“You know where you must go.” The Spinner rises from the ground, floating on her ethereal wind. “The island will balance the scales one way or another. If it doesn’t, we will all perish.”
“I know the way.” Hook stands beside me, his arm going around my waist. “I will take her to the heart of the island.”
The Spinner’s gaze flicks to him. “Are you satisfied?” she asks with surprising venom.
Hook grips me tighter. “I know what I’ve done, Spinner. All the evil, the mistakes, the bargain I made. But I’d do it all over again for Moira.”
She floats backwards, clearly displeased with his answer. “You gained your soul, but you never lost your savagery.”
“From your lips to god’s ear.” He smirks.
I elbow him. “Not the time,” I whisper.
“Take him and go. The island grows wilder now. I fear we have only a few more full moons left before the shadows take over for good and beasts rule with bloody maws. There will be none left on the island but nightmares.” The Spinner’s face softens a bit as she floats closer to me. “You are always welcome here among your people, Moira. Your line is a blessing.” Then she sours again. “James Hook, however, is hereby banished from this village. To set foot here again will bring pain of death.” She turns and moves into the woods, her glow fading slowly.
“We’re leaving. Now.” I tug on his arm. “Let’s go.”
He looks to argue, but I give him a glare. “Don’t.”
“You’re beautiful when you want to harm me, lass.” He yanks me into his arms and kisses me hard on the mouth, his hands going to my ass and squeezing.
We don’t have time for this, but that doesn’t stop me from wrapping my arms around his neck and deepening the kiss. It’s like I’m feeling him for the first time, the heat of him and all the hard muscles along his body. Not to mention the hardness in his pants.Holy shit.
When he finally pulls back to breathe, he takes my arm and walks me toward the sea. “You owe me, lass. You owe me quite a bit.”
“Excuse me?”
“When you wouldn’t let me kill Anne. Recall that?”
“Oh.” I recall him saying he was going to eat me alive and ‘leave nothing for seconds’. My face goes hot at the memory of his filthy words.
“As soon as I get you to my cabin—” He glances around. “Maybe before—”
“No! We have to get out of here. You aren’t safe.”
“You aren’t either, lass. Not once we’re alone.” He licks his lips, and I stumble. Taking my arm he leads me into the surf, then helps me into the rowboat.
His sailors are already using the other one, taking turns sending the crew back to the Jolly Roger.
“Wait, is everyone all right?” I peer into the darkness for familiar faces.
“We lost nary a one.” Hook grabs the oars and starts pulling hard, shooting us away from the shore.
Something tickles at my back, then flutters past my face. I scream and swat at it, which sends a ray of pain shooting down my back.
“What is—I havewings?” I get a crick in my neck as I try to turn and look at them.
“Pretty ones.” He nods, still rowing at an inhuman pace. “I intend to kiss them all over when we get to the tender part, lass. But this is not tender.” His eyes eat me up even though I’m doing everything I can to get a look at the wings on my back. “What I feel for you right now is anything but.”
I’m awash in new sensations—the wings at my back, the desire beating through me like a pulse, the slight edge of fear at how hungrily Hook is looking at me.
“Focus on the wings.” I reach behind me and touch one. It’s soft and thin, like a gossamer curtain stretched taut.
“I’m focused onyou. Every bit of you.Mine.”
That’s when it hits me. I drop my hand, my heart falling into a pit. I’m not his. I never was. He wished for love, but that love isn’t me. I’mPeter’sboon.
“What’s that look for?” He’s still rowing hard, his intentions clear as he speeds us back to the ship.
