“It’s all right.” It isn’t, but she’s not lying. We lost someone that can never be replaced, and what he wanted more than anything was to set the island to rights and end the scourge of Peter Pan. I’m here to do just that. Once it’s over, then I’ll mourn, then I’ll let myself fall to pieces. Until then, I have to be strong for Hook. He was always so strong for me.
“You’re not going alone.” Widow comes to my side. “I’m part fae. I can go in and—”
“That doesn’t matter.” Shiner stomps over. “Don’t you think I want to go in, too?” she snaps. “Wecan’t. Moira is here to restore the balance. She’s theonlyone who can. If anyone else enters the heart of the island, it threatens the balance we’ve been working toward. She’s Peter’s boon. A Spinner. She’s part of the island, and only she has the island’s blessing to enter.”
“You mean Tiger Lily’s blessing,” Widow shoots back.
“Are you saying Tiger Lily doesn’t know the island’s heart?” Shiner’s hand strays to the hilt of her sword.
“I’m saying maybe you’re trying to lead Moira into some sort of trap.” Widow’s fingers flirt with her cutlass.
“What?” Shiner cries.
“Exactly how many pirates have you killed, Shiner? Don’t be shy. You’ve always hated our kind. And now you want to let Moira walk right into—”
“Guys.” I force my way between them. “Well,ladies, I guess. Ladies, stop this. I don’t think either of you want to hurt each other or me.” I reach out and ease Shiner’s hand away from her sword hilt. “Don’t go ‘Mercutio’ me, all right?”
She blinks. “Don’t what you?”
“Shakespeare. Nevermind.” I wave a hand. “Look, I know the two of you want to protect meandthe island.” Turning to Widow, I scoot her fingers away from her blade. “But I think Shiner is right. If all this started from when—” I swallow hard and say his name. “—Hook went into the island’s heart without Tiger Lily’s blessing, then maybe we should try to go about this the right way this time around. If I’m the only one with the VIP pass, then I’ll go. I can handle myself. I’m magical, remember? And I can fight.”
“I’m not sure how true either of those are.” Widow raises a brow. “You broke Ari’s curse, but you don’t know how. And your fighting is questionable at best.”
“Fair points.” I turn back to Shiner. “What’s in the cave other than the roots of the Nevertree?”
Shiner shakes her head. “I don’t know.”
“Seems like something you should know, being a Guardian and all.” Starkey weighs in, and I realize the entire crew is standing around us, watching the argument.
“The cave is sacred,” Shiner retorts. “The Guardians don’t go tramping through it whenever we feel like it. So, no, I don’t know. I’ve … I’ve never been inside.”
“Shit.” Starkey sighs. “So we have no idea what you might face.”
“Does it matter?” I throw my hands up. “I have to go. It’s either that or let the island tear itself apart unless Peter tears it apart first.”
Some of the pirates shift uneasily, their gazes darting around the crystal jungle that towers around us. I’m certain they’ve always feared Peter, but now that Hook is gone, that fear is probably next level. He’d protected them for so long, and now … Now we’re all on our own. Peter could drain them the same as he’s been doing to the rest of those on the island.
“Stay here. I’m going in. If I don’t come out, then that’s what the island decided, I guess. I don’t know. But there’s no way around it. I’m going to see this through. I have to.”
Widow grimaces. “I just don’t want you to go alone.”
“I don’t want to go without you either.” I pull her in and hug her. “Promise me you’ll take care of them, especially Cookson,” I whisper to her. “He’s always been so kind to me.”
She sighs and hugs me back. “He can cook almost as well as I can, so I suppose I’ll look out for him.”
I snort a laugh then pull back. “You’ve been a good friend and particularly mean sparring partner.”
“No.” She crosses her arms over her chest again. “No goodbyes. I’ll be seeing you when you prance your ass out of that cave.”
“Yes.” I nod, though I know in my heart my chances aren’t great.
“Take this.” Bill steps up and shows me a small blade. “It’ll come in handy if you get in a tight spot.” He hands it to me.
“Thank you.” I stow it in the back of my belt, then lose my breath when he pulls me in for a crushing hug.
“Be careful.” He finally lets me go, and I wonder if he hasn’t cracked one of my ribs.
“Packed this for you in case you need ter take a few bites in there.” Cookson limps forward and hands me a sandwich wrapped in a napkin. “Don’t want ter be hungry when you meet the big boss.” His one eye peers up at the Nevertree then comes back to me. “I’ll have you something hot and tasty when you come out.”
