“It’s fine. We’re pirates. We’ve heard it all. Come on. I still haven’t seen Tiger Lily.” She steps back and does a flourish with her arms. “What do you think?”
I finally pull myself out of my embarrassment and look at her. “Wow. You look like a goddess. Afertilitygoddess.”
Her emerald dress looks like velvet. It’s a wrap that hugs every bit of her curves and cuts so low between her breasts that I swear I almost see nipple. It’s long like mine, but her slit follows where the wrap opens all the way up to her hip where it’s tied together with a strip of fabric that is likely saying its prayers at the moment.
She primps her dark hair. “Yeah? You think I might get some alone time with Tiger Lily?”
“You might get some alone time with me if I were more experienced and in touch with my sexuality.” I nod appreciatively.
Her smile is genuine, and when she spins to give me a view of the back, her wings flutter happily.
“Gorgeous.” I would wish for even half of her curves, but of course there’s no wishing on Neverland.
“Thanks.” She takes my arm again. “It’s nice being the two hottest bits of ass on the entire island.”
“I guess that’s one way to put it.” I hold her a little tighter as we move down the stairs.
Voices waft up to us from below, and then I hear the violin kicking up in the back garden. Nessie is in the dining room, checking over the long table and making sure everything’s in place for dinner. I thought we’d be eating outside like we do for most meals, but I suppose it makes sense to have something a bit more formal for guests.
Widow gasps. “That’s her.”
I look toward the direction she’s turned. “Yes. Told you.”
Tiger Lily is wearing a light blue dress that reminds me of a sarong with the way it’s wrapped around her and leaves her midriff bare. Her Guardians are with her, all of them standing on the back porch and keeping close to each other. The only one I don’t see is Shiner.
“They don’t seem too friendly,” Widow says. “But we are enemies, more or less, so that makes sense.”
“I’m surprised they’d come to meet with Hook.”
“Allegiances change all the time. Same thing happened back when I was on the mainland.”
She has a point. It’s not as if opinions and beliefs can’t change. No one knows that better than I do.
“Moira?” Shiner sidles up to me, a wine glass already in her hand.
“Hey! I was looking for you.”
“You two know each other?” Widow asks.
“Yeah, she kidnapped me one time.”
Shiner nods and takes a big swig of her wine. “Good to see you again. We’d gotten word Hook had you, so we assumed the worst.” She mimes being hung in a disturbingly accurate way. “But here you are, safe and sound.” She squints a little as she surveys my face. “No worse off than when I found you.”
“So, you knew Peter was making me sick?” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I’m just going to go see if Tiger Lily wants a drink.” Widow backs away. “I’ll be back.”
Shiner comes around to stand in front of me. “I wasn’t sure.”
“You weren’t sure that I was starting to look like the crypt keeper?”
She cocks her head to the side, one of her braids falling in her face. She swipes it away. “The what?”
“Never mind.” I try to swallow my irritation, but a bit of it still leaks out. “You could’ve just told me he was using me. I needed help. I still do.”
“Sounded like you were getting plenty of help a little while ago.” She glances at the staircase.
“Ugh.” I turn and walk toward the dining room.
