Chosen at Nightfall (Shadow Falls #5)(112)

He's on his way to check on me now. Hurry. He can't be alone.

Kylie jumped out of the shower and ran to get dressed. As she fought to put clothes on her shower-wet body, her heart ached for Lucas, of how he would feel finding his grandmother's body. "Where do you live? Wait? Doesn't Burnett know?"

The vampire? Is this the person you imply?

"Yes," Kylie said, wishing that it didn't take so damn long to speak in a proper tone.

She nodded. Yes, he's been there.

"Della!" Kylie called out the girl's name.

There's a letter in my desk drawer that he needs to read. Make sure he gets it.

Della came running into the room in a flash. "What?"

He was right, you know.

"Who was right?" Kylie asked the spirit, ignoring the panicking vampire standing in her Mickey Mouse pajamas.

You are part of his quest, and he yours. I see things clearer up here. You see, you have been a part of each other's quests since you met all those years ago. You are the reason he will complete his life's mission and he will be there to save you when you need help to complete yours. But go now. Go help him.

"Is this a vision?" Della asked, staring at Kylie with uncertainty.

"Let's go!" Kylie shot out of the cabin. She was almost to Holiday's before she realized she was flying and that she must have turned herself into a vampire.

"I hope we're going to a pajama party," Della said in her sassy voice.

"Gotta get Burnett," Kylie answered as a few hot tears trickled down her cheek.They landed with a thud on Holiday's porch and hadn't taken one step when Burnett yanked open the door while still zipping up his jeans. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Do you know where Lucas's grandmother lives?"

He looked confused, his eyes still dazed with sleep. "Yes. Lucas called about ten minutes ago, he was going to check on her."

"We need to get there."

"Why?" Burnett asked.

"She's dead," Kylie blurted out as more tears filled her eyes. "He doesn't need to be the one to find her."

"Oh, hell!" Burnett rushed back to the bedroom with his phone. He looked at Kylie. "He's not answering."

"You stay here," he said to Della, and then he and Kylie took off. Her feet only hit the ground three times before she was in full flight beside Burnett.

In less than ten minutes Burnett finally started his descent. They stopped at a large one-story white brick house. It spoke of money and a love of gardening. The yard looked like something from a magazine.

Not that Kylie spent much time appreciating the landscape. Her feet had barely hit the manicured lawn and she was listening for life inside the house.

She heard deep intakes of air that expressed grief and sadness. "He's already here," she said to Burnett. "I'm going inside."

Burnett stepped in front of her. "No. I'll go in."

"No!" Kylie demanded, and started forward, her heart aching for Lucas.

"Kylie!" Burnett caught her arm. "When a were is distraught, especially this close to a full moon, he sometimes lashes out with anger. He can't control it. Especially with a vampire."

She brushed a few tears from her eyes. "You don't get it. He loves me. He won't hurt me. He would never hurt me."

Burnett hesitated.

"It's just like you and Holiday," Kylie said.

He exhaled and stepped back from the door. She moved into the house. It smelled like the lemon Pledge that Nana used to use. Everything in the house, from the antiques to the fancy oil paintings, spoke of wealth.

"Lucas," she called his name.

He didn't answer. She moved down the hallway where she heard the sounds of anguish.

Lucas sat on the edge of the bed. His grandmother's lifeless body was centered on the mattress.

"Lucas," she said again, and walked in.

He swung around. His eyes were the deepest, darkest shade of orange she'd ever seen.

"Leave!" he growled.

"No," she said. "You need me now." His grandmother had said so.

He bolted across the room and backed her against the wall. There was nothing but wild pain in his eyes. He growled, and for the first time she saw his canine teeth extended.

"It's me, Lucas," she said, feeling his fingers dig into her forearms.

She felt the instant he came to his senses. He dropped his hands from her arms, shifted away from her,and pressed his head against the wall.

She went to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, pressed her face between his shoulder blades, and held him.

"She's gone," he said, his voice hoarse with grief.

"I know." She hugged him tighter.

He turned around and pulled her to him. They stood there for the longest time, just holding on to each other.

"I'm so sorry," Kylie whispered, and she felt his pain, remembered with clarity how she'd felt when they told her Nana had died.

He released her, and then met her eyes. His gaze was still bright, but the wildness was gone. The dampness on his cheeks wasn't a sign of weakness, but a sign of devotion, of the love he felt for the only real mother he'd known and then lost.

"I knew she didn't have long, but I wasn't ready yet. I thought I had another year, maybe two."