Dead and Dusted by Lily Webb (most recommended books .TXT) 📗

place closer to the Veil than the summit of Mount Starcrest, and no better place to use as a base to explore beyond our world.”

My head spun listening to the conversation. Rockets? Energy farms? Raw magic beyond our world? I turned to Thorn, who looked just as confused as I felt. “Are you following any of this?” I whispered.

“Not really,” he admitted. “I had a feeling they were going to be squabbling over Mount Starcrest’s peak — there’ve been rumors swirling about it for weeks — but I couldn’t figure out what any of them wanted with it.”

“You mean the giant mountain that shadows over the entire town, right?”

“Yup, there’s only the one.”

“Why would they want that? It’s frozen solid and littered with rocks — believe me, I’ve seen it up close and personal from Blair’s flying car on our way into town. I don’t understand.”

Thorn shrugged. “I guess Leland thinks there're solutions to all our problems in the stars.”

“So, what then? He’s gonna launch rockets from the peak of Mount Starcrest for, like, magic stardust or something and turn into energy?”

“It sure sounds like it. Who knows what we could do with raw magic? Or who really even knows what’s out there?”

“This is nuts. Just nuts.” Of all things I could’ve guessed I’d overhear this weekend, I never would’ve come up with rockets and space magic.

“I dunno. It kind of makes sense, actually. There are plenty of urban legends passed around here about the source of all magic being rooted in the stars. I don’t know if I believe it, but if anyone has the money, technology, and resources to find out, it’s Leland Marth and Starforce Tech. It wouldn’t be the first magitech breakthrough the company’s had.”

“Right, sure,” I said like I had any idea what magitech was or anything else he was talking about.

Before I could ask any of the myriad questions swirling in my mind, the doors to the reception room flung open and Jadis, Emile, and Blair entered, pushing a large cart loaded with covered dishes. Emile, our resident vegetarian vampire chef, flashed me a fanged smile and a wink as if he truly believed his cooking could solve the guests’ disputes. Despite how amazing everything Emile made was, I doubted it would work any miracles with this group.

“Good morning, everyone, and bienvenue!” Emile said as he wheeled the cart to the side of the table. “My name is Emile, your humble chef, and it’s my pleasure to serve you.”

Zadie stared at him for a beat before biting back a laugh like she’d seen nothing more ridiculous than a vampire in a chef’s uniform, complete with the tall hat.

“I’ve prepared some scrumptious spinach and tomato frittatas, as well as some fragrant breakfast potatoes for anyone who’s hungry,” Emile continued and lifted the lid off the closest dish. A cloud of steam swirled upward, washing over the table, and instantly Zadie’s expression changed from ridiculing to ravenous. In a blur of motion that only a superhuman vampire could accomplish, Emile zipped around the table and set it with plates, cloth napkins, and silverware. “Since I’m sure you have business to attend to, I’ll leave you to serve yourselves,” he said and vanished.

Despite her initial reluctance, Zadie was the first to help herself to a frittata and a healthy serving of the potatoes. Jadis hurried to meet Thorn and me with curiosity written all over her face and Blair hot on her heels. “Emile and Blair kept me longer than I thought. Anyway, how’s it going? What have I missed?”

“Oh, nothing big. Just some talk about rockets and space magic,” I said, and Jadis’ face scrunched.

“What? Are you being serious?”

“As serious as a non-disclosure agreement,” I said, and Jadis turned to peer around Blair at the table of guests as they loaded their plates. The sounds of silverware against porcelain filled the room as they ate in silence, and my stomach grumbled watching them. I hadn’t had time to eat before the guests arrived, not with all the last-minute preparations we’d had to make.

The clinking stopped, however, when Evie, the witch who’d arrived with Leland, slipped into the room and hurried to the table. She leaned over and, with her hand covering her mouth, whispered something in Leland’s ear. He turned to stare at her, confusion written plainly on his face as she handed him an unaddressed envelope.

“Who sent this?” Leland asked, but Evie shrugged. “Hm, well, thank you, Evie. Take a seat, we’ve just gotten started, and you can hold my place while I tend to this,” he suggested and slipped the envelope into his inner suit pocket while Evie pulled out the chair next to his. “Oh, but before I step away, forgive me, everyone! I haven’t introduced you to my new assistant, Evie Church.”

“Oh, you poor thing,” Zadie said with a frown. “Trust me, I know firsthand how difficult Leland can be to work for.”

“Uh, thanks?” Evie said, her voice rising. She smiled at Leland. “But I don’t think Mr. Marth is difficult at all. I’ve never had a better, nicer boss.”

“How sweet of you, Evie,” Leland said, returning her smile.

“Or naïve,” Zadie said into her mug as she stole another sip to wash down her food.

“If only my camera could catch sarcasm,” Kade muttered, who seemed to have gotten totally overshadowed in the conversation, but then again, he was a reporter — it was his job to observe, and there certainly had been no lack of interesting conversation to absorb.

Leland glared at Zadie for a moment before setting down his silverware and pushing back from the table. “I’ll be right back. Don’t strike any deals while I’m gone, Morgan!” he said, pointing at Mayor Nash.

“You say that as if we’re going to make any deals at all this weekend,” Mayor Nash said.

“Oh, we will. I’m sure of it,” Leland said before flagging Blair down. “Excuse me. Where’s the nearest restroom?”

“Just across the hall, Mr. Marth,” she answered.

“Thank you,” Leland said and whisked out