Whispers at Moonrise

eyes. “I love talking with Perry.”
    Della moaned.
    “That said,” Miranda continued, “nothing is as fun as a good argument. So if someone would like to fill me in, I’d appreciate it.” She rubbed her hands together. “Just the good parts.”
    Burnett exhaled in frustration. “We were just—”
    “What we were doing isn’t important,” Holiday blurted out, blushing.
    “So you weren’t arguing?” Miranda looked intrigued.
    Kylie almost smiled again. Holiday was right. What they were doing wasn’t important. The thing that mattered was that they’d made up. The thing that really mattered was if Holiday had managed to talk Burnett out of resigning his position. Shadow Falls needed him.
    Holiday needed him.
    Everything inside Kylie told her that the two of them were meant to be together. Unfortunately, Holiday resisted the idea of her and Burnett becoming an item. And while she hadn’t completely admitted it, Kylie suspected it had everything to do with Holiday’s vampire fiancé who’d broken her heart when he left her at the altar. Kylie also sensed there was more to that story than Holiday let on. Not that being left at the altar wasn’t bad, but something told Kylie it had been something even more emotionally damaging. Why else would Holiday reject Burnett’s love?
    God knew it wasn’t easy for a vampire to take rejection. Kylie had told him he needed to be patient. Holiday couldn’t continue to hold out. Not when Burnett was practically perfect. Tall, dark, moody enough to be fascinating, and with a good heart. Sure, being vampire, he didn’t go around passing out good cheer like Holiday did. But he cared.
    Did Holiday finally come to her senses?
    “Are you staying on at Shadow Falls?” Kylie asked Burnett, breath held in hope.
    Burnett glanced at Holiday and damn if he didn’t almost smile. “I’m staying.”
    “Yes!” Miranda and Della high-fived each other and did a little victory dance.
    A sense of rightness filled Kylie’s chest. Maybe today wouldn’t go down in history as the worst day in her life, after all.
    Burnett, being his slightly brooding self, didn’t seem to share her roommates’ joy, but Kylie spotted relief in his eyes. “Next time you are under my charge, don’t walk away without my permission.”
    Kylie nodded, too happy to care if she wasn’t at fault.
    “Even if you have to knock me over my head twice to get my attention,” he continued, taking most of the blame on himself. Kylie’s smile widened. As stern as Burnett could be, he wasn’t unfair.
    She watched Burnett start for the door, and Holiday turned to go with him. Again, Kylie couldn’t help but wonder how far things had gone in their time together. Had their clothes been half off when they suddenly realized she was gone?
    Holiday looked back at Kylie. Their gazes met and held.
    Just from the quick glance, Kylie knew that Holiday, an empath like Derek, had read the swarm of emotions playing hide and seek in her mind. And not the happy ones.
    Kylie seldom got anything past the fae. Not that Kylie attempted to hide a whole heck of a lot from Holiday. The bond they shared had moved past friendship. Holiday was family—not the kind you were born with, but the kind you were lucky enough to choose.
    “I need to speak to Kylie.” The warmth in Holiday’s tone had Kylie’s chest tightening and she wondered what she’d ever do without the woman in her life. She hoped she never had to find out. The thought sent a shiver down Kylie’s spine.
    Burnett acknowledged all of them with a farewell glance, and then left.
    As soon as he walked out, Della turned to Holiday. “Maybe you can talk some sense into Kylie. She thinks she’s a lizard.”
    *   *   *
    Five minutes later, Holiday and Kylie sat on the edge of the porch, their bare legs dangling over the edge. The camp leader had changed from the dark dress she’d worn at Ellie’s funeral to a pair of cutoff jeans and the yellow shirt that she wore inside out.
    Kylie’s black dress flared across her thighs, landing right above her knees. If she stretched out her feet, her toes would brush against the grass. She usually liked how the light tickle felt, but for some reason it now reminded her of sitting with Derek earlier out beside the tree.
    Pushing that thought aside, Kylie stared down at their feet. Holiday had on a pair of sandals, and her toenails were painted a soft pink.
    “What happened?” Holiday asked, concern deepening her