Wait, did he say pirates? I look down at my plate.Pirates. My head begins to throb, and I rub my temples. There’s something about pirates I need to tell him. But what? I don’t know anything about them. Just that they’re vicious and cruel.
“What is it?” Peter reaches out and takes my hand. “Something wrong?”
I blink hard a few times. “No. I guess I’m just too full to think straight. Don’t worry about it.”
He squeezes my hand and lets go. “I want you full and happy.”
“Done and done.”
“I can’t wait for your story tonight.” He rises from his spot at the table. “Can you tell one of your own? Those are my favorite.”
“Sure.” I’m beyond flattered that he likes my stories, but I try not to preen too much about it.
“Great. Come on, Nibs. Show me the fortifications.” Peter claps him on the shoulder.
Nibs takes a final huge bite of his pancakes and follows Peter out of the kitchen.
I look around the table. “Where are Coy and Foy?”
Slightly pauses what he’s doing at the stove, and Curly rises abruptly.
“I’m going to the lagoon.” Curly hurries from the kitchen, leaving only Slightly and me.
“Weird.” I finish my juice and take my dishes to the sink. “What’s gotten into Curly?”
“Nothing.” Slightly keeps his back to me as he flips his pancake. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
“I’ll wash these.” I grab the dish cloth, but Slightly turns and puts his hand on mine. “You already do plenty, Moira. It’s all right.” His tone is soft, almost sad.
“Are you okay?”
He meets my eyes, and I realize he has dark half-moons beneath his.
“Oh, Slightly. You look sick. Are you getting enough rest? I can tell Peter to go easy on—”
“No.” He takes my hands in his. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, Moira. I don’t deserve it.” He squeezes my hands. “Go on now. I’ll handle the dishes.”
“What do you mean? Of course you deserve it.” I smile up at him.
His eyes water, and he clears his throat. “Just go, Moira. Please. I’ll clean up. I just need a little space is all.”
I don’t understand, and I want to dig deeper, but I’m not going to ignore his request for space. “Okay. I’m around if you change your mind.”
He nods. “Thanks.”
I walk out of the kitchen and toward the room with the waterfall. It feels like I haven’t been here in ages, but of course I have. I’ve been here for … Well, now that I come to think about it, I don’t remember how long I’ve been with Peter. Long enough to know this is where I belong, I suppose.
I keep going, passing through the room with all the tree trunks and farther until I double back. When I get to our bedroom, I lean against the doorframe.
Where is Coy? I was hoping I could talk him into taking me back to the town today. And if that doesn’t work, I suppose I could try to trick Tootles again.
Tootles.
Why does that thought fill me with icy cold dread? Tootles is harmless. I rub my temples again, the ache beginning anew. I try to think back to when I woke up. Was Tootles in his usual bunk? But I can’t remember waking up at all. The last thing I remember is—I get a flash of something dark, some sort of a … A shadow or a—
“There you are.” Peter embraces me from behind, his arms going around my waist.
“Hey.” I can’t help but smile. “Did you and Nibs get everything straightened out?”
