Chosen at Nightfall (Shadow Falls #5)(32)

"I promise," Kylie said.

"And try to trust me," he said.

"I do."

"No, you don't," he said, sounding defeated. "If you trusted me I wouldn't just now be finding out about Hayden."

"Someone made me promise not to tell," she said. "If you had promised someone something, wouldn't you try to honor that?"

He sighed, probably offering her the best understanding he could. "But you need to be careful what you promise people." He glanced around, looking a little leery. "Is she still gone?"

Kylie knew who he meant by "she." She looked left and then right. "I don't see her anymore." But deep down she worried the spirit wouldn't stay away too long. Tomorrow she needed to confer with Holiday about how to get rid of the ghost permanently. Holiday was right. Kylie had no reason to help someone so evil.

"Do you know what she wants? Or who the head belonged to?" Burnett asked.

"I don't know. It could have happened years ago for all I know. But as for what she wants, yeah, I sort of know."

"And that is?" he asked.

"She wants me to kill someone for her." Kylie was too tired to put the sarcasm in her voice.

Burnett scowled. "Who?"

"She hasn't made that clear yet," Kylie said.

"They don't ever ask too much, do they?" he said, but sarcasm rang in his voice. Obviously, he wasn't as exhausted as she was.

Kylie shrugged. She went to step back, but this time it was Burnett who surprised her, when he moved in for a hug. It was short, but sweet, and she realized she needed it.

"Do you want me stay a while?" he asked, looking awkward after the show of affection.

"No," Kylie said, letting him off the hook.

"Do you want me to get Holiday?" he asked. "I will."

"No, I'm fine. I just want to go to bed." Her gaze cut to the sky; it was almost morning. She reallyneeded some sleep. And she was exhausted, physically, but the walk back had kick-started her brain again. Touching Hayden's phone in her pocket, she remembered she also wanted to call her mom. She moved up the porch, looking back once to see Burnett standing at the steps, gazing at her with parental concern.

She remembered her grandfather saying Burnett had stepped into the role of a father, and in a way she supposed he had.

"I'll be fine," she assured him. Not that she felt all that certain.

"Promise me you won't leave the cabin," he said again.

"I promise." She shot him a half-faked smile and shut the door.

Once she heard his footsteps leaving, Kylie leaned against the door and just stood there. Then something caught her eye at her bedroom door. Her heart sank when she saw the steam billowing up from the slit at the bottom, telling her she had company.

Oh, boy. Had she brought more show and tell? What body part had she dragged along this time?

But damn, Kylie didn't want any company.

Or at least not that kind of company. She needed a friend. She needed one of her best friends. She looked over her shoulder at Miranda's door. No steam was billowing out from the bottom.

Turning around, she opened her friend's door. It was early, but something told her Miranda wouldn't complain.

* * *

A much-needed smile bubbled up inside Kylie at the sight of the sleeping witch wearing her smiley pajamas and spooning a huge teddy bear like it was her lover. Kylie took in the witch's blond hair with streaks of pink, green, and black scattered over the pillow, and just like that she felt her heart lighten at the sight of her good friend.

As she took another step, the wood floor creaked as if announcing Kylie's presence.

Miranda's shoulders twitched, but she didn't roll over. "I thought we were going to wait to have sex,"

she muttered.

Kylie's smile widened. "I think that might be wise. I'm not sure our relationship could handle it right now."

Miranda swung around, bringing the teddy bear with her. Her sleepy eyes now popped wide open.

"Besides," Kylie added, "I think you and the teddy bear might have already done the deed."

Miranda squealed, threw the bear at Kylie, and bolted out of the bed. "I thought you were Perry."

Giggling, the girl wrapped her arms around Kylie extra tight. "I can't believe you're home. I'm sooo glad you're back." She released Kylie, took a step back, and looked at her as if half afraid she wasn't real.

"You are home, right? This isn't a dream?"

"It's not a dream," Kylie said, though part of her wished most of the night had been.

The witch's smiled faded and she stomped her foot. "Do you have any idea how miserable I've been?

First you up and leave me and then Della runs off to play superhero! I should be furious at you and not happy to see you."

"No, don't be mad. Let's just be happy that I'm back." Kylie snagged the three-foot bear from the floor and tossed it back on the bed.Miranda gave her an evil look. "Are you back to stay? No more running off on me?"

"No more running off," Kylie said.

"Pinky promise?" Miranda asked, and held out her pinky.

What was it with everyone wanting promises? Kylie looked at the girl's little finger, which was a witch's weapon. "I don't know if it's safe to pinky promise you when..."