Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls #3)(92)

Sara came to a sudden stop and caught Kylie's hands in hers. "They're not hot now. So do you only get hot when you heal people? But why was ... What's his name-Lucas-why were his hands hot?"

Kylie pulled her hands free, trying to remember what lie she'd given to Sara about her reasons for rubbing her temples.

"That is a strange question," her mom said. "Why would you want to know that?"

Sara let out a frustrated breath. "And don't tell me it's because your mom used to do it. Because I asked her about that on the ride up here, and she denied it. Said she couldn't remember rubbing your temples to help your headaches."

"Shh," Kylie said to Sara, not wanting to miss Holiday's answer.

But Sara didn't get quiet. Instead she let out a bloodcurdling scream that could have awakened the dead.

And she continued to scream. The sound pierced Kylie's eardrums. She went on instant alert, but she didn't know why. Her gaze started flipping from side to side, trying to find the source of danger.

Was it the eagle again? The evil-eyed deer? Was there another sinkhole, or had Perry gone unicorn again? Kylie was prepared for just about anything.

Tense to the max, she didn't know if she should prepare herself to fight or run. Then something butted up against her jeans-covered calf.

She glanced down.

Okay, she was prepared for about anything but Socks. Her skunk/cat was supposed to be locked up at Holiday's cabin. And just to make matters worse, her mom and Holiday came running to see what was wrong.

Within two seconds, her mom started screaming with Sara, while Kylie glanced back at Holiday.

"It's probably rabid," her mom screeched. "Get away from it, Kylie. Get away!"

"It's okay," Holiday spouted, but obviously she wasn't heard over her mom's wailing.

Kylie followed her mother's orders and stepped back. But Socks wasn't having it. He followed and pounced at Kylie's tennis shoe.

Sara squealed and darted across the path and hid behind Kylie's mom. Socks, suddenly frightened by the ruckus, shot back across the path and scampered up Kylie's leg. Unsure what to do, she held the scared pet with caution.

"Drop it! Kylie!" her mom screamed. "Drop that vermin this minute!" Then she bolted forward as if to knock the animal from Kylie's arms.

"Mom, it's okay," she said, though it was anything but.

Socks hissed, then swiveled in Kylie's hold and buried his pointed little nose in her armpit. Kylie didn't completely panic until Socks lifted his black-and-white fluffy tail straight up in the air and aimed it at her mom.

"No!" Kylie swung around and started talking sweetly to Socks. "Don't do it. Don't do it," she whispered.

"Everybody, step back," Holiday said, speaking more forcefully this time. "The skunk's not rabid. He's my pet."

Kylie looked back over her shoulder to see her mom gawk at Holiday in sheer horror. "You have a pet skunk?"

"Yes," Holiday lied, and almost sounded honest. "I know, it sounds kind of strange."

"Kind of?" her mom asked, eyes still wide with shock.

Kylie pulled Socks closer and continued to whisper what she hoped were calming words close to his ear. But who, she wondered, was going to whisper calming words to her? This, was exactly why merging her old life with her new was such a bad, bad idea.

* * *

"Well, that went well," Holiday said an hour later as they watched Kylie's mom and Sara drive out of the Shadow Falls parking lot.

Kylie, her chest so tight that she thought a few ribs had cracked, looked at Holiday in shock. "You're kidding me. I'm practically told I'm not good enough for Lucas by his grandma. My dad's miserable. My mom thinks I'm having sex with two boys. And she thinks you're an idiot who keeps a skunk as a pet."

"I had to come up with something," Holiday said. "He must have snuck out when I left and I didn't see him."

"Don't forget that it couldn't have gotten any more awkward between Sara and Miranda and Della. They barely spoke to each other. And..." Tears filled Kylie's eyes. "And if I ever wondered if you really kept things from me, I know the truth now. What's this crap about you wanting to know if I'm part American Indian?"

Holiday's face flashed with guilt. "I was going to tell you. Honest. There just hasn't been time."

"Yeah, you're always going to tell me something after the fact." Kylie batted at the tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm sick and tired of all the secrets around here, Holiday. I'm tired of being kept in the dark. I'm tired of not knowing what I am. It's not fair, and I'm not going to tolerate it anymore."

* * *

It was Wednesday night. The last few days had passed by in a blur. Kylie had gone into a frenzy trying to dig up her family tree. Holiday had explained that there was an American Indian legend about certain descendants of an Indian tribe having been touched by the gods. And that these mere humans would carry the gift with them for generations.

If Kylie had that blood running in her veins, it would explain how she could be a protector and still be half human. Kylie didn't know why it was so important to her to find out her heritage. It wasn't as if it would get her any closer to discovering what she was. But it might explain why she seemed to have certain gifts. Then again, maybe it was because it was the only lead she could work on right now.