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“Why not use a love emotion flower?” I suggested.

Angel rolled her eyes. “Did you daydream through Dream Weaving 101? Emotions aren’t grown; they can only be created by Mortals themselves.”

“There’s no need to be rude,” Iris scolded. “Remember, she’s still in training.” She turned to me, her ever-present smile caressing her face.“Emotions are what give dreams their power, and that determines which dream a Mortal views. It’s a Weaver’s job to create a dream that evokes strong emotions in the Mortal viewing it, because the more powerful a Mortal’s emotion, the more dream dust the dream yields.”

Angel nodded. “Exactly. Without creating a dream that causes my Mortal to think of her strong feelings for her crush, my dream will be nothing but a bunch of heart-shaped rain.Boring. Alice deserves only the best dreams, so if I could just find a flower that would—”

“Wait, did you sayAlice?” I interrupted, the name and the familiarity of the dream she was recreating connecting in my mind. “Alice the baker’s daughter, from the village of Oak Creek?”

Angel raised her eyebrows. “You know her?”

“She has the most remarkable dreams,” I said. “Just the other night she dreamed she was sailing on a tree ship, and each branch led to something wondrous to explore.”

Stardust tore herself from her coloring and gave me a warning nudge; too late I realized my mistake—a normal Dreamer wouldn’t be privy to details about Mortals’ dreams.

“We talk about our dreams together all the time,” I added in an attempt to redeem myself.

Stardust groaned. “You’re only making it worse.”

“What do you mean she talks with you?” Angel demanded. “Mortals can’t see Dreamers.”

Oops, I’d forgotten that little detail. I hastily tried to come up with a way to escape the hole I’d dug myself into. At this point, admitting I was from Earth seemed the best option; any further lies might cause me to be mistaken for someone who possessed dark magic.

“I’m…actually from Earth. So I know her.”

Angel and Iris gaped at me. “No wonder I’ve never seen you around here before.” Iris pressed her thumb against her lips again. “But I don’t understand: if you’re from Earth, how did you come here, and how is it you can see us?”

“It’s impossible,” Angel interrupted. “Non-magical beings are unable to enter the Dream World, and Mortals with magic don’t exist. Anyone with magic is either a Dreamer or Nightmare; there is no other category.”

“I never claimed I’m a Mortal; I’m a Dreamer.” I tugged my dream locket from beneath my collar and held it up. The dream dust it harbored glistened in the light as it swung in the air like a pendulum. Iris and Angel followed the movement with wide eyes, lost for words. Angel was the first to recover.

“It’s unheard of for Dreamers to live on Earth, unless…” She leaned closer to Iris, her beady gaze remaining focused on me. “You know, she could be—” she whispered, not quietly.

Iris gasped. “Oh dear, are you…thatWeaver?” she asked from behind her hands. “The one who disappeared after her banishment, the one they’re still looking for?”

“Of course not,” I said.

“You don’t expect her to admit it, do you?” Angel asked. Gnawing her lip, Iris glanced at Petals for confirmation I was telling the truth and visibly relaxed when Petals nodded.

“Well, that settles it. Wow, a Dreamer from Earth. Does the Dream Council know about your presence?”

“You’re not going to tell them, are you?” I asked.

Angel shrugged and Iris fiddled with her daffodil earrings. “Well, Iwantyou to stay, but the Council should be made aware…”

“Don’t be a spoil sport; the fact she may be illegal makes her more interesting. A Dreamer is a Dreamer, regardless of where they come from.” Angel surveyed me with increased enthusiasm. “You said you’ve grown up hearing Alice talk about her dreams? What does she say?”

“She always gushes about how enchanting and creative they are,” I lied, but my fib was worth it by the way Angel’s entire expression lit up.Petals gave me a quizzical look—obviously having detected my lie—but thankfully she didn’t say anything.

“I’m glad. Alice is my first Mortal and I'm still learning the trade. It’s difficult coming up with something new and exciting every night, especially when I’m behind on one of my Nature Artist projects or Blaze is breathing down my neck.” Her eyes narrowed at something behind me. “What’s that?”

We all turned. A glistening golden bubble about the size of my hand had appeared at the edge of the field. It floated over, pausing to bob directly in front of me.

Iris gasped. “A summons.”

The word itself made my stomach feel as if it was dissolving in a black hole. “What’s a summons?”

“A message from the Dream Council,” Angel said. “I knew they’d send for you; they were bound to detect the presence of a stranger sooner or later.”