to her, even over his own father. The thought warmed her heart, even as it thudded with panic.
More werewolf campers stepped out from behind the trees. They didn't appear aggressive, but just their presence spoke of their loyalty to Lucas.
"It appears I'm not the only one who brought his guards," Mr. Parker said.
"If I need them, they'll back me," Lucas said.
A low growl came from one of the weres bracketing Lucas's dad. Mr. Parker glanced over at him. "There will be no trouble tonight."
While still leery, and with the tension so thick it made breathing difficult, Kylie heard the command in the man's voice and sensed his men would not defy him. The surge of adrenaline storming in her veins lessened.
Will, another camper and one of Lucas's friends, moved in closer. Somewhere in the back of Kylie's brain, the realization hit. Lucas hadn't been alone with Fredericka. A thread of guilt over doubting him rose in her chest.
As if thinking of the girl brought her here, Fredericka walked out of the line of trees and into the small clearing.
"Mr. Parker," Fredericka said in a light tone, breaking the tight tension. "What a pleasure to see you again." The she-wolf shot Kylie a slight smirk, as if wanting Kylie to know she was friends with Lucas's dad.
"The same here," the man replied with disinterest. He paid Fredericka no heed. He hadn't stopped studying Kylie's pattern. She felt the slightest bit worried that it was doing something strange.
"So the rumors don't lie," Mr. Parker said, sounding perplexed.
"What rumors?" Kylie asked.
"I can see why my son is intrigued by you. A shame that you are not one of us."
Kylie's chest tightened at the implication. As if her relationship with Lucas was doomed.
"Enough," Lucas said. "I think-"
"You are one strange bird, Kylie Galen." Mr. Parker tightened his brows as if to get a closer look at her pattern.
Kylie tilted her chin up a notch. Not a bird, Kylie thought. A chameleon. And an inexplicable sense of pride filled her chest. For the first time, Kylie accepted that while she knew nothing of what being a chameleon meant, there was value in the little knowledge she had.
Lucas turned to face Della. "Both of you go back to your cabin." His gaze settled on Kylie. "I'll see you later."
Resentment at being told to leave stirred in Kylie's gut, but logic intervened and she sensed his intention came from his need to protect her and not to control her. Then she realized that if she resented his authoritative tone ... She glanced at Della.
"I'd rather help you send these guys off," Della growled.
Kylie spoke up. "We should go."
Della frowned, but her expression said she'd concede. "Fine. I didn't want to hang out with these dogs anyway." She snarled at the intruders.
One of Mr. Parker's guards took a defensive step forward, and both Kylie and Lucas moved in a step. That one step left little doubt that neither of them would allow the guard to touch Della. Kylie didn't miss the frown that Lucas sent Kylie, as if to say he didn't want her taking the protective role. But that was what she was. A protector. A chameleon protector.
Della scowled at both of them, as if to say she didn't need their protection.
"Go. Please," Lucas said.
Kylie motioned for Della to follow her.
As they walked away, Kylie couldn't resist looking back. She saw Lucas, his posture defensive as if his father brought out the worst in him. Her thoughts went to both her own father and her stepfather. Neither of them put her on the defensive. Yeah, her stepfather had made some bad mistakes, and Kylie might still be working on forgiving him, but deep down she knew he loved her. And with her real father, Daniel, well, he cared so deeply he hadn't even let his death separate them.
Kylie sensed Lucas had never felt any affection from his father. Her heart hurt for him, and her blood heated with the need to defend him.
But defend him against what? What was it that had brought Mr. Parker to camp? Something told her it wasn't just to give Lucas a hug. Was something wrong with Lucas's grandmother? His half sister?
A shame that you are not one of us. His words echoed in her head and heart. Could he be here about her? Protesting the fact that Lucas was ... intrigued with her?
"Burnett's going to be so pissed about this," Della huffed, her hurried pace matching her angry tone.
Kylie nipped at her lip with worry, before expressing her thoughts. "Which is why you aren't going to tell him."
Della looked at Kylie. The vamp's eyes were still bright with fury. "They are rogues."
"But he's Lucas's father." And the thought of Lucas having to deal with Burnett after already having to deal with his father seemed unfair.
"It's against regulations."
"Just like it was for Chan to show up," Kylie reminded her. "And like Chan, Mr. Parker didn't hurt anyone. He just wanted to talk to his son."
Della let out a breath of frustration. "You know, I really hate it when you do that."
"Do what?" Kylie dodged a vine swinging back.
"Use logic and rub my nose in the fact that you're right."
"I didn't rub your nose in it."
"Maybe not. But I still don't like it."
They walked a few minutes without speaking. "Thanks for not telling," Kylie said, knowing that was what Della meant.
They moved through the dense vegetation with only the night's song whispering through the trees. Finally, Kylie spoke up. "Lucas wasn't alone with Fredericka."
"Yeah, I figured that one out, too," Della said. "But..."
"But what?"
"I don't know. I mean, I kind of feel as if I sort of encouraged you to go with Lucas and maybe I was wrong."
"Wrong?" Kylie grabbed Della by the arm. "Do you mean wrong to push me, or wrong for me to go after Lucas?"
Della frowned. "Both."
