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“Like that would do you any good,” he said. “Besides, even if I wanted to, I don’t think I’m capable of losing on purpose.”
“Wouldn’t want your ego to suffer.”
Outside the sky grew lighter as night melted into daybreak, but Stardust was still nowhere to be seen. Where was she? Even she must know I couldn’t possibly take this long. Could whatever she was investigating possibly have to do with the tipping balance? Unease seeped over me at the thought.
I glanced sideways at Darius. As the Head Nightmare’s son, did he perhaps know something about the recent Nightmare events that could put my growing fears to rest?
He felt my staring. The corner of his mouth lifted as he met my gaze. “What is it? Do you find me as fascinating as I find you? Or perhaps it’s my good looks that have you so entranced.”
Heat swallowed my cheeks. “No, I—I was just wondering—” I couldn’t finish. His teasing immediately faded, replaced with a rather earnest, almost sweet look.
“What is it, Nemesis?”
I hesitated a moment, unsure how wise it’d be to get the information I sought from a man who was supposed to be my enemy, before my curiosity compelled me to speak. “Do you know anything about the tipping balance?”
He immediately sobered. “Ah.” He readjusted his position to pull his leg up towards his chest. “I don’t know as much as I’d like; the entire Council is trying to keep it hushed so as not to start a panic, and despite my relationship with the Head Nightmare, I’m no exception. But I do know that it’s tipping more than it has in over seven centuries, and not in the Dream Realm’s favor. The dream dust thefts are only one example, a rather large one considering such an event is unprecedented.”
His words did little to combat my unease. I startled when he gave me a gentle, almost friendly nudge with his shoulder.
“Don’t worry. Though the balance has occasionally become unstable, it has never fully tipped. All will be well with your new home.”
My tense shoulders relaxed and I released the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I offered him a small smile, which he returned. He was being so…sweet, not at all what I’d expected from not only a Nightmare, but my direct competitor.
But I’d no sooner thought this than his expression returned to his usual suspicion. “And now I have a question for you.”
My smile faded as my apprehension returned. “What is it?”
He grew serious. “Why do you often zone out during Weavings?”
I snorted. “Like I’d explain my quirks to you.”
“I figured it wouldn’t be that easy.” Darius fiddled with his bag strap. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve spent hours researching a reason, but I can’t find any plausible explanation. There’s much more to you than I initially suspected.”
“Which is why you don’t trust me.”
He neither confirmed nor denied that statement. “It’s rather unsettling; you look as if you’re staring at something only you can see. You don’t even react when I call your name; it’s as if you’re not even there.”
“You call my name?”
He glanced sideways at me. “You don’t hear me?”
He was certainly fishing, but I refused to humor him. “Why are you so determined to supposedly help me?” I asked.
He hesitated. “Because I want to. I know that weaving partnerships don’t normally develop into friendships, but…I’m hoping ours will be different.” Despite his words he still seemed uncertain, as if unsure that was what he really wanted.
Surely he wasn’t in earnest, yet the look in his eyes was friendly. Once more I marveled at his change in behavior now that we were alone, as well as—despite the tension of our partnership and how much I pretended otherwise—the fact that I secretly enjoyed being around him.
But surely I shouldn’t feel that way; if I really wanted to be a proper Dreamer, I needed to dislike Darius on principle, not only because he was a Nightmare, but because it was expected not to get along with one’s weaving partner. But I couldn’t help what I felt, feelings I was beginning to fear were becoming dangerous.
Luckily, I was spared working out this puzzle when Stardust finally arrived. She skidded to a stop when she spotted us sitting together.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her shifty gaze narrowed at the space between us, as if measuring it. Too late I shifted over a few inches to create more distance. “What’s Spiderweb still doing here, and why are yousittingwith him?”
Darius stood and stretched “No need to sound accusatory. I was merely entertaining your bored owner you abandoned.”
Stardust gasped. “I didnotabandon—” But before she could finish, he held up his hand, silencing her.
“I’m afraid I don’t have time to hear your excuses; I need to look into something.”
