Chosen at Nightfall (Shadow Falls 5)

"Actually," he said, leaning in close. So close his shoulder brushed against hers. Pain, emotional pain from just that light touch, went right to her heart. "I'm exactly where I belong," Lucas whispered.

She scooted over a few inches at the same time a tray hit the table in front of her. It hit a little too loud.

She suspected the owner of the tray might be one pissed-off fae. A glance up confirmed it. Derek dropped into the seat, eyeballing Lucas as if he was infringing on his space.

Just freaking great, Kylie thought. She considered the right thing to do, bolt out of here, knowing people were probably already watching to see what she'd do. Stay and hope no drama arose between the were and fae, and try to downplay all the gossip.

Feeling forced to pretend everything was fine, she picked up her hamburger and sank her teeth into the soft white bun. While she didn't think about how it tasted, her stomach must have approved, because it grumbled in appreciation the moment the first bite made its way down into the empty organ. She didn't give her stomach time to beg for a second bite before she went in for another. This time, the flavor of the slightly sweet bun, mixed with the cheesy beef patty and the tangy zest of ketchup, had her taste buds applauding. She really hadn't eaten right since leaving Shadow Falls.

Derek, probably reading her desire to avoid chaos, picked up his burger and started to eat. Lucas did the same. The tension let up, but not by a whole hell of a lot.

"Who's up for a game of basketball after dinner?" Perry asked.

A few voices broke in with a yes. Kylie thought both Derek and Lucas chimed in, but she didn't know for sure. She did most of her focusing on her food and avoided eye contact with anyone.

Then Derek added, "But it will have to be a short game. I'm shadowing Kylie tonight."

It was more how he said it, than what he said, that made it clear his goal had been to piss Lucas off.

And it worked. Lucas gave his tray a quick shove and it flew across the table and slammed into Derek's, sending his French fries flying into his lap.

"Give it up," Lucas said. "We'll be back together in no time."

"Are you sure of that?" Derek asked.

"Stop," Kylie snapped.

"I'm sure," Lucas growled as if he hadn't heard her. "You see, I didn't sleep around on her like someone else did."

"Yeah, but I didn't get engaged behind her back," Derek tossed out.

"Neither did I," Lucas countered. "The engagement never went through because I didn't sign the papers after the ceremony."

Say what? Kylie looked at him, shocked. She had just assumed ... "What about getting on the Council?" she asked.

"You're more important," he said. "I told you that already."

No, he hadn't told her that. Not really. And he hadn't told her he'd backed out of the engagement,either.

"I told you it was mistake. That..." He hesitated just a second. "That I love you."

She didn't miss how hard it was for him to speak his feelings publicly, and you can bet every ear in the room was straining to hear, but he'd done it. He told her he loved her in front of everyone.

And it annoyed the hell out of her. Perry's mooning had been much more appreciated.

"And why the hell couldn't you have figured that out earlier?" She dropped her hamburger, shoved her own tray back, and left the dining hall. As she did, she heard her own footfalls on the tile floor. Which meant everyone in the room, the whole freaking camp, had just been privy to her personal upheaval.

Great. Just friggin' great.

* * *

Kylie got outside before she heard someone following her. Thinking it was Derek, and prepared to send him packing, she swung around and Miranda crashed right into her.

"Sorry," Miranda said.

Kylie blinked away what felt like the beginning of tears. "It's okay. You don't have to come. Stay with Perry and finish your dinner."

"I have to come," Miranda said.

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do." Miranda nodded. "First, because you're one of my best friends and second, because ...

Burnett told me to. But I would have come anyway because of the first thing." She hugged Kylie. "You want me to tell Perry to moon them again?"

Kylie pulled back from the hug, chuckled, and swiped at her tears. "I don't think they could handle seeing it twice."

Miranda giggled. "Are you kidding? It's a gorgeous ass."

They walked back to the cabin and Miranda talked about Perry. A lot about Perry. Like, as in nonstop.

Not that Kylie minded; she'd take Miranda going on about Perry over the silence she'd experienced at her grandfather's place anytime. So what if Miranda talked a bit too much? Kylie still loved her, loved hanging with her, too.

They got to the cabin, walked inside, and both of their gazes shot to Della's door. Della's closed door.

And that could mean only one thing. Della was home.

Screaming, they both went hurtling inside the vamp's room.

Della stood, completely naked, in the middle of the room with her bra in her hands.

"Jeepers! Don't you guys know what a closed door means? Now, turn around while I get dressed."

"We don't care if you're naked. We're just so happy to see you," Miranda said.

"True," Kylie said.

"Yeah, but you shouldn't have to see all of me. You'll tease me about my little tits. Now turn around."

"They're not that small," Miranda said, and gave Della a good hard look.

"Turn around!" Della growled, and used one hand and arm to cover her breasts and the other to cover her pubic hair.

"No so fast," Miranda said, and pointed a finger at her. "First you got some explaining to do, girlie!"

"Girlie? I'm not anyone's girlie. And explain what?" she asked, but she was grinning, obviously asglad to see them as they were to see her.

"It's not your little tits you should be hiding. It's that hickey below your shoulder."

Della shifted her hand up from her boobs and hid the mark right below her neck.

"It's not a hickey." Swinging around, she reached for the robe on the bed and slipped her hands in.

"Really?" Miranda asked.

"It looked like a hickey." Kylie giggled, just so darn happy that the three of them were back together again. She didn't even care if they started bickering, or threatening to rip off each other's limbs. Just being here around these two ... it was what home was supposed to feel like.

"When it looks like a hickey, and smells like a hickey, it's a hickey," Miranda demanded.