Whispers at Moonrise (40 page)

Kylie wiped her face to clear the tears and knew she was all red and blotchy. Not that she cared. This was Holiday. Her mentor, her big sister. Her friend.

“Besides,” Kylie added, “it’s not just the vision. It’s Lucas. I think I love him. No, I’m pretty sure I love him. Oh, shit! I’m in love with a boy who can’t love me back.”

Holiday brushed her hand over Kylie’s cheek. “Oh, hon, he might not supposed to be in love with you, but that doesn’t mean he can’t, or that he doesn’t.”

Kylie inhaled deeply, trying not to let herself cry again. “He hasn’t told me he loves me. I mean, I haven’t told him either, but … Derek told me he loved me. And…” She closed her eyes, trying to figure out how to put it. “And sometimes I’m confused about what I feel for him, but just now, seeing what you and Burnett have, or what you could have, it made me realize I want that. I’m tired of hiding what I feel and being afraid of it.”

The tears Kylie had stopped shedding filled Holiday’s eyes. “Love’s always scary.”

Kylie felt Holiday’s emotions blend with her own. “It shouldn’t be scary,” Kylie said. “Burnett loves you. Even I can see it. And I know you love him. Don’t lose out on something wonderful because you’re scared.”

“I just need some time,” Holiday said.

“Time we might not have. Life’s fragile. Look at Hannah, and Cindy and the other girl. They don’t get the opportunity to love again. We have the chance and we’re not doing it. I should have told Lucas how I feel. I should have forced him to be honest with me about what’s happening with him. You should tell Burnett how you feel.”

Holiday bit down on her lower lip. “I thought I was the one offering advice here.”

“Yeah, well, the tables turned,” Kylie said.
Things change.
Kylie just hoped with all the things changing, the one constant in her life would be Shadow Falls. The thought of losing Holiday and everyone here, even the ones who considered her a nutcase, was too much. They were her family.

*   *   *

That night, Kylie had tried to dreamscape with Lucas, but it wasn’t working. She texted him, called him, and even e-mailed. No answer came back. Then at two in the morning, staring at the ceiling, her phone rang. She grabbed it without checking the caller ID.

“Lucas?” she said his name at the same time she hit the light switch. The cold in the room came on faster than the light.

“Sorry,” the voice on the line said. “Just me.”

Kylie shivered then frowned when she recognized the voice. “I just tried—”

“It’s okay,” Derek said, but his tone said it wasn’t really okay. “I just woke up and felt you worrying. I tried to call you earlier to see how you were after the vision, but you didn’t call me back.”

Kylie pulled the blanket up around her neck. The spirit standing by the bed faded, but before she did, Kylie recognized her as the woman from earlier that day. Remembering who was on the phone, Kylie’s chest swelled with emotion.

“I … It’s been crazy.” She’d gotten his messages. She just hadn’t wanted to talk to him because of the emotional storm she felt about Lucas right now. It wasn’t fair to Derek, because even though she wasn’t doing anything wrong, she knew their friendship offered him hope that she would change her mind, and she didn’t think that hope had a hell of a lot of merit.

“You’re pulling away again,” he said.

“Derek, it’s—”

“Kylie, you don’t have to explain. I know.” He paused. “It’s okay. And someday I’ll even be able to say that and mean it.”

“You’re a special guy,” Kylie said, hurting for him.

“I know,” he said, and chuckled. “And that’s why I’m not completely giving up. But I’m working on it. I just called to check on you.”

“I’m okay,” Kylie said.

“Then I’ll say good night.” Rejection sounded in his voice.

“Derek, I’m really—”

“Just say good night, Kylie,” he insisted.

“Good night,” she whispered, and nothing was sadder than the sound of that dead line.

Putting her phone down, Kylie looked around. The cold from the spirit had lessened but she could tell she lingered nearby.

“Who are you?” Kylie asked.

The woman didn’t answer. And why should she? They never made it easy.

But then, neither did the living.

*   *   *

“Kylie! Kylie!” The voice jolted Kylie from a deep sleep before the sun rose the next morning. She shot up, chills crawling up and down her spine like spiders. Without even knowing why, her blood sizzled with the need to protect. Protect someone.

