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While I admired the jewelry box—which would be the perfect place to store my secrets from the constantly snooping Darius if only I could afford it—Stardust followed the line of stalls that led like a trail of bread crumbs down the twisting street, passing the stalls piled with nightmarish merchandise without a glance before pausing next to one selling glass ornaments.

“Check out these snow globes. Only eight ounces of dream dust.”

“Eight ounces?” How could anyone afford these prices? “Are you determined to bleed my magic dry before the festival ends?”

Stardust slumped in obvious disappointment. “You’re right, you likely can’t afford these until you manage to win more weavings.”

She continued looking around and brightened when she spotted something else. She held up a package of miniature moons lightly dusted with gold.

“These would be perfect for you; they match your style perfectly.” After I’d purchased them, she dug my weaving mirror from my bag and held it up as I carefully wove the moons amongst the stars already dotting my lilac ringlets.

Darius’s look warmed. “They suit you.” He reached out as if to help me secure a clip to my hair but I recoiled from his touch, which only deepened his melancholy and my own guilt for how I was treating him. Was I perhaps behaving unfairly? But who else could Blaze and Trinity have learned my secrets from except for him?

I turned away and stroked my fingertip along the snow globes, all of which were so lovely. I felt the warmth of Darius’s presence as he stepped closer.

“Do you want one?” he murmured into my ear.

I shook my head and yanked my hand away. “We should go to the flying colors.”

“You said ‘we’ that time.” Mischief filled his eyes as he waggled his eyebrows.

“I know when I’ve lost a battle.” But I couldn’t help the smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.

He gently poked it with his finger. “I knew I could soften you.”

My cheeks warmed and I hastily looked away. Only when my back was facing him did I allow my smile to fully emerge. Unfortunately it wasn’t lost on Stardust; it faltered at her glare. She was right to be annoyed; Darius shouldn’t be making me smile, not when I was supposed to be angry with him. But my grudge was slipping away against my will, as fleeting as the memory of a dream after its viewing.

I halfheartedly tried to recapture it as we continued our trek to the flying colors show, only to find it rather difficult when I was also fighting the happiness of just being in Darius’s presence. I distracted myself with the several treat stands we passed, laden with nebula cream, meteor suckers, and even one run by a Nightmare offering chocolate-covered bat wings, which Darius looked briefly tempted by.

“Hold on a moment.” Darius tugged me to a stop, causing my stomach to flip. Startled, I actually waited while he went to buy a treat, ignoring Stardust’s frantic urges to seize the opportunity to lose him.

He returned from a nearby sweets booth with two bags of asteroid gumdrops. “I got us something for the show.”

My scowl deepened and I flinched away when he offered me a bag, although it took all my willpower to resist the syrupy scent rising with the steam. “I’m not watching the show with you.”

“I know you want to.” He shoved the warm bag in my arms, and although I took it—and grudgingly ate a few after several minutes of his pestering me to do so—I refused to warrant they were any good when he asked, despite the fruity sweetness dancing across my tongue. He merely shrugged indifferently, but I didn’t miss his slightly deflated expression.

When Darius became temporarily distracted at a booth selling moon rocks, Bolt quickly popped up from his hair and grabbed a handful of gumdrops before ducking out of sight again. I smiled in spite of myself, and this time I didn’t try to hide it when Darius glanced over and met my gaze. His responding grin was worth the hit to my pride.

The meadow where the show was to be held had been roped off with garlands of blossoms, a large archway its only entrance. Despite our arriving early, the sloping fields burst with crowds of Dreamers and Nightmares loitering on picnic blankets, floating cushions, or their clouds, their excited chatter and murmurs of laughter filling the settling night.

Darius crumpled his empty gumdrop bag and tossed it at Stardust’s scowl. “There’s a spot over there.” He took my elbow and started guiding me towards the only empty area on the silver lawn, but I shook him off.

“For the last time, I’mnotwatching the show with you.” But I reluctantly followed him around a group of Cultivators contentedly nibbling blossoms from the popcorn plant previously showcased in the cultivating display and a group of Nightmares who cast us suspicious glances.

Darius seemed unbothered by their obvious disapproval as he plopped down onto the grass with a contented sigh. When I didn’t join him, he patted the spot beside him with an imploring grin. “Are you so stubborn you’d really stand at your first flying colors show, Nemesis?”

Despite my anger at his betrayal, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed at Darius reverting back to my nickname, which he hadn’t used often since our outings together. I tried to convince myself this distance was for the best and tucked my anger more tightly around me like a shield as I scanned the meadow for any other available spot.

“There’s one over there.” Stardust morphed into an arrow and pointed towards an empty section of grass midst the thick crowd, but even as she spoke someone claimed it. She shrugged. “Well, there’s always next year’s show. Let’s go.”

I scanned the fields again, but everywhere else was taken. I nibbled my lip, deliberating. Which was worse, sitting with Darius or missing the show? Or perhaps the more accurate question was: which side of the battle raging within me would win, my anger or my desire to be with Darius, even after everything?

“Come on,” Darius coaxed, his eyes strangely smoldering.

“Fine.” I ignored his goofy grin as I plopped beside him as far away as possible, but in the limited space our knees still touched.

“Well, that worked out better than I expected,” he said cheerfully. “Next task: get you to talk before the show ends.”