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“You’re a stranger to our world; we need no other reason to be suspicious.” Galaxy motioned to the woman in black and Darius. “May I introduce Head Nightmare Ember and her son, Nightmare Darius.”

Darius was related to the Nightmare Council Stardust had so adamantly warned me about? I glared at him, and though his hardened expression didn’t waver, his eyes widened slightly, almost imploringly, as if pleading for me to trust him. But I knew my trust was the last thing I should ever give him. I immediately looked away.

“I’ve been informed that you’re the individual Nightmare Darius noticed during his investigation of the unusual magical burst that occurred several days ago on Earth.”

The Head Dreamer’s words caused me to ball my hands into fists. Despite his claims that his investigations on Earth had only been a ruse, he hadn’t wasted time turning over the evidence he’d found.

“The Investigations Team has concluded you aren’t connected to that mysterious occurrence,” Galaxy continued. “They suspect another for whom we’ve been searching for quite some time. However, based on additional findings from Nightmare Darius, both the Dream and Nightmare Council are now suspicious of your sudden appearance in our world and feel obligated to investigate you further.”

I returned to glaring at Darius. How much did he know? Had he turned all the information he’d gathered about me, as well as whatever remnants from my dream catching he might have discovered, directly over to the Council? Had he learned of my ability to see dreams? He didn’t flinch under my accusatory stare, but instead glared right back, any earlier sign of reassurance completely absent.

“Let us begin,” Galaxy said, and I reluctantly yanked my gaze away from the Nightmare creep. “Because you’re from Earth my first assumption is you’re Mortal, yet not only do you possess the appearance of one from our world, but it’s apparent you can see magical beings. Who exactly are you? Who are your parents?”

I hesitated, unsure how much I should share about my background; surely telling the Council about my mother, whose reasons for being on Earth were still a mystery, might jeopardize my chances of remaining.

My voice shook as I spoke. “My name is Eden. I was born and raised on Earth. I’m an orphan and never knew my parents. Upon discovering there’s a world where beings who possess magic reside, I’ve come to take my place where I belong.”

The chamber broke out in surprised murmurs. Darius smirked with the same sickly triumph he’d shown while watching me squirm during his nightmare. I shivered and hastily looked away again.

Galaxy’s eyebrows rose. “The Council has a record of every Dreamer in existence. All who possess magic are born in this world and only go to Earth to weave. Other than dreams, magic doesn’t exist amongst Mortals.”

I lifted my chin, trying to appear brave despite the nerves knotting my stomach. “But my presence here alone confirms I have magic, as only magical beings can enter the Dream World. I must be a Dreamer, and as such should be allowed to live here.”

More murmurs, louder this time, erupted. Galaxy’s frown didn’t even twitch as he leaned forward on his curved staff. “That is not your decision to make.”

My attempts at confidence faltered and my heart sank. A single word from this powerful being was enough to forever shatter the hopes that had guided me to find where I truly belonged. Despite having grown up separated from this magical world, in just the short time I’d been here, this already felt like my true home. I couldn’t bear to leave.

“Please, as a Dreamer I deserve to be given the opportunity to stay. Will you deny one of your own kind residency?”

“You have no proof—”

I tugged the dream locket I’d taken from Mother out from beneath my collar and held it up. The room erupted in gasps.

“It’sher, the one who vanished all those years ago.”

“Of course. She comes from Earth. It all fits.”

“She’s returned to finish what she started.”

The accusations pressed around me like bees in a swarming beehive, increasing my panic. Galaxy stroked the amber sun glistening from the end of his staff, surveying me with renewed interest.

“It appears you have a connection to our world after all. There is one possible explanation for who you could be. Indeed, from the moment I detected your presence among us, I wondered.” He leaned closer, his gaze never severing from mine. “Twenty years ago a Weaver was banished to Earth, where she disappeared. For years the Council has been trying to locate her, but somehow her powers have kept her hidden. As someone who claims to be a Dreamer from Earth, you may very well be this Weaver in disguise.”

My pulse escalated. Who were they talking about? It couldn’t be…Mother, could it? “I know nothing about the Dreamer you’re searching for, only that I’m not her.” But my voice shook. If it truly was Mother, what did that mean for me?

“As if she’d admit to that.” Nightmare Darius finally stepped forward, his manner hardened with suspicion and his eyes merciless. “Despite her denials, it’s obvious she’s the one we’ve been searching for—her circumstance alone convicts her.” He opened his mouth, undoubtedly to continue attacking me with his accusations, but I slammed my hands on the podium.

“How can I be this mysterious Weaver if I didn’t even know the Dream World existed until yesterday? If I were the Weaver you’re seeking, it’d be foolish for me to return.”

ButMotherhad known about the Dream World; it was only more evidence she was the one the Council was searching for. The thought caused my pulse to escalate.

“She’s obviously lying,” Darius said. “I discovered her near a large burst of unexplained magical activity on Earth, magic so strong it could only belong to the one we’ve been searching for, whose powers have undoubtedly allowed her to remain undetected from the Council all of these years.”

“You seem to have spent a lot of time investigating Dreamer Eden,” Galaxy said. “Would you care to share your findings with the Council?”

Darius offered a slight bow. “It would be my pleasure to aid the Council.” He turned back to me with a suspicious frown. “As the Council knows, I was sent to investigate a strange burst of magic two nights ago, a magic that occurred near where I spotted her. In all the time I’ve watched her, I’ve not only witnessed frequent unexplained magical activity around her, but several interactions between her and the Mortals on Earth, meaning they can see her. The only explanation for something so impossible is the dark magic the suspended Weaver was known for.”

Galaxy frowned. “In all the time the Weaver we suspended performed her Weavings, we never received any report that she was seen by any of her Mortals.”