As Kylie, Ellie, and Perry moved toward the office, Kylie looked at Ellie. "Thanks for going in to try and save us."

Ellie shrugged. "Don't give me too much credit. I really didn't know what would happen to me if I was the only one to survive." She chuckled. "Now that it's over with, that was fun."

"No, it wasn't," Kylie said, remembering how she felt when she saw Perry fall into the hole.

They took a few more steps, and Ellie's gaze, bright probably because of the blood, shot to Kylie's arm where the scratches ran down her arm, and she added, "I'm sorry. I'll bet I did that when I was fighting you. Thanks for saving me. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't caught me. I couldn't seem to get into flying mode. I owe you. You name it and I'll do it, no questions asked."

"No need. You're welcome," Kylie said.

"And what about me?" Perry asked.

Kylie and Ellie looked at Perry and spoke at the same time. "Thanks."

"Can I name it and you'll do it?" Perry wiggled his brows, his tone filled with humor once again.

"No," Ellie and Kylie said at the same time.

"I know, how about instead you two just tell Miranda how I was your hero."

"I can do that," Ellie said. "Who's Miranda?"

"My girlfriend," Perry said, and he looked at Kylie. "Well, she will be as soon as I convince her."

They took a few more steps and Ellie said, "I'm sorry I slept with Derek."

"Forget it," Kylie said, because she planned on forgetting it herself.

* * *

The next couple of hours were a blur of interrogations by Burnett, who questioned all three of them, separately, several times. Kylie realized he wasn't doing it because he thought anyone would lie about what happened. He just didn't want something one person said to influence the memory of the other. Kylie didn't care about that. What she wanted to know was what had happened. Had they really gotten sucked down into a pit that led straight to hell? If so, why? Was it because of Jane Doe? Or was this something conjured up by Mario and his pals to torment her?

More important, would it happen again?

Unfortunately, Burnett had questions of his own and no answers. Holiday was just as clueless. But the look of fear on the camp leaders' faces scared Kylie more than anything else.

The moment the interview was over and Kylie stepped out of Burnett's office, Lucas met her at the door and pulled her into another room. He didn't say a word; he just pulled her against his warm-so warm-chest and held her.

"I was running errands for Burnett." His cheek pressed against the top of her head. "I just got back."

After a good long hug, he set her back and asked, "What happened this time?"

It was the last two words that hinted at Lucas's true feelings. Kylie frowned. "You sound like you think this was all my fault."

He shook his head. "I don't think that. But damn it, I'd like to go at least a couple of days where I didn't think I almost lost you."

She smiled. "You didn't almost lose me." And then she gave him the quick version about the sinkhole opening up and their mad tumble down it.

He stared into her eyes. "Were there spirits involved?"

"No. Well, one was there, but..."

"But what?" he snapped. He shook his head and growled. "You've got to stop letting them hurt you, Kylie."

"They don't hurt me."

"Bullshit!" His blue eyes turned an anger-filled orange. "I saw part of your vision, remember? I had to stand there and feel completely helpless while those people dragged you away. Do you have any idea how that made me feel?"

Kylie knew Lucas's emotion stemmed partly from his werewolf instincts. Weres were known to have an intense need to protect those they cared about. And she liked knowing he cared about her.

But she had to make him understand that dealing with ghosts was as important to her as shifting into a wolf was to him. It was her destiny, her path.

Kylie put her hand on his chest. "The spirit didn't do this," she said. "It was probably Mario and his grandson again and their shape-shifter buddy. If anything, the spirit probably saved my life."

Okay, so she was guessing that was what had happened. But it made more sense to her than it did that Jane was somehow evil.

He inhaled. "Damn it. What's with that guy? Doesn't he know when to quit?"

"Obviously not."

Lucas pulled her against him again. "The timing of this sucks."

"What timing?" Kylie asked.

"I have to go away for a few days." He touched her face. "If it wasn't an emergency, I wouldn't go."

"What happened?" Even as she asked the question, Kylie worried he wouldn't tell her. Werewolves were also known to keep things to themselves.

"I told you about my half-sister. She was supposed to come here for school when the summer camp ended."

"Yeah?" Kylie said, thrilled he trusted her enough to share.

"Well, now my dad has her with his pack and is refusing to let her come. I'm going to have to go there and change his mind."

"I thought you didn't get along with your dad."

"I don't. But I don't have a choice. I shouldn't be gone more than a few days at most, though. I'm going to have Will keep an eye on you."