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He trailed off with nothing more than a guilty shrug…and another half-smile that pleaded for me to forgive him. It faltered at my continued scowl. He cleared his throat and glanced up at the leafy boughs above us.

“I know I have no right to inquire when I’m not forthcoming with my own explanations, but perhaps you can humor me and tell me what you were doing up in that tree?”

I bit my lip and warily glanced up. “Why do you want to know?”

“Because it’s where I sensed a strong surge of magic moments before encountering you, the second one in two days.” He gave me a knowing look, as if he already suspected the magic had come from me.

My heart pattered wildly and I silently cursed myself for allowing my draw to dreams to cause me to behave so recklessly after Stardust had warned me there was a Nightmare lurking nearby. From what we’d spoken of about my powers, I knew enough to know that they were unique in her world, and thus had to be kept a secret at all costs. Surely nothing good could come from attracting a Nightmare’s attention, no matter how drawn I felt to him.

The Nightmare was still awaiting an answer, eying me with open curiosity. “It appears your trust is something I must earn.”

He’dneverearn my trust…even though for some reason I wanted to give it. Thoroughly confusing. I folded my arms firmly across my chest, as if I could protect myself from these irrational impulses. “You can begin by telling me why you were trespassing in my bedroom last night.”

He bit his lip. “I wasn’ttrespassing, per se…” He eyed my unconvinced frown and actually chuckled. “Alright, perhaps I was doing a bit of that, but in my defense I’d mistaken you for a Mortal, to whom I’m invisible. My presence in your bedroom was simply me fulfilling my duty to create a dream. I was stunned to discover you could see me.”

His penetrating gaze became searching, as if trying to discover the answers he sought to such an anomaly. His brow furrowed.

“It certainly is a puzzle. I initially wove a dream for you to test a suspicion, but I’m only left with more questions. I know you saw my dream.”

“I didn’t—” I began, but he talked over me.

“Youdid, even though your being a possessor of magic should make such a feat impossible.” But the riddle only seemed to excite him, causing his eyes to glisten. “I must learn more about you.”

First the man claimed to know me, now he wanted to learn more about me. This encounter only grew more and more strange. But even more puzzling was my reaction to his inquiry—my entire being wanted nothing more than to give him my name, but I fought against the irrational desire.

“I’d rather not share that information with you.”

He stepped forward, bridging the distance that was already too small. “Please, I must know.”

I rigidly shook my head. He sighed, clearly frustrated, though understanding filled his gaze.

“Considering the circumstances in which we’re meeting, I can’t expect anything more, at least until I’ve earned your trust. And I will. I promise.”

I raised a skeptical eyebrow, which only made him smile, as if he found my doubt highly amusing.

“Even if you won’t tell me your name, could you at least tell me whether you’re a Dreamer or a Nightmare?” He held his breath as he awaited my answer.

I scrunched my brow. “I—” I hesitated. I wanted to tell him I was a Dreamer, yet in truth I had no idea who I truly was. How could I be either if I didn’t belong to the world he and Stardust came from? Even though the more I learned about it, the more I yearned for nothing more than to be a part of it.

When I’d remained silent too long, his expression softened, gentling the spiderweb designs lacing his features. “Don’t you know?”

“Of course I do.” But my voice shook, betraying my lie. “I—I’m—” I sighed as I gave up the fight. “The truth is I don’t actually know.”

His curiosity deepened at my admission. He took another cautious step closer, the look in his eyes compelling me to trust him. I held my breath as he paused only a foot away, his penetrating gaze seeping into mine, searching…then his shoulders slumped.

“You’re a Dreamer. How could you be…? Blast, this is most unfair.”

“What’s wrong with being a Dreamer?” I asked in a small voice.

“Nothing at all,” he said hastily, gently. “It simply complicates things.” He looked as if he wanted to say more, but after a moment’s hesitation he closed his mouth with a sigh. “This isn’t going at all like I’d hoped. Forgive me for my poor reaction, but allow me to assure you it doesn’t matter you’re a Dreamer; it changes nothing.”

A look filled his eyes in that moment, one of such acceptance. No one, not even Mother, had ever given me such a look. It only deepened the strange connection between us, one I wanted to explain but couldn’t find the words for.

I yearned to question him further—not just about who he was, but why he claimed to know me and how he knew I was a Dreamer, as well as what being a Dreamer actually meant—but I didn’t have the chance.

He suddenly cocked his ear, as if listening to something I couldn’t hear, before he tensed. In one movement he seized my arm and hurried me deeper into the trees. Despite the strange shudder that rippled over me at his touch, I immediately tried wriggling away.

“What are you doing? Let me go.”