"Why would you say that?" Kylie asked, hurt that Della would make such a statement-especially when her heart was already so confused.
"It's not that I don't like Lucas, I do. But he's werewolf and you're obviously not. I admit I thought you were before. But tonight when we were surrounded by weres, I could just tell that you weren't like them. And after what his grandmother said and now after what his dad said, I think his family and his pack are going to stand in your way."
"He told me he doesn't care what they say." And she believed it. She did.
Sadness filled Della's eyes and Kylie felt the emotion resonate within herself.
Della exhaled. "That's what Lee said, too. And look what happened with us."
It's not the same thing.
While Kylie waited on her porch for Lucas to show up, she contemplated what Della had said and thought about her day from hell.
She'd spoken to her mom, who needed reassurance that Kylie was okay. She'd spoken to Holiday, who needed the same thing. Then her phone chirped again. Derek, this time, wanting the same thing.
"Hey, I just wanted to check in," he said.
It was funny, really, how well she knew him. She knew what he felt without his ever having to say it and so she knew why he'd called. He'd obviously sensed some of her earlier emotions. "I'm fine."
"If you need to talk or anything, I'm here." He sounded so wistful, she felt her heart grow tighter.
"I know," she answered. "And I appreciate it."
"Did you ever figure out the whole ghost issue?"
"Not yet," Kylie admitted, her tone echoing some of the frustration she felt.
"Did you talk to Holiday about it?" he asked, sounding genuinely concerned.
"A little," she said. "But I wasn't ... I only skimmed the surface."
"Oh, shit!"
"What?"
"That's who it is, isn't it? That's whose face the ghost has stolen. It's Holiday."
Kylie closed her eyes. "Yes, but please don't say anything. I'm trying to figure it out before I take it to Holiday."
"Is she in danger? Does this mean ... anything?"
"In a roundabout way, I asked Holiday, and she said it was unlikely. But..."
"But what?"
"It's just scary," Kylie admitted. "Seeing her as a ghost when she's not dead."
"Hell yeah, it's scary. And you shouldn't have to figure it out all by yourself. I'm here for you. I don't know how to help solve this, but whatever it takes, I'll do it."
"Thanks." She leaned back against the cabin wall, and right then she was hit by a wash of cold. Dead cold.
"And I don't expect anything in return," he said. "I accept we're just friends."
"Thank you." The spirit, identical to Holiday, stood over her, looking down with a frown on her face. "I should go."
"Something wrong?" he asked, and she couldn't help but wonder if he could feel her now.
"Just ... got company."
"Lucas?" His tone expressed exactly how he felt about the werewolf.
"No. The ghost."
"Oh. So, I'll let you go. But Kylie..."
"Yeah?" She stood because she didn't like having the spirit staring down at her.
"I'm here if you need me." He sounded so genuine.
"I know," she said, feeling the words vibrate in her chest. She hung up and met the woman's green gaze.
"I think you should pick him," the spirit said.
"Say what?"
"Between him and the werewolf. I like him. He's fae."
Kylie bit back the frustration. "I think I'd better decide that."
"Just a little advice," the spirit said.
Kylie studied her. "Did you discover anything?"
"Not really, but I remember some stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
"Scary stuff."
"Can you tell me about it?"
The spirit studied Kylie with the same kind of concerned look Holiday always did.
"I don't think you need to hear it. You're ... young."
Kylie rolled her eyes. "You came here for me to help you. I can't help if you don't tell me things."
She blinked. "I don't know if that's true."
"What's not true?"
"That I came to you to help me." She stood silent for a long moment. "I think I came to you to help someone else."
"Who?"
"I don't know exactly. But I sense it."
"What do you sense?"
"That danger is right around the corner." Her eyes filled with worry.
"Can I stop it from happening?"
She tilted her head to one side and considered the question. "I think so. I think that's why I came. So you could stop it."
Kylie's heart filled with hope. Surely, if it wasn't possible to help, the spirit would have known. So even if this was Holiday, maybe Kylie could save her. Maybe the person the spirit was supposed to save was herself and she just didn't realize it. "Have you figured out your name yet?"
She shook her head. "I just keep getting the same thing. I think it's Hannah."
"Please tell me what you know. It might be important."
She shook her head. "I'm not ready to talk about it. And it's not a whole lot. Just ... flashes of stuff."
"Why aren't you ready to talk about it?"
The spirit turned and stared at the woods as if she'd heard something.
Kylie followed her gaze. She didn't see anyone, but oddly, the feeling she'd felt earlier had returned. Someone was out there. Calling for her.
Who are you? What do you want? She asked the question in her mind.
"They want to talk to you," the ghost said.
"Who?" Kylie asked. "And you said 'they,' so how do you know there's more than one?"
"I just somehow know there's more than one. But if I don't know my own name, how could I know theirs?"
"Have you seen them? Do you know what they want with me?"
She shook her head. "I just sense them. Calling you."
"Do they mean to harm me?" she asked.
"I ... can't say for sure. But they don't feel evil."
"They don't really feel evil to me, either." Or maybe she just wanted to believe it. She moved down the steps. She'd almost reached the woods when someone caught her arm-someone warm, someone alive.