Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark #1)(9)

Della rolled her eyes. Why did Kylie think she had to play nice?

“You’re Kylie Galen?” he asked, looking in awe. “Wow, I’ve heard about you.”

“Don’t believe half of it,” Kylie said, a bit bashful.

“I’m Chase Tallman,” he said, totally trying to impress Kylie. He even puffed out his chest a little, like a damn bird doing some kind of mating dance. Yeah, keep that up and I know a werewolf that’ll be chomping on your ass! Hell, she’d help Lucas get his revenge on … Chase Tallman. Della stored his name into her memory bank for future reference—and not in the good vault of references—then turned and took off.

She didn’t like this guy.

Didn’t trust this guy. And she wouldn’t until she figured out where she knew him from and why and how he was lying.

“I hate it when you two skip out on me!” Miranda whined when Della, followed by Kylie, walked back into the cabin. “I want to come, too.”

Della huffed out an exasperated breath. Was it her fault that witches couldn’t fly? “What did you want us to do? Give you a piggyback ride?”

“You could have,” the little witch whined. “I miss out on all the fun.”

“That was not fun. The guy’s a smartass, green-eyed panty pervert.” Della went straight to the sofa and checked her backpack for her name on the inside tag. And sure as hell, it was there. Dad blast it, she’d wanted to catch that sorry vamp in a lie. She shot back to the kitchen, dropped the envelope on the table, and plopped back in her chair.

“Wow, don’t hold back,” Miranda said.

Della saw Miranda glance at Kylie with questions. Kylie shrugged as if to say, “beats the hell out of me.”

“That’s odd,” Miranda continued. “Word around camp is that he’s a complete hottie. Not that he could be hotter than Perry.” She smiled. The witch looked at Kylie. “Is the guy hot?”

Kylie shot Della an apologetic look. “Yeah, he kind of is. But he could still be a panty pervert.”

“Aren’t all guys panty perverts?” Miranda asked.

“No, this guy’s creepy,” Della snapped. “And egotistical. And his scent … It’s familiar, and not in good way.”

“Maybe he just smells like someone else?” Kylie said.

Della shook her head. “Obviously you haven’t developed your vampire nose yet. We don’t forget scents. And if something intense was happening when you smelled that scent, then there’s an emotional trace.”

“Wow. Lucas told me that werewolves do that, too,” Kylie said.

“Not nearly as good as vampires,” Della huffed. “I mean, I know they’re wolves, but for a vampire, who doesn’t go around putting their nose everywhere, an emotional trace is stronger.”

“Wouldn’t you know,” Miranda said sarcastically. “Nothing is as good as vampires.”

Della shot the witch a go-to-hell look that implied she should not just go to Hades, but go in a hurry.

Miranda snickered.

Obviously, Della’s go-to-hell look wasn’t in working order.

“So what emotion does he remind you of?” Kylie asked, and both she and Miranda eased up to the table and sat down.

“Danger,” Della said, and pulled the photo closer to stare at the image. Her uncle really looked just like her father.

“Maybe it’s the good kind of danger,” Miranda offered. “You know, you’re hot for him and worried about what you are feeling for Steve.”

“I don’t feel anything for Steve,” Della snapped, and frowned when she heard her own heart pick up its pace. So what if she felt something, she wasn’t going to let it lead anywhere. Swallowing, she focused on the photo again.

“We pretty much figured that out,” Miranda said. “Or you’d be hooking up with him.”

“That sounds so stupid. What does hooking up really mean? We’re not dogs, you know!”

Kylie held up both hands as if requesting peace. “What’s going on, Della?”

“Nothing’s going on,” Della insisted.

“Yes, it is,” Kylie said. “You’re grumpy.”

“I’m always grumpy!” Della insisted.

“Then you’re extra arrogant,” Miranda snapped.

“There’s a difference between arrogance and confidence,” Della insisted.

Her friends weren’t buying it. “What happened this weekend?” Kylie asked.

Della felt a wave of emotion swell inside her, but she pushed it back and locked it away so she wouldn’t start blubbering like a little girl. Then, in a monotone voice, she told them about the weekend, about her nightmare, the hole in the wall, and her sister, Marla, saying her dad never talked about her. She told them what she learned about possibly having a vampire uncle. Oh, and she saved the best for last, getting caught in her father’s study and practically being accused of being a thieving alcoholic.

Kylie sat there, her light blue eyes looking consumed with worry. Miranda sat there, expression tight, her fingers laced together, except for her pinkies, which she twirled in tight circles.

“I’m so sorry,” Kylie said.

“Why? It’s not as if you did anything,” Della said, trying to make light of the whole thing.