But the image of Della with fear in her eyes filled Kylie's mind. Della and fear didn't mix. Della was strong, and bold, and way too kind to hurt someone. "She didn't do this," Kylie told Holiday. "It's stupid to put her through the tests."

"Della wanted to do this. She needs to know."

"But she didn't do it," Kylie said again, realizing Holiday hadn't agreed with her.

"That's what we're hoping, Kylie. But if she did, there are extenuating circumstances. She was undergoing the change. The FRU will overlook it, I'm sure."

Kylie inwardly flinched at Holiday's words. She didn't know what bothered her more-that Holiday could believe Della could do this, or that new vampires could kill innocent humans and not be held accountable.

Holiday called three hours later and told Kylie that Della would be returning.

She gave permission for Kylie and Miranda to take the rest of the afternoon off and wait for her. And that's just what Kylie and Miranda did. They sat at the kitchen table waiting. Kylie turned a Diet Coke around in her hands. Miranda didn't even move.

"She didn't do this," Kylie kept saying. "How can they think it's possible?"

Miranda groaned as if tired of Kylie's litany. "This isn't the same world you used to live in. Shit happens here. Bad shit. Teenage girls die. Cats get turned into skunks. Werewolves come into your cabin and try to kill you. And when a vampire turns for the first time, they can ... do things that they wouldn't do in their right minds."

"You think she did it!" Kylie accused.

"I don't know," Miranda said. "But if she did, it wasn't her fault and I won't stop loving her. And damn it, Kylie, you shouldn't, either. She thinks you walk on water. If you turn your back on her, it'll kill her."

Tears filled Kylie eyes at even the suggestion that Della could've done something so terrible. But deep down she knew, even if it was true, she wouldn't turn her back on her friend.

Ten minutes later Della, eyes red, walked into the cabin and dropped into a chair. "The bite marks weren't mine. None of the fingerprints, either."

A smile spread across Kylie's face and her heart. "I told you."

Tears slipped from Della's dark eyes and rolled down her pale cheeks.

"They think Chan did it."

Miranda looked from Della to Kylie. "Who's Chan?"

"My cousin," Della told her, no longer caring about keeping the secret.

"He helped me through my change. He didn't have to do it. But he did."

"Oh," Miranda said.

"Now they want to me to find out if he did it," Della went on. "To go undercover and get the proof of his guilt." She hiccupped. "But he was there for me when no one else was, and now I have to-"

"Just tell them no," Kylie said.

"You don't tell the FRU no." Della took in a deep breath. "Besides ... they showed me the pictures." Sorrow filled Della's dark's eyes. "There was a baby. It was awful. If he did do this, he has to be stopped before he does it to someone else. I don't think I could live with myself if I let that happen."

That night Kylie attended a mandatory camp meeting because somebody had tampered with the security alarm again. According to Burnett, the alarm was being shut off-what he didn't know was if it was by someone on the inside or outside, but he was determined to find out. Kylie wondered if her feeling of being watched coincided with the security alarm being turned off. Because now that the alarm was guarded, she didn't feel a thing, except safer.

After the meeting, she had headed back to the cabin alone and had taken the first step up onto her porch when a noise startled her. So much for feeling safe. Her heart pounded and she turned. Her thoughts shot to Fredericka.

"How long do you think you can avoid talking to me?" Lucas leapt up on her porch.

Kylie shifted a bit closer to the light fixture above the front door, where insects buzzed, and looked at her watch.

"Obviously only about twelve hours," she said, noting it was nine o'clock on the dot. Today when she'd seen him in the office, she'd been too concerned about Della to worry about her Lucas issues with the dreams. But not tonight. She stepped out of the light, hoping he wouldn't see embarrassment color her cheeks.

"So you admit you've been avoiding me?" Humor laced his deep voice. Humor she didn't appreciate. She met his eyes before looking away.

"I'd deny it, but you wouldn't believe me." Besides, avoiding things that make me uncomfortable is my specialty.

Instantly, she recalled confessing to Holiday about how confronting her dad had made her feel better. Was it too much to hope that confronting Lucas would have the same effect?

One more peek at her cabin door and she knew she had to do this. Face him and get it over with.

"So, if you're not going to deny it, dare I hope you'll explain the reason you're doing it?"

She raised her gaze again and while she wanted more than anything to believe he didn't know about the dreams, she couldn't believe it. Obviously, she was much better at avoidance than denial.

"Reasons," she said.

"What?" He stepped closer and his scent, woodsy and rich, invaded her air.

"I have more than one reason."

"Okay." He caught the end of a strand of her blond hair and rubbed it between his fingertips. "Tell me the reasons."