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.

"Something wrong?" Burnett asked.

"Just a little nervous," her mom answered. "I mean, I'm just not sure I'm ready to meet any vampires or werewolves."

Burnett glanced at Kylie over her mom's shoulder and Kylie offered him a shrug that said she hadn't informed her mom about who was what. He looked back at her mom and smiled. "Don't worry, they're not nearly as intimidating as you'd think."

"Were any of them at the parents' day meetings?" she asked, sounding hesitant.

"A few," Burnett said.

Kylie rolled her eyes and knew her mom was going to give him hell when she learned what he was.

"So what should we start doing?" her mom asked, looking at Holiday as if wanting to forget the whole supernatural issue. "I mean we're here to help pull off this wedding."

Holiday walked them to where they were going to have the ceremony. Several of the students were already helping to set up chairs.

The first chance Kylie got out of earshot from her mom, she asked Holiday, "Have you heard anything from Lucas yet?"

"No, he called earlier and said the meeting with the Council had been delayed a bit, he'll be here in about an hour. But he can't be late," she said. "He's one of Burnett's groomsmen." For the first time, Holiday's eyes pinched with worry. She reached over her shoulder and twisted her hair. Then she hiccuped.

Holiday glanced over to Kylie's mom. "How is she really doing?"

Kylie spotted her mom chatting with Chris, clueless that she was talking to a vampire. "Better than I thought," she said. "Of course, when she finds out that she's already had conversations with two vampires, she's gonna flip."

Holiday grinned and then grew serious. "How are you doing?"

"Better than I thought, too." Kylie smiled. "But I'll be better when I see Lucas."

"I'll feel better, too," Holiday said.

"Where's Della and Miranda?" Kylie asked, expecting to see them by now.

"They drove into town to pick up the cake and some flowers for the reception. If they get into anargument and drop the cake or something, I'm going to cry. I swear, I've never seen two girls love to fight as much as they do."

Kylie grinned. "Yeah, but they love each other. But enough about everyone else, shouldn't you be soaking in a tub, relaxing for the big event?"

Holiday smiled. "Believe it or not, this whole thing with your mom has been a blessing. I've been more worried about you two than the stressing about the wedding."

The next hour flew by as Kylie and her mom finished helping put out chairs and assisted decorating the dining hall for the reception. Kylie had broken down and texted Lucas, but he hadn't answered. Nor had Kylie seen Della and Miranda, and she was having withdrawals.

Suddenly Kylie heard a couple of squeals. Familiar squeals. Della and Miranda squeals.

Kylie wrapped her arms around her two best friends and it turned into a group hug. "Have I told you how much I love y'all?" she said.

"Yeah," Della said. "And the only reason I'm letting you get mushy now is because I heard you kicked ass the other night."

Kylie pulled back and smiled. "I did kick ass!"

* * *

Kylie, Della, Miranda, and her mom had gone back to get dressed at Kylie's cabin. Kylie had enjoyed sharing Della and Miranda with her mom. Or she would have if she weren't still worrying about Lucas.

Where was he? Fear that he hadn't made it and hadn't wanted to face her filled her heart. Kylie left the bathroom, where they were all putting on their makeup, to check her phone.

"You know a watched phone never rings," Della told her, having followed Kylie out.

Kylie looked up. "I'm just-"

"Worried. I know. But my gut says he's fine."

Kylie looked up at her vamp friend. "Since when are you the positive one?"

"Since I was forced to room with a damn optimist." She grinned.

Kylie laughed and hugged her. A few minutes later, her and her mom and her two best friends started walking to the front. They had told Holiday they'd arrive thirty minutes early to help out with seating.

Kylie had almost texted Holiday and asked if she'd heard from Lucas, but decided not to worry Holiday any more on her wedding day.

The four of them had just turned the last bend when Kylie saw him.

He walked toward them slowly. His blue eyes, dark and hungry, were fixed on her. Obviously dressed for the wedding, he wore a navy suit coat, navy slacks, and a solid white shirt. There wasn't one spot on him that wasn't completely gorgeous.

Kylie hadn't realized she'd stopped walking until her mom leaned down and whispered, "Breathe, Kylie." There was a teasing tone in her voice. "That's your Lucas, isn't it?" she asked.

I sure as hell hope he's mine. Lucas stopped in front of her. "Mom, you remember Lucas, don't you?"

Kylie asked, but she couldn't take her eyes off him.

"Why don't we let these two have a few minutes?" Miranda said.

Kylie's mom looked as if she was nervous. "Sure, as long as ... there's not any vampires or werewolves around."Della coughed to cover up her laugh.

"Don't worry," Lucas said, "I'll protect her."

And he would, Kylie thought. He had protected her. He'd save her life.

"Oh, I was worried about me," her mom said. "Kylie's friends with them. And I'm sure that eventually I'll get used to them, but the thought of it still creeps me out."

"I understand," Lucas said, and cut his eyes to Kylie.

As her mom and Della and Miranda walked away, Kylie heard her mom say, "Do they only come out at night?"

Kylie rolled her eyes at Lucas and leaned in. "I'm not sure what she thinks they look like."

"Don't worry," he said. "She'll get used to us. Her daughter did."

Kylie grinned. "Why didn't you answer any of my texts? I've been worried sick."

