Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls #3)(25)

"It's fine," Holiday said.

Kylie's heart did a little tumble when she recognized the brunette as the one who'd been plastered to Derek in the picture on Della's phone.

"Kylie," Holiday said, "this is Ellie Mason. She's signing up for Shadow Falls."

Showtime, Kylie thought. Time to pretend it didn't hurt. She forced a smile. "Hi."

"Are you Kylie Galen?"

Kylie nodded, unsure what to expect.

"Derek told me about you." She smiled, then tightened her brows to check out Kylie's brain pattern. "Wow. You do have an odd pattern." She made a funny face as if embarrassed.

"Yeah," Kylie said. "Everyone tells me that." Her forced smile melted.

"I'm sorry," Ellie said. "I didn't mean to be rude. Derek has nothing but great things to say about you."

"Don't believe everything he says." Kylie attempted to soften her tone because she felt like a bitch for not liking her. But how could she like Ellie when all Kylie could think about was how Ellie was most likely one of the four girls Derek had slept with? Then she wondered if a kiss was all they'd shared in Pennsylvania.

"I always believe Derek. Especially about people." Ellie took another step inside.

Kylie hated to admit it, but Ellie was pretty. Blue eyes, thick brown hair, and dimples.

Ellie's sincere smile widened. "Derek doesn't tend to exaggerate. And being half-fae, he's a good judge of character. If he likes someone, they deserve it."

Kylie wished she could have disagreed. Not so much because she didn't want to be considered deserving. But because Derek obviously cared for Ellie enough to bring her back here, which meant Ellie was a deserving person.

The being-a-bitch feeling hit again, and Kylie tried to push it back. "Maybe I caught him on an off day." She attempted to put some teasing in her voice and stood up. "I should go."

"Kylie, why don't I drop by your cabin in about half an hour?" Holiday asked, concern deepening her tone.

Kylie nodded.

"And be careful," Holiday said.

"I will." Kylie stopped when she neared Ellie. "Welcome to Shadow Falls." And she tried to mean it.

"Thank you," Ellie said.

* * *

"Is my vampire hearing off? Did you actually say, 'Welcome to Shadow Falls'?" Della asked sarcastically when Kylie got outside. "I would have bitch-slapped her."

"No, you wouldn't have." Kylie noticed the stormy weather had passed.

"Maybe not, but I would have wanted to." Concern shaded Della's eyes.

"And you think I didn't?" Insecurities rained down on Kylie. "She's pretty, isn't she?"

"No," Della said, but Kylie knew it was a lie. Ellie was pretty and nice and she'd probably had sex with Derek.

Kylie's chest swelled with unwanted jealousy, and her mind created an image of Ellie and Derek together. Of them kissing ... of them ...

She started walking toward her cabin. Walking fast. Della stayed with her, but somehow she must have sensed Kylie's mood, because she didn't say anything else.

Kylie got to their cabin without speaking, but once she stepped up onto the porch, she faced Della. "Do you think they had sex?"

"I..." Della made an odd face.

"I know I shouldn't care. But I guess I do. And damn it, why does it seem that it all goes back to sex? I'm beginning to hate sex and I haven't had it yet. I've got these images flashing in my head. It's like a porn movie and I just keep seeing them-"

Della pressed her hand over Kylie's mouth and shifted her gaze to a point over Kylie's shoulder.

Kylie reached up and peeled Della's hand from her lips. "Is someone standing behind me?" She prayed the answer was no.

Della's sassy smile told Kylie her prayer hadn't been answered.

Swallowing a lump of embarrassment, she tried to imagine the worst person possible standing behind her. Ellie? Derek? No. She met Della's eyes again and mouthed the word Lucas.

Please. Please. Please don't let it be Lucas.

Della nodded. Kylie bit back a moan. Not quite ready to face him, she stared out at the woods. Through a maze of trees, she saw the sun slip lower in the horizon. She wished she could follow it and disappear.

"Can you give us a minute?" Lucas's voice came right over her shoulder.

Knowing it was inevitable, Kylie turned. Her face burned when she recalled what she'd said about a porn movie and her whole "I hate sex" conversation. Great!

"Can't," Della answered. "I'm her shadow."

"Well, I'm taking over," he said, almost growling.

"It's okay," Kylie said to Della.

Della frowned. "If something happens to her on my shift, I swear I'll be all over your wolf ass."

"Nothing's going to happen." His blue eyes grew darker, and around the edges, Kylie saw flecks of burnt orange, which meant anger.

Kylie couldn't help wondering if that was targeted at Della or-

"Fine." Della stormed inside. But not without slamming the door so hard, the porch shook.

Kylie met Lucas's gaze. He still looked half-pissed.

"Let's take a walk," he said.