He looks away.
I reach out and take his hand. “Wraith, if I make it to the Spinner, I’ll ask her to release Ari from the curse.” A little sizzle plays along my palm where our hands are joined, but it seems to go cold at the end.
He shakes his head. “I don’t want that. It won’t work. Ithasto be you.”
“Then I promise itwillbe me, if it’s in my power.” The sizzle burns a little this time, and I draw back. “Ow.”
“Promises have consequences, Moira. Broken ones—the worst.” He inspects his own palm.
“I won’t let you down. At least, I’ll try not to.”
He glowers a little, then rises.
“Hey,” I call before he melts into the shadows again.
“Yes?”
“Thanks for the story.”
He gives me a nod and fades away.
ChapterSix
Leaning on the doorframe of the round building, I stare out into the dark. The trees in the village are ringed with platforms, and long ropes hang here and there. I hadn’t even noticed the homes in the trees the first time I came here. Now, though, I’m much more familiar with the Guardians. There are more here than I’d imagined. A whole civilization of people sworn to protect Neverland. The island’s mysteries don’t seem to bother them. They bother me plenty.
“How’s the coffee?” Tiger Lily walks toward me from one of the smaller huts, which I now know is the kitchen.
“Perfect. Thanks.” In truth, it doesn’t taste quite like coffee, but I’ve forgotten what the sludge in the caf was like. Whatever the Guardians serve me is probably better.
“You’ve been up and around quite a bit.” She looks me up and down.
“I’m ready.”
She crosses her arms. For the past two nights, I’ve made a big show of walking around the camp—being careful not to limp—and talking to people. I need to get to the Fairy Village, but if that’s going to happen, I have to show Tiger Lily I’m not going to keel over on the trip there.
“You aren’t ready, Moira.”
“I am.” I hold my arms out and spin for her. “See? Like a ballerina with all this balance and poise.”
She reaches out with two fingers and pushes at my shoulder.
I sway backwards and grab onto the doorframe.
“Not ready.” She sighs.
“I still have to go, Tiger Lily.” I regain my balance, my feet already aching from the pressure on my wounds. “The longer I stay here, the more danger I put all of you in.”
“We aren’t scared of Peter or the Lost Boys, not now that we know the truth.” She swipes the dark cascade of her hair over one shoulder. “If anything, we’re angry. Peter has been lying to us for so long. The elders and I are in agreement—Peter is an enemy to us and to the island.”
“Look, I know you’re brave.” I lean a little harder on the wood. “You’re brave in a way I only w—hopeI could be.”
She nods at my hasty avoidance of the w-word. “You’re brave, Moira.”
“I’m not. When Hook first took me and jumped into the sea with me in his arms—nuts, I know. He told me then to be brave. I’m anything but. I’m scared of Peter. Hell, I’m scared of Hook.”
She dips her chin a little, her gaze more direct.
“Okay, notscaredof Hook, not like that, not like I am of Peter. But he’s still an unknown quantity to me. What if he hurt my mother? I can’t forgive that.”