"I had to cut it off and when I got out it was late and ... I wanted to tell you in person."

"You got on the Council?"

His blue eyes brightened with a smile. "I did." He looked over his shoulder, as if making sure her mom wasn't looking. Then he pulled her against him and kissed her. A soft kiss.

"I got you something," he whispered, his lips breathing words against hers.

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a ring. A gold ring with a large diamond. A beautiful, teardrop-shaped diamond that looked like an engagement ring. Kylie's breath caught.

"It was my grandmother's ring. In her letter she wrote you should have it. And before you start panicking, let me say that I know maybe we're too young to call it an engagement. That's why I got you this, too." He pulled out a gold chain. "I want you to wear it around your neck. Call it a promise-a promise that when you do slip a ring on that finger..." He ran his hand down to her left hand. "That it'll be my ring."

Emotion rose in her throat. "You don't have to give me anything for me to give you that promise."

"Perhaps," he said as he slipped the ring onto the chain and then reached around her and clasped it around her neck. "But this is just a little reminder for all the Dereks in the world that you're taken."

She lifted on her tiptoes and kissed him again. This time, he pulled her into the line of trees and deepened the kiss. A kiss filled with promises. Promises of more kisses ... of just more. She slipped her hand inside his coat and circled his warm waist. His hum vibrated through her body and she ached to give herself over to the lure of that sound. She came close to pulling his shirttail out and touching his naked back.

He pulled back, a little breathless. "I'd better get you to the wedding. Or we won't make it."

"If I wasn't the maid of honor, I might take you up on that." She arched a teasing brow.

He grinned. "Next week, I'm making a trip to Dallas to start to sort out my grandmother's estate. Do you think ... maybe you could come with me? We could stay in a nice hotel."

Kylie's heart raced, knowing what he was asking, and she didn't hesitate. "That sounds perfect."

As they walked up, Burnett came moving toward them. He looked concerned. "The Brightens are here,"

he said.

"For the wedding?" Kylie asked.

"No, they didn't know about the wedding, they just stopped by in hopes of seeing you." He frowned.

"And just to make things difficult, your grandfather and aunt are also here. I could just send them all away,or I could ask them to the wedding. It's your call."

Kylie looked over at her mom talking to the other wedding guests mingling by the chairs.

"No, I think it's time."

* * *

Thirty minutes later, Kylie stood up at the front waiting for Holiday to walk down the aisle. Lucas stood across the row watching her, caressing her with his gaze. She knew he was thinking about next week. God help her, but it was going to be hard to think about anything else.

Beside Lucas, Burnett fidgeted. She had never seen Burnett like this. He looked like a kid who needed to go to the bathroom.

When Kylie confronted him earlier about appearing nervous, he'd told her, "Hell, yeah, I'm scared shitless that she'll realize she can do better than me."

The music started. Kylie looked back at the crowd. Her mom sat by the Brightens. She had been nervous about meeting them, but Kylie assured her that they would like her. On the opposite side of her mom sat Kylie's grandfather and her great-aunt Francyne. Kylie had introduced her mom to them, too. And a few minutes later, Kylie introduced the Brightens to Malcolm Summers and her great-aunt.

Because she couldn't tell them these were Daniel's real father and aunt, she introduced them as friends of the family. It was awkward for just a second, but then her grandfather shook Mr. Brighten's hand, then embraced Mrs. Brighten and told them sincerely what a pleasure it was to meet them. Kylie could tell her real grandfather was grateful to the Brightens for the love they'd had for his son.

Everyone from that row looked at Kylie and smiled. Oddly enough, they looked like one big happy family. And they were her family. Kylie had never been so proud. And deep inside she heard her father's voice say, Perfect.

In the row behind them, Kylie saw Miranda sitting beside Perry. Kylie would bet her best bra that those two were already planning their own wedding. And beside Miranda was Della, who stared at the row of chairs to her left. Stared at Steve. Would Della ever accept him? Yup, for a few days Della had cratered slightly where Steve was concerned, but she was back to pushing him away again.

Hayden, sitting next to Jenny, smiled at Kylie. To Jenny's right was Derek. Kylie didn't miss that his shoulder pressed against hers. Those two had something special and they deserved it.

Kylie's gaze shifted to the very back row to Fredericka, who sat with the new teacher. Kylie hadn't heard anything from Holiday about Fredericka's asking about seeing him. But Kylie got the feeling that something had happened and it had been in Fredericka's favor.

Inhaling, Kylie felt love in the air. All of a sudden, Holiday started moving down the path between the chairs. The "Wedding March" started to play. Burnett stared at Holiday, mesmerized. Kylie didn't blame him. Holiday, in all her fae glory, was beautiful. Her green eyes sparkled. Her skin practically glowed.

For some reason, Kylie recalled the day her stepdad moved out, how she'd thought it was the suckiest day of her life, and how she'd felt everything in her world was changing, and nothing would ever be the same again.

And she'd been right about one thing. Everything had changed.

Everything.

Some of it had been hard to deal with, but most of it ... Wow.She reached up and touched the ring hanging around her neck and looked across to Lucas, who was smiling at her. He mouthed the words, "I love you."

Kylie whispered those words back and she couldn't help but think that today might just be the best day.

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