She turned her Smurf-covered butt around and leaped back into her window. She turned to shut the door, and when she did, she got his scent again.

Chase.

Dad-blasted vamp! She growled into the wind that carried his spicy smell and remembered he’d been in the woods last night when she’d flown off to meet Burnett. Was the panty perv just walking past to get to breakfast now? Was last night just another coincidence? Or for some unknown reason was he keeping tabs on her? Somehow, someway, she needed to find out.

Five minutes later, dressed for breakfast, the folded and still unread piece of paper with her uncle’s obituary in her hand, she glanced up at the door as someone knocked.

“Yeah,” she called out.

Kylie pushed open the door, a worried look on her face. “You okay?”

“Fine, why?” she asked.

“Several reasons,” Kylie said. “One, you’re here. You didn’t go to the vamp meeting.”

Della shrugged. “I slept late.” Bypassing the fact that Steve had woken her up. Bypassing the fact that after last night, the thought of drinking blood made her queasy.

“I figured that. Are you feeling better?”

The whole dead-bodies memory and disappointment over Burnett’s lack of confidence in her came rolling over her again. “I’ll live.”

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Kylie sent her a sympathetic smile. “Was that Derek you were talking to?”

“Yeah.” She held up the folded piece of paper. “He found an obituary for my uncle.”

“So … he’s really dead?”

“Not necessarily. The families usually post an obituary of the person if they think they’re dead.”

“I see,” she said, and nipped on her bottom lip. Kylie always nipped when she was nervous. But about what?

Della recalled Kylie’s answer of “several reasons” to why she was worried about Della.

“What’s the other reason … The reason you’re worried about me?”

Kylie rolled her top teeth over her lip again. “I … It’s about the ghost.”

Okay, this couldn’t be good. “What about the ghost?”

“Remember I told you I thought it was vampire?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure I was right. Not that it’s completely manifested yet, but … and I don’t think it’s looking for me. It’s not hanging out in my room.”

“Where’s it hanging?” she asked … and while she was smart enough to guess, she really, really hoped she was wrong.

Kylie hesitated. “In your room.”

“Oh, hell no. I have no desire, none, zilch, to have a ghost hanging around me. Tell it to go take a flying leap into the oblivion.”

Kylie sighed. “It doesn’t work that way. And usually when a ghost appears, there’s a reason. I was … I was wondering if maybe it was your uncle.”

Della’s stomach clenched. “Why do you say that?”

“I’m not sure, I just … You’re looking for him and everyone says he’s dead, I thought maybe…”

“He can’t be dead. I need him to be alive.” And she didn’t realize how true it was until she’d said it. She needed someone, a family someone, in her life. Someone who wouldn’t look at her like a monster. She shook her head. “No, it’s not him.”

Kylie nodded, but didn’t look convinced. “I … I’m meeting Lucas for a picnic breakfast. So I’d better run. And Miranda had a Witch Council meeting this morning. I’m afraid you’re on your own for breakfast.”

“I don’t care,” Della said, feeling anxious about the whole ghost thing.

Kylie nodded and started to walk away.

“Hey,” Della called to her. “It’s not here now, is it? The ghost?”

“No.” Kylie looked concerned. “You sure you’re okay? Even Miranda is worried about you.”

“Of course I am.” Della didn’t need anyone feeling sorry for her, she just needed a ghost-free environment. And she needed her uncle to be alive. Hence her hesitation to read the obituary.

The images of death from last night flashed in her head again.

“Go.” She waved Kylie away. When the door closed, she looked around the silent cabin. She tucked the obituary in her pocket, deciding to face runny eggs and burnt bacon before she had to face the possibility that her uncle was really dead.

Della walked into the chatter of the crowded dining hall. She was all set to join a few other vampires who’d obviously bypassed this morning’s early breakfast when she spotted Jenny. The girl sat alone and looked lonely. Knowing it was the right thing to do, she grabbed a tray and then dropped down in the seat beside the little chameleon.

“Hey,” Della said, staring down at her eggs and the yellow goo they floated in. Ugg, she so wasn’t going to eat those. Then she saw that her bacon was indeed burnt.

“Hi,” Jenny said, sounding peppy, her hazel eyes lighting up with a smile.

Della had to tighten her face not to frown. It was just way too early to deal with peppy, but she owed Derek for his help.

“Have you seen Kylie this morning?” Jenny asked, almost as if she just needed something to say.

“Yeah,” Della answered. “She and Lucas were having a breakfast picnic.” Meaning they were off sucking face somewhere. And maybe getting naked. Though Della didn’t think Kylie would take her clothes off in the woods; she was much too proper and smart for that. Being naked in the woods led to chiggers and bug bites in places you really didn’t want them.

“That’s nice.” Jenny’s gaze shifted across the room. Della followed it and saw she’d glanced at the fae table. Particularly at the end of the table where Derek sat. The brown-haired fae was laughing at something one of the new fae chicks was saying. He wasn’t coming off as if he was actually flirting, but Della saw a touch of disappointment flash in Jenny’s eyes.

“So what’s up with you and Derek?” Della asked, stabbing her half-cooked eggs with her fork.

“Nothing’s up,” Jenny said.

“I thought you two were sort of an item. I mean, you slept with him when you first got here.”

Jenny’s face reddened. “No. We shared a bed, but we didn’t … do anything. We’re just friends.”

The chameleon’s heart did one light flutter with her last sentence, so it wasn’t a complete lie, but it wasn’t the complete truth, either. “Not that it’s any of my business, but I think he’d like to be more than friends.” Della saw that Jenny’s bacon was practically raw. Just the way Della liked it. Her stomach growled.




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