“I found Drake,” he announced. “I’m off to talk to him.”
“It’s the middle of the night.” I knew it was unnecessary for me to point this out—it was pitch black outside. “Go tomorrow. Or wait and let me come with you. I want to hear what he has to say.”
I struggled to sit up only to find a firm hand pinning me down. “You are exhausted.” As soon as Mick said the words, my eyelids drooped. He touched my cheek. “Sleep, Janet.”
I found myself falling back into the pillows. Damned dragon and his healing magic.
My sleep was refreshing, as Mick meant it to be. I did dream, but this was a familiar dream, with a comforting haziness rather than sharp reality.
I seemed to be out in the desert under the spread of stars, my clothes gone but my skin perfectly warm. Constellations twinkled above me—Cassiopeia and Perseus, the bears large and small, the North Star.
A coyote came out of a wash, and I folded my arms and waited for him.
“Well?” I asked when he sat down by my side and didn’t speak. “I’m naked and dreaming. What kind of cryptic god shit are you going to tell me this time?”
Ah, Janet, you are so cynical. The huge coyote wrinkled his nose. Maybe I just like visiting you.
“Spit it out. I have sleep to catch up on.” I used impatience to hide my nervousness. Coyote’s little dream chats usually meant I’d have to face something terrible.
All right, all right. Coyote heaved a sigh, his furry sides moving. The all powerful can be the most vulnerable, but compassion is the strongest gift of all. In the end, you’ll have to choose, and make the choice for others. His voice grew quieter, more serious. Be careful how you choose, Janet. Cruelty is so easy.
I stared. “What does all that mean? Can you be any more vague?”
Coyote chuckled. Yeah, it 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.”