Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls #3)(37)

"A lot of it's about the homeopathic. But some of it covers the basics like the different kinds of healers."

"There are different kinds?"

Helen nodded. "And different levels."

"Is any of this based on what type of species you are?"

"Yeah, some. The gift is most common to fairies and witches. But it's found in all sorts of half-breeds, too. I even read one book that said some half-breeds can have more healing powers than full-bloods."

Kylie tried to absorb everything Helen was saying. "What are the different kinds?"

"Well, some of us can just ease pain, but not really heal. Some witches can cure things by mixing up brews and performing certain rituals. Then there are those who heal internal diseases like cancer through touch. And then there's a few of those who are like you."

"Like me how?" Kylie asked, confused.

"Who can heal internal issues, like cancer, as well as physical injuries, like you did with your friend Sara's cancer and Lucas's injuries."

"You can't heal physical injuries?" Kylie asked.

"No. I wish. Jonathon fell a while back and cut his hand. I tried several times to heal it, and got nothing."

Kylie tried to absorb the new information. But mostly what she absorbed was the fact that once again, she was an anomaly. For once, couldn't she fit nice and neatly into a niche?

"You look worried," Helen said, looking at her.

"A little," Kylie admitted. "I'm still overwhelmed, I guess."

"Hey, just be glad you're not like the real freaky type."

"What type is that?"

"The kind that can raise the dead. And every time they do it, they give up a piece of their soul in the bargain. That would be off-the-chart weird, don't you think?"

A chill of fear settled around Kylie's heart. "Yeah. That would be super weird."

* * *

Kylie got a text from Holiday on her walk back to her cabin. Problems. Can't make it bk til tomorrow. U ok?

Am I okay? Kylie nearly laughed out loud. Hell, no, she wasn't okay! She'd given away a piece of her soul to a blue jay and didn't know what it meant.

As soon as Perry's shadow duties ended and he was replaced by Della, Kylie snatched her phone and started out of her cabin, feeling desperate. Holiday wasn't here, but Burnett was. He might not have any answers, but at least she could personally tell him she wanted a library card to the FRU's source of books. If there was even the slightest chance that their library held something that would help her figure out what she was, then Kylie would keep her nose in a book for years.

"Where are we going?" Della asked, following Kylie out.

"To talk to Burnett about my problem."

"What problem?"

"You got a problem?" Miranda asked as she, too, joined them on the cabin porch.

"It's just crazy shit," Kylie said, unsure she wanted to explain it, and started walking.

"What kind of crazy shit?" Miranda asked. "Does it have anything to do with Perry being in love with you?"

"What?" Kylie spouted out, low on patience.

"I saw the way he was hanging around all day."

"Please! He was hanging around me because he was shadowing me." She met Miranda's gaze head-on. "Okay, look. I'm gonna say this once. Perry's in love with you. But if you don't stop playing hard to get, you're gonna lose your shot with him."

"Amen, sister!" Della said.

Miranda's face tightened and she glared first at Della and then at Kylie. "Since when are you two taking his side?"

Kylie closed her eyes in frustration. "Fine, he was wrong when he did that, but you admitted that you were a little wrong in kissing Kevin, too. It's time to get past it or get over him."

"You make it sound easy." Hurt hummed in Miranda's tone.

"It is easy," Della said. "Just kiss and make up."

Miranda ignored Della and stared at Kylie. "Like you don't have issues with Derek." She turned to Della. "And you with Lee."

"That's different!" Della snapped, her eyes growing bright as she immediately took the offensive.

No, it wasn't different, Kylie realized. "Look. Truth is, all three of us are in the same boat. The sucky romance boat. And Della and I made a pact yesterday." She glanced at Della, hoping she didn't look upset that she was sharing this with Miranda. But hey, they were a threesome, right?

Thankfully, the vamp didn't look pissed, and Kylie continued, "We're moving on. I'm gonna get past the whole Ellie and Derek thing and give Lucas a chance. Della's going to try to be nicer to Steve and see what happens. You want to join the pact?"

Miranda frowned. "But Todd Freeman called me this morning. He said he may come up here this weekend for a visit."

"Who's Todd?" Della asked.

"The cute warlock from her old school," Kylie answered, and glanced back at Miranda. "Look, if you don't want to forgive Perry, or can't forgive him, then that's one thing. But you can't stay on the fence."

"Yeah. Shit or get off the pot." Della snickered.

"I'm not on the fence," Miranda insisted. "Or a pot."