Dead and Dusted, Lily Webb [epub read online books .txt] 📗

“I don’t know what it means, exactly, but I keep having this awful dream of an avalanche heading toward Kindred Spirits. For some reason, in the dream I’m up near the peak of Mount Starcrest when it starts, and I’m running frantically to get back to the inn to alert everyone, but I never make it in time.”

The smile fell off Blair’s face like I’d slapped her. She cleared her throat and sat up straight. “That’s concerning, to say the least. When did this start?”

I shrugged. “About a week ago, I guess. I’ve looked up some interpretations, and I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. It’s probably just stress. Lots of people have weird recurring dreams like this when they’ve got a lot going on.”

“Maybe, but I’d bet most of them don’t also have the ability to see glimpses of the past — and, more recently for you, slivers of the future.”

My eyes shot to hers, and my brows stitched together. “Wait, what? You don’t think this is some sort of prophetic vision or something, do you? No way, it can’t be. That’s crazy.”

Blair tossed her hands up. “I’m no local history buff, but as far as I know, we’ve never had an avalanche in Starfall. Besides, it’s the middle of spring, so I doubt it. Your dreams make me wonder, though. Have you had any others along these lines lately?”

After taking a few moments to think about it, I shook my head. “No, not since a few weeks ago with Azalea in the town square,” I said, but I still didn’t really believe that meant anything. In a snap, I’d predicted that a dangerous witch was going to jump for her broom to flee from the cops, so I snatched it away from her with magic. Predicting a move like that didn’t exactly make me a psychic.

“Hm, strange,” Blair said as she massaged her chin.

“What is?”

“Foresight isn’t typically spotty like that, and it’s rare for it to manifest physically before it does in dreams.”

“I’m… Not following. My head’s still foggy from the dream.”

Blair patted my shoulder. “Oh, just some magical theorizing on my part. Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’re right; this is probably just a stress-related dream that will resolve itself in time.”

I sighed and slouched. “Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m so worked up over this weekend. It’s not like I know any of these guys.”

Blair chuckled. “I think anyone would be nervous to meet powerful people, but it’s much worse when you’re going to take care of their every want and need. For what it’s worth, I feel the pressure too. In all the time Kiki and I have been running Kindred Spirits, I don’t think we’ve ever hosted such a prestigious — and mysterious — event.”

“Seriously! What could the mayor of Starfall and Leland Marth have to talk about? Are they working on some super-secret government partnership or something?”

“I don’t have the faintest idea, but whatever it is, it must be big. Which reminds me, have you signed your non-disclosure agreement yet?”

I sighed and shook my head. “No, sorry. I keep forgetting about it with all the other preparations going on.”

“I understand, but please make sure you get it done and back to me sometime today. Mr. Marth made it very clear when I spoke to him yesterday that he and his staff won’t set foot on the property until we’ve all signed the documents.”

“Wait, what? His staff? What’s with that and all the secrecy?”

Blair laughed. “Mr. Marth is infamous for the lengths he’ll go to protect Starforce Technology’s information. Really, I can’t say I blame him. With so many staff members and other guests running around here over the weekend, who knows what one of them might overhear? If that information leaked, it could be very damaging to Mr. Marth and whatever deal he’s trying to strike,” she said, as if she already knew I’d do everything in my power to eavesdrop. She knew me too well.

“So, is he going to make all the other guests sign an NDA too?”

“You can bet your wand he will,” Blair said with a wink. “I’ve already sent them out to everyone scheduled to attend. If they don’t sign them and hand them to me when they arrive, they don’t enter the inn. Plain and simple.”

“Is this really worth all the trouble?”

Blair raised her eyebrows. “Are you kidding? When word gets out about Mr. Marth and Mayor Nash doing business here — and rest assured, it will — our bookings are going to go through the roof. If Mr. Marth gives us his seal of security approval, I know other business and government leaders will want to follow. It doesn’t hurt that Starforce and the government have partnered to rent out the entire inn for their staff and security.”

I gulped. “The whole inn? And security?”

“You heard me correctly, and that’s a good thing. We couldn’t possibly meet their security standards alone.”

“Don’t hate me for asking, but that makes me wonder… What if this weekend goes wrong?”

Blair winked at me. “Then we’ll probably never see another booking, and we’ll have to close up shop for good. No pressure, right?”

“No, none,” I muttered as visions of stone-faced security guards armed to the teeth creeping around Kindred Spirits flashed in my mind. With so many moving pieces and so many people to attend to, how could we possibly expect the weekend to go off without a hitch? No wonder I’d been having nightmares — who wouldn’t if they were in my robes?

“We’ve survived much worse than this before, haven’t we?” Blair asked, and I nodded. “All we have to do is keep everyone mostly happy for a couple of nights, just like we always do.”

“You make it sound so easy,” I said, and Blair laughed.

“We’re going to be fine, Selena, I promise,” she said and pulled me in for a hug. “But in all seriousness, if at any point it gets to be a bit too much for you,