Over the weekend, Kylie had also spoken to Della and Miranda. Della was furious Kylie had disappeared on her watch again.

"It's beginning to look bad on my record," Della said.

Kylie promised to talk to Burnett and take all the blame.

Miranda reminded Kylie of her pinky promise to never leave, and Kylie assured her that she wascoming back. And today was the day. It also just so happened to be Burnett and Holiday's wedding.

She and her mom were going early to help set things up.

Lucas had called Kylie three times. He had been staying at his uncle's since the full moon. Supposedly, a funeral was a several-day ordeal for weres. And today, before the wedding, he had his meeting with the Council as scheduled. She'd offered to go with him, but he assured her that he needed to do this alone.

Kylie prayed they accepted him.

Not that it would change anything between them. As his grandmother had said, they were part of each other's quests-quests that had been ongoing since they met all those years ago. Some things were just meant to be.

Kylie hoped it was true what Daniel had said about her mom finding another love. Sadly, Kylie got the feeling it wouldn't be her stepdad. She'd actually spoken with Tom Galen this morning. They'd spent a good twenty minutes making plans for their next summer trip. Before they hung up, she told him she loved him, and she meant it. Even knowing she'd have Daniel close as her guardian death angel, her stepdad had his place in her heart and always would. She knew Daniel wouldn't want it any other way.

Kylie went to the refrigerator to pull out the eggs. The steam rose from the carton in an odd way.

Guess what?

Kylie recognized the spirit's voice.

"What?"

They aren't sending me to hell.

Kylie looked back at the spirit sitting on her mom's countertop and smiled. She wore a nice gown with no slashes, no blood, and she'd left the sword behind, too. "You're going to heaven?"

No, well, not yet. They're giving me a second chance. You know, to do some work for them to make up for all my wrongdoings. Then, if I earn the right, I'll get to go there. I'll be with my boy. She beamed.

Kylie smiled at her. "I like second chances." She paused.

Do you know why they are giving me this second chance?

"Why?" Kylie asked.

Because I loved my son.

Kylie smiled and remembered Mario had called it a weakness, and yet it was that very thing that took him down.

"It's a powerful emotion," Kylie said. And she thought of all the love she had in her life. Her family.

Her friends. Lucas.

I have to go now, the spirit said, her image fading.

"It was nice knowing you," Kylie said.

You, too. The voice faded with the last of the cold. Kylie turned back to her breakfast-making when her mom walked into the kitchen.

"Who were you talking to just now?"

Kylie debated telling the truth and decided to hold off. "Phone's been ringing all morning."

"Who called?" she asked as she went for a cup of coffee.

"Dad, Lucas, and Sara," Kylie said.

Her mom's eyes widened. "Your dad?"

"Tom," Kylie clarified.Her mom nodded. "I guess ... your dad wouldn't use a phone to contact you."

Kylie grinned. "I don't think so."

Her mom poured her coffee and added a teaspoon of creamer into the cup.

"Is this Lucas guy ... is he ... important to you?"

Kylie nodded. "Very much so. I love him."

Her mom's eyes grew wide. "Are you two ... you know?"

Her mom still couldn't say sex. "Not yet," Kylie said. "But it's going to happen soon."

Her mom nodded. "You should probably see a doctor about getting..."

"On the pill," Kylie finished for her.

Her mom nodded.

"I will," Kylie said.

Her mom inhaled as if the conversation had been painful, then she asked, "Is Sara coming by before you head back?"

"No, she's in New Orleans at a family reunion. That's what she called to tell me. That and to tell me her aunts were smothering her with their boobs."

Her mom giggled and then her expression went flat. She just stood there, staring at her coffee, stirring it around and around. The spoon clinking against the side of the cup seemed to be the only noise in the room.

She finally looked up, concern tightening her brows. "When I took Sara to see you, she told me you healed her. You didn't really ... did you?"

Okay, Kylie couldn't keep everything from her mom. "Yeah." Kylie got busy making the French toast and pretended it wasn't a big deal.

"Is there anything else you can do?" her mom asked, caught her breath, and waited.

"Why don't I just tell you a little bit at a time?" Kylie said.

Her mom released a deep breath that sounded like relief. "Good idea."

Chapter Forty-four

Kylie had been holding her phone on the ride to Shadow Falls waiting for Lucas's text or call. Had he made the Council? Had he not? If he hadn't was he already beginning to resent her? Oh, she knew he'd said he wouldn't, but she knew how important this was to him, too.

It was around three that afternoon when they parked in front of the Shadow Falls Academy sign.

Holiday and Burnett met Kylie and her mom at the gate. Hugs were given; even her mom was open to them. Yet as she started into the gate, her mom slowed down.