“Wait.” She takes my elbow, gently though. “Sorry. Look, I’m sorry.”
I meet her eyes again.
“We didn’t know what you knew and what you didn’t know. Of course, when Tiger Lily talked to you a bit more, we realized you were completely in the dark. And it’s not like we know anything for certain. Still don’t. We would’ve told you our suspicions, but Peter had already found you. There’s nothing we could’ve done without risking a fight.”
I try to think of it from her point of view. After all, Iwasa stranger to them, and it’s been made perfectly clear to me from Peter and Hook that Tiger Lily will do anything to protect her people.
“If I could go back, I would’ve warned you. All right?”
I try to read sincerity in her eyes. Staying mad would be easy, but Shiner seems earnest. I’m not going to trust easily. Not anymore. But I finally relent. “I understand.”
She seems to relax a little and lets go of my elbow, then looks around the room. “This is a nice place, if you’re into that sort of thing. You’re staying here, then? For good?”
“No.”
“So you’re going back to Peter?”
“No.”
She finishes her wine. “All right, then what are you planning to do?”
I plan on stealing fairy dust from a Lost Boy and flying back to the mainland on my own. But I don’t say that. Instead, I opt for, “I guess I’m going to see what fate has in store.”
Nessie lets out a little giggle from the kitchen.
I turn the questions on Shiner. “Last I heard, you weren’t a fan of pirates, much less Hook. Why did you all agree to come here?”
She shrugs. “I didn’t want to come. We all advised against it, but Tiger Lily had different ideas. Hook offered safe passage and said he wanted to discuss a solution to the magic problem.” She pats the blade at her waist. “But we’ll see how it goes.”
“You think he’ll try to hurt you?”
She gives me a skeptical look. “Hurt? No. Kill? Probably.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve been here for days and no one has said anything about attacking you. In fact, all the pirates are supposed to be on their best behavior.”
Her skepticism only increases. “You think Hook would share his plans with you, Moira? When you’ve been cozied up to Peter?”
That hit lands. I hate to think that I’ve been duped yet again, but given my track record, it’s entirely possible. I assumed from everything I’d heard that this meeting was supposed to be peaceful. Would Hook be feeding me that lie to turn it all to bloodshed when he feels he has the upper hand?
“Just keep an eye out, that’s all.” She grabs a bottle of wine from the buffet and puts her glass down. “Come on. Tiger Lily will want to see you.”
I let her lead me to the porch where Widow is leaning against the railing seductively and listening intently to every word Tiger Lily is saying. Hook is out in the back yard talking to Cobweb, the two of them looking a bit standoffish with stiff posture, but still conversing amicably enough.
“There you are.” Bunk, who’s the only person I’ve seen to even come close to Bill’s size, gives me a nod.
Wraith barely acknowledges my existence with a slight jerk of his chin, but at least he remembers me.
“—and that’s how I knew we could travel through the Fading Forest without worrying about the imps.”
Widow laughs and reaches out to touch Tiger Lily’s arm. “Well aren’t you a clever one?”
Tiger Lily smiles, but I can’t tell if she’s taking the bait. Bunk certainly is, because he’s staring right at Widow, seemingly forgetting all about me.
“Moira?” Tiger Lily turns to me. “Can I have a word?”
“Sure.”
She pulls Bunk over to Widow. “This is Bunk. He’s very familiar with this island. If you have questions, he’ll be happy to tell you anything you want to know.”
