Dreamwalker (Stormwalker #5) - Allyson James Page 0,25

whacked, but in the face. A couple of times, Mick said. And then hit with one hell of a magic wave. Micky was seriously worried.”

When Mick was concerned, that meant there was something to be concerned about.

“Thank you,” I told him sincerely.

Colby winked. “Hey, I can think of ways you can thank me …” I knew he was joking. Maybe.

“In your dreams,” I said.

“I have terrific dreams.” Colby flickered his tongue at me. “You’d be amazed at what I can dream.”

I raised my hands. “I don’t want to know. I just don’t.”

“I do.” The voice called from inside the saloon. The magic mirror loved to listen in. “Tell me all about these delicious dreams.”

Colby, being magical, could hear the mirror. A glance through the saloon’s open doorway reassured me that most of my guests could not. Cassandra sent the mirror an annoyed glare, and the mirror snapped into silence. I wish I knew how she made it obey like that.

“I’m hearing all was quiet while I was out,” I said, shutting the saloon door. “Really? Emmett didn’t come here and try to steal my mirror?”

“Not that I heard about,” Colby answered. “I only got here yesterday, though.”

“Hmm.” What I’d assumed was that Emmett had either spelled me when I’d been in the limousine with him, or had sent the demons to take me out of the picture. Then, when I was unconscious and unable to fight, he’d come after Mick, kill him, and take the mirror. Or maybe bargain with Mick—the mirror for my life. Or, he’d simply try to steal it while Mick was distracted looking after me.

The fact that Emmett had not showed up at all was odd. Troubling.

“Thanks for your help, Colby,” I said. “I mean it.”

He shrugged it away. “I was hoping your sister would be here. She’s crazy—in a good way.”

I raised my brows. “She’s powerful, unstable, and dangerous.”

“Like I said—in a good way. This summer when we were fighting the mages, she and I made a … connection. She likes a good dragon.”

I suppressed a shiver. Colby was a decent guy who’d put himself on the line for me more than once. I did not want Gabrielle to toy with him and maybe kill him, even if she didn’t kill him on purpose. Dragons were hard to hurt, but I hadn’t been kidding when I said Gabrielle was powerful, unstable, and dangerous.

“I’ll tell her you said hi,” I countered. “I know she likes dragons. She goes on and on about how hot Drake is.”

Colby gave me an incredulous look. “Drake? Seriously? The stick-up-his-ass, kowtows to the Dragon Council, too cold-blooded to be a real dragon Drake?”

I nodded, unable to resist teasing him. “You have to admit, he is good looking. Tall, dark, handsome, great ass …”

“Ice in his veins.” Colby scowled. “You’d freeze to death the second you touched him.”

“I don’t know,” I went on. “I have to wonder what would happen when all that ice … melted.”

Colby rolled his eyes. “Are women out of their minds? What’s wrong with a fun, nice guy like me?”

“Nothing.” I relented, stepped to him, and gave him a noisy kiss on the cheek. “I’m messing with you.” I kissed him again, then let him go. “Seriously, though, Colby. Find a nice lady dragon to hang out with. Gabrielle could hurt you, and I don’t just mean break your heart.”

“I know. It’s a challenge.” The sparkle returned to Colby’s light blue eyes. “Dragon women try to eat their mates, you know. We’re used to having fighting our lovers for our lives. Micky’s getting soft, living with you.”

I felt another shiver coming on. Colby’s idea of a good time and mine were obviously different.

He left me to enter the saloon for some of Elena’s good cooking, leaving the door open behind him. A few of the guests eyed Colby askance. He was inked all over in hues of blue, red, and green—beautiful artwork displayed by his motorcycle vest and short-sleeved shirt. His dark hair was caught in a ponytail, his jeans stained and torn.

But Colby, like Mick, knew how to make people like him. He gave a jovial hello to the couple at the table next to his, and soon had them unbending and talking to him. Colby didn’t know a stranger.

“He’s cute,” a mellow female voice said next to me. “Will you introduce me?”

I turned to see a thirtyish woman with dark, curly hair that was cropped short and blue eyes. She wore a maid’s uniform and carried