“When you say ‘interrogating’ and ‘terrorizing’ do you mean …torture?”
He snorts. “Let’s just say I won’t be welcome back into the imp encampment for quite a while.”
“Don’t forget Anne.” Skylights gives me a grim look.
“Anne? The pirate queen?” I ask.
“That’s the one. Calico Jack was her husband,” Skylights says between rows. “She hated him of course.”
“Despised him,” adds Hook.
“But she’s looking for revenge now that he’s dead.” Skylights exhales and sucks in a breath before pulling the oars even faster.
“She’s chasing you?” I glance out over the dark water but see only the Jolly Roger.
“We shook her when she got tangled up with a sea dragon, but she’ll be after us again soon enough.” Hook shrugs.
“Is there anyone around here thatdoesn’twant us dead?” I lean against him, safe in his arms.
“No more than I can count on one hand, lass.”
Now I’m the one snorting a laugh. We’re escaping one danger and running—or rowing—right into another.
If there’s one constant about Neverland, it’s that something or someone is always out for blood. At least I know who my enemies are this time around. I look up at Hook, his eyes bright even in the cool moonlight. Whatever else he may be, this man is mine. Maybe I made a wish too a long time ago. Maybe I wished for him just as much as he wished for me. It’s a comforting thought that brings me back around to a not-so-comforting one.
What did Peter wish for, and why did the island lead him to me?
ChapterEight
“If you could give me some room, that would be wonderful.” Skylights shoots Hook a tart look.
“Get on with it.” Hook hovers by my side as Skylights holds the lantern up to my face.
I can’t help it—I slap the sides of my palms together in front of my nose and hide. “Don’t look. I know it’s bad.”
“No, lass.” Hook sits beside me. “You’re beautiful.”
“I’m wretched.” I groan. “I feel like a piece of taffy that’s been pulled too far, and I look like …” I don’t think they’ll get my ‘Crypt Keeper’ reference, so I let it go.
Skylights presses his listening apparatus to my heart.
“It’s all right.” Hook takes my hand in his. “Once we find the Spinner, this will all be handled.”
“But what if we can’t find her? My mother never could.” I still can’t believe she’d been here, living a million lives, but all the while chained to the mainland in her physical body.
Though I’ve feared turning out like her, I realize that isn’t the case. I’ve never once lapsed back to the mainland, never found myself staring at a cinderblock wall, never felt the pull to some other place and time. I’mhere. Body and soul, I’m right here. I share my mother’s ailment to a degree, but I don’t suffer as she did. I’m not torn in two, only reuniting with the other half of myself for stolen moments here and there. I’m fully involved, every bit of me attuned to Neverland.
“Heart is still all right. Not as strong as it should be, but it’s still kicking.” Skylights puts the metal horn on the desk and drops to one knee to inspect the mermaid bite. “This looks really good.” He presses his fingers along it. “Healed well, even if it took a while.” Looking up, he peers into my eyes, one after the other. “Good. May I?” He takes my free hand and inspects the healing wounds along my palm. “How’d you get these?”
“I had to climb out of the cave. Some of the rocks were sharp, and there were roots, too. They cut me. My feet too—they took a beating.”
“Let me see.” He inspects one foot, then the other. “I can still see some remnants of the Guardian’s salve on these. They aren’t too bad.”
“They don’t hurt like they used to.” I sigh as Hook pulls me to his side. I rest my head on his shoulder.
“You’ve been through a lot.” Skylights stands up, his gaze lingering on my face.
I don’t hide this time. What’s the point? He already knows what Peter’s done to me. I suppose I’m glad there isn’t a mirror in here, at least not one I’ve found.
