Dreamwalker (Stormwalker #5)(64)

“Because you spelled me to!” I said in fury. “You sent me into comas so you could try to steal the mirror!”

Emmett’s eyes opened and closed once, slowly. “I admit I have tried to kill you. First with John and Monica, second with the self-destruct spells in my lackeys. Both were backup attempts—I couldn’t be sure you’d go near either of them. John and Monica—they’re perfectly ordinary humans, if you want to know, but they love being with demons and will do anything for me, because I pay well. They were only supposed to wait in bar in case you came in and then lure you to their hotel room. I had no idea you’d let loose a horde of demons, Janet. But you did. You can’t keep out of other people’s business, can you?”

“And in case I didn’t die all the way, you sent me dreams to drive me insane.”

Emmett was already shaking his head. “No, Janet, you have that wrong. I can’t coerce you in dreams to give me the mirror. You need to die, or we need to come to some other kind of agreement. I’m not the one sending you dreamwalking.”

“You keep saying dreamwalking. What does that mean, exactly?”

Emmett made an expansive gesture with one hand. “Just what you’ve been doing. Reliving your past, either trying to change it or reacting to what might have been.”

Not helpful. “The dreamwalking doesn’t change anything … does it? Mick obviously never got de-dragoned.”

Emmett shifted his stance, crossing his feet at the ankles and resting his hands behind him on his desk. He was the very picture of an important man condescending to be friendly to the less important.

“Are you claiming that you had nothing to do with my dreams?” I asked, skeptical. “I don’t believe you.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you believe me or not. I have nothing to do with your dreams, I assure you. I could spell you to dream and reveal secrets to me, but that method is unreliable. I prefer a more direct approach.”

He meant torture and dire threats. “Then why did you wish me sweet dreams after you took me home in your limo?”

“Being polite. Showing you I could still be nice after your boyfriend blew up my favorite car.” Emmett’s eyes flickered with brief annoyance. “It’s what people say to each other, isn’t it? If your subconscious took it as a suggestion, I can’t help that.”

I took a step forward. “Dreams in which I forget all about my current life, Mick almost gets killed, other people from my present wander in to interact with me …”

“Your hang-ups are your own, my dear Janet. Dreams often show you what you wish for and what you fear. They reveal your frustrations and desires—often both at the same time.”

“Regardless,” I said firmly. Mick, beside me, had not said a word, but I couldn’t ask him why at the moment. “Whether you have anything to do with this dreamwalking or not, I’ve come to tell you to give up on taking our magic mirror. If we have to kill you to stop you, we will. Less work for everyone if you simply give up.”

Emmett gave me a pitying look. “I haven’t even begun to try to wrest the mirror from you. If you had died in one of my little traps, well and good, but those were incidental—just in case. When I come for the mirror, you’ll know.”

“And we’ll fight you,” I answered. “Trust me.”

“Oh, I do trust you, Janet,” Emmett said softly. “I also like you a little bit, which is why I’m giving you fair warning. Now …” He straightened up, the businessman finished with the interview. “I have another appointment in about five minutes. If I keep the client waiting, my PA will have a conniption. Ah.” He paused as though remembering something. “By the way, I’ve sent the cleaning bill for my shirt, the one the Nightwalker bloodied in his vain attempt to bite me, to your hotel. I believe it came to two-hundred dollars.” He gestured toward the door through which we’d entered. “My receptionist will see you out now, fetch you a taxi if you need one.”

The door he pointed to was closed, the wall unbroken, but I had no doubt it would open to release us when he wished. I turned around and started for it, ready to get out of this chilling place.

I was halfway across the glaring white floor when I realized Mick hadn’t followed me. I turned to see him still facing Emmett, his hands at his sides, his dragon aura crackling.

“Smith,” he said.

His voice was quiet and steady, but everything in me came alert. I headed for him, uneasiness surging.

“If you ever try to hurt Janet again,” Mick continued without a break. “I will rain hell down upon you.”