Adeline took another swig. They were all waiting for Kane. His resentment simmered just below the surface. He knew Adeline would be like this, insulting and petty, after he’d left her in her car the other night. He couldn’t let that distract him. Kane knew Dean was part of his lost past, and therefore crucial in unlocking the mystery of how to recover the loom. This might be the answer to all the questions, the thing that would bring the reveries to an end for good.

“The last time I had this book was when I was attacked by the Dreadmare on the Harrow Creek path. Remember that, Urs?”

She nodded.

“Well, today Dean Flores gave this exact book back to me.” Kane held it up high. “Ms. Daisy the Doberman isn’t the Dreadmare. Dean is.”

The reaction was slight but instant. Eyebrows raised, spines went rigid. Again all eyes fell to the book, then Kane.

“This is…” Adeline began.

“Silly,” Elliot said.

Kane’s jaw dropped.

Adeline continued. “You think because Dean gave you a book, he’s a gigantic nightmare horse-spider?”

“No, I just—” Nervous laughter bubbled out of Kane. He shoved it down. “I mean yes, it’s the book, but he also had a charm like the ones Poesy has, and also…”

Kane cut himself off, wondering again how easily Adeline could peer into his memories. He wanted to tell them everything, but in the past Kane had decided to keep whatever relationship he had with Dean a secret from the Others. He didn’t think the reason was shame, because there wasn’t shame in the way Dean had kissed Kane back. It was a kiss bitter with loss. It made Kane believe Dean was good. Or he wanted to be good. But something bound him to Poesy, and so whatever Dean and Kane had together had to be kept secret for Dean’s sake. He had so much more to lose.

At least that was Kane’s theory. He had to learn more, but he couldn’t give more to the Others than he already had, and so Kane said, “I just think that Dean is maybe on our side. And that we should talk to him.”

Adeline let out an incredulous laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding. If Dean is the Dreadmare, how could he be an ally? That thing literally tore through Helena’s reverie.”

“It saved us.”

“It executed Poesy’s orders. There’s a difference and you know it.”

Kane felt himself turning red. Of course Adeline called out this contradiction right away.

“Wait,” Ursula said. “I mean it’s possible, right? It’s not the strangest thing we’ve seen.”

Adeline shrugged and pulled out her phone. “I’ve got to get back.”

Ursula gave Kane an encouraging nod. “Kane, what do you think we should do?”