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My mouth fell agape. “You will?”

“Yes.” He gave my shoulders a reassuring squeeze and left immediately. Without his presence I found myself weak again, and I slumped back against the tree.

“Why did you askhim?” Stardust demanded. “The last thing he’ll want to do is help you.”

I had no words to explain why I knew he would; the connection and trust I felt for him seemed to defy reason, though I felt it all the same. “He will.”

“But he’s aNightmare.”

I was in no mood to endure her prejudice. I wearily closed my eyes and waited, time measured by each frantic beat of my heart. It seemed to take ages for Darius to return, and even when I heard his familiar crack I didn’t open my eyes until I sensed his approach.

My eyes fluttered open. He held out the jar on his palm. My heart swelled in relief and gratitude. “Thank you.”

“It was a challenge; I had to scour Mother’s room before I found where she’d hidden it.” He handed it to me and I cradled it close, more touched by his gesture than relieved that the jar couldn’t be used against me.

“Why did you help me?” I asked.

An intense but equally soft look filled his eyes. “Because you needed me.”

The rest of my fear seeped away, leaving me exhausted. And even though the danger had passed, my tears still escaped.

He anxiously stepped forward.It’ll be alright, Eden. Please don’t worry.

Though I was certain I’d heard him, he didn’t appear to have said anything. I blinked, slightly disoriented. “Did you say something?”

He stiffened, as if the question caught him off guard, before he relaxed. “Just that it’ll be alright. Don’t worry, Eden.” He reached out and stroked my cheek.

I nodded weakly. I wasn’t surehowthings would be alright—indeed, the situation had only grown worse than it’d been before my useless attempts to do something to help—but the feel of his touch soothed me nonetheless.

“Thank you, Darius.”

He smiled gently. “Will you be able to do our Weaving?”

I startled as my gaze snapped to the sky, now tinged with darkness. I’d entirely forgotten about the Weaving. “Do I have to?”

He chuckled. “I’m afraid so, but perhaps I can let you win.”

I shook my head. Even though the jar Nightmare Ember had confiscated was back in my possession, I’d aroused her suspicion, and I doubted my winning solely because Darius let me would go unnoticed.

“There’s no need. Tonight’s dream will beat yours on its own merits.” It was a total lie—I hadn’t prepared a dream at all, so intent on doing something about the balance that I’d once again neglected my Mortal.

I sighed. Perhaps I needed to heed Stardust’s advice after all. Now more than ever I needed to prove to the Council I belonged, and that wouldn’t come from trying to save the world; it would come from being a good Weaver for Maci.

Darius’s look was understanding. “If you need more time, we can delay the Weaving.”

My gaze snapped to his. “I’m convinced you can read my mind.”

He chuckled again. “No, mind reading is not my power.” He froze the moment the words were spoken, as if afraid he’d said too much. My curiosity piqued.

“You have a special power? What is it?”

He stiffened again. “I…well, it’s not normally something I share…”

I was surprised how acute my disappointment was, not just because he hadn’t satisfied my curiosity, but because I wanted him to trust me enough to tell me something so personal. “Won’t you tell me?” I asked.

He hesitated. “One day. I promise.”

My heart lifted slightly. “I’ll hold you to that. Until you do, I’m still convinced you can read minds.”