Still half asleep, she pushed her hair from face and stood in the middle of the room, breathing in and breathing out. Her pulse raced, and panic filled her chest, crowding her lungs. Something was happening. She felt it.

Someone needed her. Someone needed Kylie’s protection.

Who?

Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of what she felt. Then Kylie remembered the voice. She let it play in her mind, again and again, until finally she recognized it.

“No!” She grabbed her jeans and T-shirt.

Holiday was in trouble.

Chapter Thirty-five

Right before Kylie lit out of her room, she glanced at the clock on her nightstand. Five
AM
. Holiday would be at the office already.

Kylie stormed into Della’s room, but the girl wasn’t there. Probably at an early vampire ceremony. Kylie didn’t wait a second longer; she bolted out of the cabin and flew like the wind to the office. The only thing that felt heavy about her was her heart. As if her heart knew Holiday’s situation was bad. Really, really bad.

When Kylie got to the office, she found the door ajar. Not a good sign. Even worse, there was glass shattered all over the wet floor of the entrance. The broken handle of the coffee pot lay in the corner, another sign that a struggle had taken place.

“Where are you, Holiday?” Kylie’s voice trembled. Tears filled her eyes and she tried to think.

Burnett. She needed to contact Burnett.

She reached into her pocket for her phone, only to realize she hadn’t brought it. She ran into Holiday’s office. The room looked undisturbed. Whoever had gotten Holiday had done it in the entrance area. He’d probably been waiting for her when she came in this morning, or maybe walked in when she’d been making coffee.

Hands shaking, Kylie grabbed Holiday’s office phone. She couldn’t remember Burnett’s cell number. But damn, she could get to his cabin quicker than find his number.

She tore out, her feet barely touching the ground. She didn’t know if she’d morphed into a vampire or if in protective mode she simply had more power. She didn’t really care. Only one thing mattered, one thought echoed in her mind. Save Holiday. She had to save Holiday.

She made it to Burnett’s cabin, and didn’t even knock. She screamed his name when she entered, but no one answered. No one.

She went into his bedroom. The bed stood empty.

Recalling the vampire ritual, she tore out again. Della had told her once where they held it. She shot through the woods, not caring about her promise to not enter. If she ran into trouble, being in protective mode, she could kick ass and ask questions later.

She exited through the line of trees into a clearing. The wind whizzed past as she moved. Coming to a jolting stop, she found herself circled by a half-dozen angry vamps, their eyes glowing at the idea of an intruder disturbing their ceremony.

Lucky for her, the Shadow Falls vamps weren’t likely to attack. A good thing, because even in protective mode, she didn’t know if she could take on all six of them.

“Where’s Burnett?” Kylie snapped. “Or Della?”

“What is it?” Burnett came to a stop beside her.

Kylie never answered. She didn’t have to. He saw it in her eyes.

“Holiday?” The sound in his voice had Kylie’s chest aching. Her blood pumped faster.

Kylie’s breath caught. “He’s got her.”

“Who?” he demanded as Della stopped at his side.

“I still don’t know,” Kylie answered, and her eyes spiked with more tears. But they had better find out, and soon, before it was too late.

*   *   *

Three minutes later, after Kylie had explained everything, Burnett had spouted out orders for all the vamps and her to go search the Shadow Falls property. If Holiday was still here, they’d find her. Burnett headed back to the office to see if he could find clues and to check to see if the alarm was functioning.

Kylie headed to the west side of the property. But when she passed the trail that led to the cabin where Hayden Yates lived, she did a complete U-turn.

She slammed down on his porch. Heard him moving around inside. Heard him talking to someone.

She stormed in without knocking and oops, forgot to open the door. It landed with a loud crack on the floor. Hayden stood by the sofa, his hooded sweater in one hand as if he’d just removed it, and his phone in the other. His dark hair appeared darker, wet with sweat. His skin looked flushed, as if he’d been running. But from what?

Or better yet, from where?

“Where is she?” Her tone came out deep, filled with fury and warning.

He cut off the phone. “Where is who?” he asked in innocence.

“Don’t play games with me.” Her blood now fizzed in her veins. Her patience, if she’d had any at all, was now gone.

He tossed the hoodie and his phone on the sofa. Beside those two items was a watch. A black-banded watch.

“You’re vampire now. Try listening to my heart for the truth.”

