Dreamwalker (Stormwalker #5)(87)

“I know,” I said quietly.

Emmett had violated her the same as if he’d raped her. For a mage to strip another of power was a terrible thing. Magic was part of their essence, an integral piece of who they were. Even when Mick’s dragon had been split from him in my dream, he’d still had latent powers that he’d trained his human self to hone.

Gabrielle, however, didn’t have even that. She’d identified herself with her magic for so long that she was terrified of facing the world without it. Like being stripped and put on display, she’d have nothing to hide behind, no defenses.

And now Emmett wanted to take everything I was away from me.

“I’ll take care of you,” I promised her. “I’m going to fix this.”

Whether I could put back Gabrielle’s magic even if I bested Emmett I had no idea. But whatever the outcome, I’d protect her.

“I couldn’t fight him,” Gabrielle repeated. “I tried so hard.”

“I know, sweetheart.”

Gabrielle’s vast confidence had come from her equally vast power, an awareness that she could hurt anyone who messed with her. Now she was shivering like a newborn chick, weak and alone.

“I want you to let Grandmother take you back to Many Farms,” I said. “You’ll be safe there. When it’s over, I’ll come get you, and we’ll decide what to do.”

Gabrielle shook her head, a little of her old fire rising. “No. I’m not running away from him. If he kills me, so what?”

I scowled. “Don’t you dare talk that way. Don’t act like you don’t matter to anyone. I want you alive and well.”

“Why, so you can get back at me for all the things I’ve done?” Gabrielle flared. “I bet you’re loving this. I’ve done a lot of bad things to you.”

“And you’ve already paid for most of them,” I pointed out. “You’ve had to live with Grandmother—that should be payback enough.” I gave her a brief smile. “Families forgive, Gabrielle.”

“You didn’t know my family, then,” Gabrielle said darkly. “My stepmom forgave my dad many times, usually right after he beat her up again.”

“Not the same thing,” I said, my tone brisk. “And you know it.” I stood up. Nothing to be gained by us sitting here mourning. “If you insist on staying, then you can help. I need someone to escort the hotel guests somewhere safe—I suggest the diner in Magellan. And let Barry know that something very bad is going to go down here, in case he wants to lie low.”

Gabrielle struggled to sit up. “Seriously? You want me to play babysitter?”

I gave her a calm nod. “You’re good at motivating people to do things. Plus you need to find Nash and tell him to get his ass up here. I don’t care if he’s banging Maya right this second. Just find him.”

Gabrielle looked a little more cheered by that errand. “Okay.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’ll take your sheep to safety and find Nash.”

She stumbled out of bed, brushing off Colby’s offered hand. She rummaged in my dresser drawer for clothes, then ducked into my walk-in closet to change.

Drake, who’d stood in silence since his arrival said quietly, “I will alert the barkeep,” and ducked out.

Colby remained, a frown in place. “You need to fix this, Janet. If you don’t, I’ll rip his head off myself.”

“Help Gabrielle take the guests to safety,” I told him. “If I need head ripping, I’ll let you know.”

Colby growled, but I could see he agreed.

Mick had grabbed clothes from his own drawer and slipped them on. “You want to face him here?” he asked.

I pressed my palms together. “Might as well. The mirror has him cornered, and we’ll have the home-team advantage.”

My original plans when I’d decided to take the fight to Emmett had not included battling him in my own hotel. But somehow I realized having a showdown with him here was inevitable.

If I couldn’t stop him here, I wouldn’t be able to stop him anywhere else. Mick and I had sunk so much magic into this place—and so had Cassandra, not to mention Elena—that I’d have a lot of power backing me up.

It meant, of course, that if Emmett beat us, he’d have ready access to the magic mirror, Elena’s pool of magic, and all my powers—but one thing at a time. I’d be dead or Emmett’s slave if he won anyway, beyond worrying about it.

I thanked Colby, told him to get himself dressed so he didn’t terrify the guests, and went out with Mick.

***

An hour later saw my hotel quiet and nearly deserted. Most of the guests had followed Gabrielle and Colby into the minivan that Mick had procured to evacuate the hotel. They’d been told there was a gas leak, but the more magical of them understood that something truly bad was about to happen. A few wanted to stay and help, but Cassandra firmly shooed them away.