Dreamwalker (Stormwalker #5) - Allyson James Page 0,75

does sound like bullshit you’d hear from a crystal ball reader at a county fair. But seriously, Janet, if you fight Emmett, it’s going to be tough. You might lose people you love. He’s not a pushover. As you’ve already figured out, he’s hard to kill.

“That’s why it would be great to have you there. A god might tip the balance. You don’t think he should be allowed to win and take my mirror, do you?”

No, I think he’s a dickhead. But he’s human underneath it all, and I’m not allowed to go around snuffing out human beings. No one would be left if gods could do that. But don’t worry—I’ll try to keep you alive. You’re cute, Janet, and I love you.

Only Coyote could make me angry and pleased at the same time. “Thanks,” I said. “I guess.”

Don’t look so disappointed. You’ll kick ass just fine. But remember what I said about cruelty. Emmett thrives on it. Don’t play his games, or you’ll end up just like him.

“You always know how to make me feel better.” I shivered, the night growing cool. I knew that in reality, I was tucked up in bed, so the window must be open or my covers sliding off. “What is up with my dreams? Dreamwalking, Emmett called it. Why am I reliving my past?”

Coyote considered. The past can be instructive. You can evaluate decisions you made, see firsthand what you’re truly like. Scary, but instructive.

I gazed at him in sudden suspicion. “Did you send me into the dreams? As a twisted way of teaching me a lesson?”

He laughed. I was truly entertaining tonight. Not me. I like teaching lessons, but dreamwalking is dangerous. You might be doing it to yourself, unaware, or Mick might have sent you for reasons of his own. Dreamwalking can be addicting, especially if they’re happy dreams. You want to stay there and not come out.

I hadn’t wanted to emerge from the first dream. I didn’t remember much about it, but I remembered a feeling of happiness, contentment. “Mick would never endanger me like that,” I said.

He might. If he thought the good outweighed the danger. I’m speculating—that’s all. Mick probably has nothing to do with it. But you need to find out who is making you dreamwalk, and stop them, before you get stuck and don’t come out.

Good advice. “Speaking of dreaming, I need my rest,” I said. “Good night.”

I turned around and marched off in the direction where I thought my hotel lay. I couldn’t be certain out in this darkness—Coyote could have brought me anywhere.

I heard a coyote yip and howl behind me. Nice ass, Janet.

“Pervert,” I muttered.

Yep. Good night, sweetheart.

The desert vanished, and I sank into warmth and darkness. What seemed a too-brief time later, I woke to bright sunshine, and Mick kissing me awake.

“It’s almost ten, sleepyhead,” Mick said, his touch light on my cheek. “Flora’s about to start.” His eyes were alight with interest. “I don’t want to miss this.”

***

Flora gathered us, not in the basement, but outside in the full sunshine, between the hotel and the railroad bed. I was the last to arrive, having taken time to quickly shower and dress. By the time I made it outside, I saw that she’d called in every earth magic person she could find in Magellan, which included our hotel guests.

The couple Cassandra called goblins stood a little apart from the group, hand in hand. Pamela watched Flora with her usual suspicion, ready to break in and stop her if she thought the woman was a danger. Colby had come as well, and greeted me with a sound hug.

“Glad to see you in one piece,” he said after squeezing me. “Again. You need to start taking me as your backup.”

“I couldn’t stop her getting hurt,” Mick said, sounding irritated. “What makes you think you could?”

“Hey, two dragons are better than one. Three,” Colby added as Drake strode out from the hotel. “Even better. What’s the word, Drakey?”

Drake gave him a stern look, but halfheartedly, as though he couldn’t conjure up the energy to be angry with Colby. He looked unhurt, destroying my theory that a person had to be knocked into a coma to go dreamwalking. Dragons healed quickly, but Drake’s words confirmed he’d been nowhere near the jail when it had come down on me and hurt Maya.

“I was deep in meditation,” he said without bothering to greet us, “when I seemed to go back in time. I found myself reliving the night