Kylie had already listened to his heart, but it didn’t matter. Didn’t matter that he had a different watch from the one she’d seen in the vision. He could have two watches. “That only works with people who have a conscience.”

“And you’re assuming I don’t.”

“You’ve been hiding something ever since you got here.” She took a step closer. Her intent was to get answers, and she didn’t care how.

He apparently read her mood, because he held out his hands, palms up. “Perhaps, but it isn’t what you think. I haven’t hurt your precious camp leader.”

“I didn’t tell you who it was! So how the hell—”

“I’m no fool. Burnett stakes out at her house most nights.”

“If you’ve hurt her, I’ll kill you.” She didn’t flinch at hearing the words. They were true. For Holiday, Kylie would kill.

But what if she’d failed Holiday and it was too late? Anger, fear, and love burned in Kylie’s chest. Her hands shook.

“I don’t doubt you could kill me,” Hayden said, holding his submissive pose. “Your strength right now appears … palpable.” He inhaled and she could swear he looked sincere, even respectful. “It isn’t my place to”—he hesitated again—“speak up.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It would probably be beneficial for me to just keep my mouth shut. But unfortunately, unlike you believe, I do have a conscience.”

He closed his eyes again and when he opened them, she saw complete honesty. And she saw something else, but she wasn’t sure what it was. Something about him that looked … familiar in a weird way. “I saw Collin Warren out and about this morning. Something told me he was up to no good.”

Kylie listened to Hayden’s heart speak the truth. She continued to study his eyes, which held no dishonesty. “Who are you?” she asked.

He brought both hands up and brushed his hair from his brow. “See for yourself.”

Kylie did see. His pattern was the same as her father’s. Hayden was … a chameleon.

Her breath caught. He had all sorts of information she needed, but not now. Because more important than even the answers he held was Holiday’s life. Then her gaze shifted back to his sofa, and she realized he did have one thing she needed.

She snagged his phone and lit out as she heard him protest.

*   *   *

Kylie flew off his porch. The sunrise had painted the horizon a bright color, not that she took the time to enjoy the view. She held the phone up and realized the problem. She still couldn’t remember Burnett’s number. So she dialed Della.

Della didn’t answer, damn it.

Kylie left a message. She told her what she suspected—that Collin Warren had Holiday and that she was looking for him now. She didn’t slow down, didn’t stop until she stood in front of Collin’s cabin. She listened. Not a sound echoed from inside. She had to see for herself. She started up the porch steps when she heard quiet footfalls sound behind her.

Heart stopping, Kylie swung around, expecting Collin, but found Fredericka instead.

“What are you doing sneaking around?” the were asked.

Kylie didn’t have time to chat, so she turned around and went to check out Collin’s cabin. The door was locked, so she simply crashed it in. She’d done it at Hayden’s cabin, what was one more?

Fredericka’s gasp sounded behind her. Kylie ignored it.

She went into Collin’s bedroom, looking for anything that might help her find Holiday.

“What’s going on?” Fredericka asked, following her into the room.

“Just leave. I don’t have time for pettiness.” She opened the drawer and yanked everything out.

“What’s going on?” Fredericka asked again.

Kylie sighed. “Holiday’s missing and I think this creep took her.”

“Shit!” Fredericka said. “I knew he was weird.”

Kylie went to leave.

“Wait,” Fredericka said. “I followed him a couple of days ago. He went to some old cabin in that park next door.”

“Where?” Kylie roared; every instinct in her seemed to be turned on.

“I’ll … show you.” She held up her hands as if half frightened.

They ran into the woods. Kylie’s patience was pushed when she had to slow down for Fredericka, but Kylie held her tongue. Normally, she wouldn’t have trusted the were to spit on her if she was on fire, but her gut said the girl wasn’t pulling any tricks now. No doubt Fredericka knew Holiday had gone to extra lengths to get her to Shadow Falls, and to keep her here.

They came upon the property gate. Kylie jumped without even trying. Fredericka barely made it and landed hard on the other side.

Kylie hesitated and looked back.

“I’m fine,” the were growled, and bounced onto her feet.

I didn’t ask.
Kylie bit her tongue. They started to bolt again when Hayden’s phone rang. Kylie pulled it out of her pocket and saw Burnett’s name. Obviously, Della had given him this number.