Page 12 of Stubborn as a Shadow

Timberview Resort was everything you could want for a picturesque alpine escape. I’d been vibrating in my seat as soon as it’d come into view. With its snow-capped roofs and thick spirals of smoke curling above the chimneys, it was every wonderful, winterish stereotype rolled into one.

The massive rough-cut timbers and the dark gray limestone finishes oozed rugged charm. The website promised the rustic and untamed aesthetic was limited to the outside, and a much more civilized and luxurious experience awaited me inside. I couldn’t wait to find out if that was true.

Just call me Cinderfella. Because after all the shit I’d endured for the last few years, I deserved a little luxury, right?

Oops… I’d promised myself I wasn’t going to think about “all the shit”. It’d just upset me, and that was the last thing I needed at the start of my mission. It was better to pretend everythingwas glitter and rainbows, at least until I found what I needed to find.

Everythingwould be better after that. Iknewit would.

I only wished I was here for some Hallmark-worthy experiences, too. Those wouldreallytake my mind off bad things, because I didn’t care what Violet said, I would be brilliant at skiing or snowboarding or making snow angels. And it’d be awesome to find a sexy small-town lumberjack to check out my wood.

I snickered.

“Maybe you shouldn’t sing theMission: Impossibletheme song when you get out of the car,” Violet’s voice blasted into my ear.

“Ouch!” I winced. These earbud things were wickedly powerful, like me—at least that’s what I told myself in the mirror every morning.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. And it’s not a car. It’s a sport utility vehicle. Now, hush,” I whispered. “The valet is coming over, and the way he’s moving I bet he’s a wolf.”With super-duper hearingwas left unsaid, you know, in case the wolf with the super-duper hearing heard it.

Besides, Violet wasn’t supposed to talk to me when I was on a mission, mostly because I had a devil of a time not replying to her. And I was already going to draw enough attention in my costume. No, Violet said I shouldn’t call it a costume. It was a disguise, like Sherlock Holmes wore when he was investigating.

The little communications thingamabob was discreetly tucked into my ear, so if someone saw me talking, they’d think I was talking to myself. I didn’t see the problem with that, because didn’t everyone talk to themselves? But apparently that was a no-no.

I sighed. Why did people have so many weird rules to follow?

Besides, wasn’t this weekend supposed to be filled with rule-breakers? You know, the kind of people who dabbled in a few too many black magic spells. Why would talking to myself be seen as stranger than that? You’d think I’d fit in if I was a little odd too.

They didn’t need to know I was like this naturally and had never worked a spell in my life.

Evidently evil people couldn’t betooobviously eccentric, and Violet thought I was already edging up totooeccentric without appearing to monologue too. I doubted the supes at these events would care either way. But Violet was bossy, and sometimes it was easier just to do as she suggested rather than try to change her mind.

Speaking of Violet, why hadn’t she replied? I patted my ear. Uh oh. Had I lost the connection? Or was she doing as I asked? She hummed softly, as if reading my mind.

Phew. She was still there.

“Show time,” I whispered under my breath as I opened the door.

The SUV was a lot higher from the ground than Violet’s old compact hatchback, which is what I usually drove, but that was part of the show. Big-supe energy needed a big black SUV. Sadly.

It was just so sad that all these dangerous and scary types favored so much black. If they were as mighty as they pretended, they could do anything and wear anything, and yet they still always picked blah and boring black. Why couldn’t they like lemon yellow? Or lilac purple? Or anything really, other than black.

I managed to step out of the ridiculously high vehicle without falling. I adjusted my cloak with a snap of fabric. It was a bit like a superhero’s cape, and I was thrilled with it. Then I tossed my keys to the valet, just like Violet and I had practiced. So much practice. I was not athletic. At all.

I almost hooted in victory when the keys shot through the air in a perfect arc and landed in the guy’s hand.

“My bags are in the back,” I said, mentally adding the wordplease. I couldn’t say it aloud, though. That wouldn’t fit my fake-o persona of being a badass mage.

“Of course, sir,” the valet said.

I was killing this.

I marched into the lobby with efficient and practical steps. Yes, yes. All steps were practical because they moved you from Point A to Point B, but just like the black SUV, these steps were all part of the show. No bounces. No butt wiggles. No extra movements at all.

It wasn’t all bad, though. My steady steps made my cloak sway nicely. But wouldn’t it be amazing to see it flare out? The massive lobby was empty enough that if I twirled in here, my cloak wouldn’t hit anyone.

But that would be fun, and fun was forbidden. A sigh was a breath away from escaping. I smothered it. Ha! Look at me being all ruthless!