Page 100 of Dreamer (The Dream World Chronicles)

“Of course it couldn’t,” Ember said.

“Can you prove it wasn’t?” Darius asked calmly. “Do you have evidence stronger than a direct confession? There’s no definite proof I’m lying or that Eden is guilty. Eden even has an alibi; as I implied earlier, I was with her the entire flying colors show until I left to use the potion.”

“You foolish boy,” Ember hissed. “Are you determined to lose your place on the Council for a mere Dreamer? There’s no possible way you would have done it.”

Darius looked squarely into his mother’s eyes. “You’re right, I didn’t, but I’ve just presented the likely possibility that Eden was framed.”

Ember gaped at him.

“Well, this is an unexpected turn of events,” Galaxy said. “Although we have what appears to be conclusive evidence against Eden, Nightmare Darius’s alternate explanation has shed new light on this unusual case. He gave a plausible defense for how this evidence can be interpreted as a setup. I conclude this investigation requires further study. Before I end tonight’s proceedings, I want to leave you with a warning, Dreamer Eden.” His eyes narrowed. “Consider yourself on probation. If I discover you have any involvement in this or any other of the recent Nightmare plots, or if you fail to improve your weaving performance, we’ll be forced to suspend you. Understood?”

Mouth dry, I nodded, while inside I screamed. Only one more chance? How could I use it to prove to myself and the Council that this was where I truly belonged?

Chapter 29

Iwaited restlessly for the arrival of Darius, frequently looking out the window for any sign of him against the dark horizon despite him never having arrived by flight before. I nibbled my lip worriedly. “Darius has never been late.” I kept my voice lowered to a whisper so as not to awaken Maci, who’d been sleeping roughly these past few nights.

“It’s rather suspicious that he’s late for the Weaving immediately following your meeting with the Council,” Stardust said wryly.

Surely it was only coincidence, though I couldn’t deny the timing looked bad. My mind still whirled from the events that had transpired this evening—the Council’s accusations, their ultimatum granting me one final chance, and especially Darius’s defense. The gesture had finished the work that had begun during the flying colors show and dispelled the remainder of my anger, opening my heart back up to him, leaving me once more anxious for his presence, and not just for the Weaving.

I searched the velvety night, dark save for a few pinpricks of stars. Stardust took advantage of my silence to expound on her latest suspicions.

“Spiderweb’s case outlining how you could possibly have been framed was a bit too neat and tidy, as if hewasthe one to do it. His late arrival only deepens my suspicions that he’s using the time to plantmoreevidence against you. But you might as well take advantage of his absence and start weaving so you can pull off a win, one you need now more than ever.”

She needn’t have reminded me how much was currently at stake in my standing with the Council. I tore my gaze away from the sky to give her a skeptical look. “An illegal Weaving?”

She drooped. “Comets, I forgot about that unfortunate detail. That would be foolish to do when you’re on probation.”

It would, though I knew I wouldn’t have been able to be so unfair to Darius even if I’d had the opportunity, not after everything he’d done…and everything he continued to do. Guilt twinged my heart for my treatment of him at the flying colors show, memories that haunted me as we waited for him.

After nearly fifteen minutes of waiting, Darius appeared in his usual lightning fashion, out of breath. “You’re late,” I stated, voice weak with disbelief.

“I was looking into something.”

By the knowing look in Stardust’s eyes, she suspected it had been aboutmeand the accusations the Council had laid at my feet, confirming the suspicions she seemed determined to have against him.

He yanked fistfuls of flowers and thread from his bag. “I wanted to follow up on the investigations given by the Council and see if I could uncover the real culprit behind the event at the Flying Colors…no, it wasn’t me.” For Stardust had just opened her mouth, undoubtedly to accuse him of that very thing.

She snapped her mouth shut with an indignant huff. “True criminals are too sneaky to actually confess. As far as I’m concerned, you’re guilty until proven innocent.”

He ignored her…but not me. He paused in removing his weaving supplies to study my taut expression. His own frantic one gentled. “Are you alright, Eden?”

I swallowed the lump of emotion in my throat and forced a nod, but he wasn’t fooled. He strode over and, after a moment’s hesitation, he rested his hands gently on my shoulders. “I know you’re likely worried after the Council, but please don’t be afraid. Everything will be alright.”

I lost my precarious hold on my emotions and my chin quivered. “How? All that evidence, the Council’s suspicions, their ultimatum…”

Darius rubbed his hands up and down my arms, his touch soothing. He’d never been so openly affectionate towards mewhenaround Stardust, but I was grateful he didn’t feel the need to play the part of indifference now. It only deepened the shame of my behavior towards him earlier this evening, how easily I’d become angry and accused him.

“Darius, I—” I began.

“It’s alright,” he said again, cutting my apology off before I could even begin it.

But it wasn’t, not my earlier behavior and certainly not the situation I found myself in now. But more than that, I feltIwasn’t alright, that there was something inside me I didn’t understand, something dark and frightening, which seemed to grow with my fears and worries.

“How can it be?” I whispered. “What with the accusations against me and…everything else…” My accidental creation of the nightmare flower burned in my memory, and I couldn’t finish.

My gaze darted towards Stardust, who watched us through narrowed, suspicious eyes. I’d managed to keep the flower I’d inadvertently created a secret from her, and I wanted to keep it that way, especially with how accusatory she was prone to being when there was a mystery to solve.

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