“She wants him dead as much as I do, but she’s under his control, too. That’s how he operates—control.”
“Surely, she’s lying.” Tiger Lily runs a hand down her face. “The fae—they’re sacred. The closest thing the island has to physical embodiments of its magic and its will. To kill them, todrainthem… If he’s done that, Peter is cursed. The island will not forgive him.”
“Is that so?” I’m growing tired, my voice hoarse. “Then why does the island let him run wild? Why does the island do nothing as he kills his way through the fae, the Lost Boys—”
“My people,” she says quietly. “We started finding them drained and some simply murdered. It was soon after Hook went into the island’s sacred heart. We thought it was him for the longest time. It made sense. His deal with the island set so much darkness into motion.” She stands and paces beside me. “If I could go back, I would’ve cut him down right then and there. It would’ve stopped all of this from happening.”
“Is that true, though? I don’t think so. All these things were already in motion.” I let my eyes fall closed and listen to the quiet sound of her feet moving back and forth. “Peter’s evil didn’t just spring up overnight.”
She turns sharply, still pacing. “That’s true. He’s always had … tendencies. A prideful streak. Some cruelty. But Peter had a code, one he lived by above all others—fairness. He believed in fairness, as if it was his personal touchstone. So much so that he’d change sides mid-skirmish if he found the Lost Boys far outnumbered their foes.” Another sigh. “But that was long ago, long before Wendy Darling came. His code vanished, right along with our friendship.”
“Do you think Wendy has something to do with all this?”
“Of course.” She sinks beside me again and wipes my forehead. “Your line is tied to the island. When she came, I feel as if she awoke something here. And it grew and grew, pulling in Peter, Hook, and anyone who came near. Hook succumbed first, visiting the heart of the island. The sun stopped rising, the creatures became more vicious than even our elders could remember. And then Peter followed, making things so much worse.”
“He wished for love.” I’m drifting now, my mind dark at the edges. “Hook. He wished for love, and he thinks the island gave me to him.”
Her hand stills. “Love?”
“Mmhmm. He told me.” I don’t mention what Hook and I didafterhe told me, though I suppose Tiger Lily can work that out on her own. She heard it that night at Hook’s Hideaway.
“Do you suppose Peter made the same request?” she asks.
“No.” I answer so quickly it startles me back into the pain of being awake. “Peter would never ask for anything like that. He’d only ask for something for himself, something he coulduse.”
“And the island gave you to him, too?” she prods.
“I don’t know.” I meet her eyes. “I don’t know what the truth is. I never have, apparently. Peter said …” I swallow hard. “Peter said Hook is the reason my mother faded away, the reason she succumbed to her illness.”
“I see.” She wipes my cheeks as if she can swipe my fever away with gentle strokes. “But you must remember, Peter is a liar.”
“So is Hook.”
“Fair.” She puts the cloth in the bowl of cool water. “But who does your heart believe?” Rising again, she stokes the fire then turns to me. “Rest. We’ll protect you. If Peter shows up, I’ve already instructed Bunk to get you as far away from here as possible.” Her eyes are sad, the weight of the island resting on her shoulders. I suddenly wonder what the rest of her story is. Has she had love and lost it? Something in her demeanor tells me yes, but she turns and walks away before I can even formulate a question. Tiger Lily remains a mystery. But I’m beginning to suspect she may also be turning into a friend.
* * *
“You’re looking better.”Shiner sits beside me and spoons me something with the consistency of oatmeal. “Not great, but better.”
“Thanks, I guess.” I take another spoonful. It has the slightest bit of heat, as if the cook knocked over the hot sauce bottle into the pot before setting it upright again. But it’s also sweet. I actually enjoy it, though I won’t tell Widow or Cookson. Which reminds me. “Where’s Hook now?”
She shrugs. “I took off as soon as Nessie raised the alarm that you were in danger.”
“How’d you get through the woods?”
“I’m a Guardian. There’s nowhere on the island I haven’t been. Even into the Silver Mountains.” She shivers. “But I hope I never see those razor-sharp peaks again. Not up close, anyway.”
I pause for a moment, looking for the courage to ask what I really want to know. Ishouldn’tcare if Hook is all right. I know that. He hurt my mother, maybe killed her. I don’t know if Peter was lying, but when I think back to some of the things my mother said when she came out of her catatonia, I begin to see the truth filtering through, like motes of dust in a ray of sunlight. She’d talk about someone, someone who asked questions aboutme. Could that have been Hook? My gut says it is. Hook’s voice haunts my mind, whispering from dark corners: “I’ve done every sort of villainy you can dream up. More. Any black speck your beautiful mind can create, it rests on my heart, marking it like a piece of coal. There is nothing you can accuse me of that would roll off and leave me blameless.” He told me exactly what he is. What he’s done. Even so, I can’t stop myself from wondering if he’s okay. Iwanthim to be all right. It’s sick and wrong, and I shouldn’t worry about that evil man. But I do. Even now, knowing what I know, I still do. I clear my throat. “That night that Peter took me, did you see Hook and Peter fighting?”
She feeds me another spoonful. “Peter was already flying away by the time I got to the clearing where the Lost Boy had been drained.”
“Geo. His name was Geo.” I didn’t particularly like him, but that doesn’t mean I wanted him to meet that horrible fate.
“Hook had gotten the best of Peter in the fight, so of course, like the coward he is, Peter took flight and headed north. I bypassed Hook and kept going, picking my way up through the forest and farther until I reached the Grove. It took me two moonrises to get to the cave. By then, Peter had you firmly in hand. The Lost Boys were on high alert, and there was no way to sneak into the cave unnoticed. I climbed into a section of the Nevertree where I had a good view of the Grove and settled in to wait for my shot to get to you. It took another two moonrises before I heard your voice. It must’ve been when you were climbing up the waterfall. By the time I tracked you to it, you were gone, and Peter was on your trail. The werewolves kept him at bay—and he kept enough of them occupied—so I could cut around and find you in the pool.”
“You never gave up on me.” I don’t want to tear up again, but I can’t help it.
“Don’t go all mushy.” She shoves my arm, but I notice how gentle she is. “I just didn’t want Peter to win. That prick wins far too much, if you ask me.”
