“They come up with their teeth trying to—”
“Captain!” I know Starkey’s voice.
I hear something else, too. Aschicknoise. Like the sound of Nessie’s scissors cutting the thread.
“Did you hear that?”
“What?” Hook turns. “Sky, I need you. Hurry!” His voice cracks, and when he turns back to me, the worry shows through.
I want to tell him it’s okay, that I’m at peace with this. I can’t. I can’t do anything. Something warms the side of my face, and for the first time I see even more depth in his blue eyes. It’s not just one ocean, but multitudes. Deep shades of blue that wrap around each other and sparkle with a beauty I’ve never seen before.
“What is that?” Bill says.
Sky kneels beside me and yanks a bunch of stuff from his bag.
“Is that …” I heard Widow’s voice.
“It’s the sun.” Hook leans over me, his hand stroking my hair as Sky attends to my wound. “My lass brought the sun back.”
I want to tell him we did it together. I want to tell him so much. But I can’t speak. It’s hard to keep my eyes open even when the sky is shining in shades of salmon and pink as the sun rises.
I thought I wasn’t meant to be his. I realize how foolish that was. Even if the island hadn’t told me I belonged to James Hook, I would know it in my heart. He’s the reason I’m here. He called to me across worlds, and I answered him. I had to. He was the part of me I didn’t realize was missing.
“I’m sorry I doubted it. I’m sorry.” He can’t hear me, but I tell him anyway. “I love you. Thank you for showing me how to be brave.”
“Sky, goddammit! Save her!” His eyes water as he stares down at me.
I don’t catch Sky’s response. I don’t even feel him doing anything. In fact, I don’t feel anything at all. My eyelids are heavy.
“Don’t, lass. Please don’t close your eyes.” Hook strokes my cheek. “Stay with me.”
His eyes look even bluer with tears swimming in them, like the birth of brand new oceans.
“I love you.” I repeat the words until they fall into the darkness with me, everything silent, everything at peace.
Epilogue I
HOOK
“Itold you to hew close to the cay.” I take the wheel from Smee and steer closer to Blackbeard’s island.
“Sorry, Captain. I was distracted.” He stares at the cay where celebrations are still going on despite an entire fortnight of sunrises. Pirates are laid out all along the beach, some of them turning the color of a ripe apple. They don’t care. They’re just happy to see the sun over these waters.
“No distractions.”
“Aye, Captain.” He takes the wheel again. “The party tonight is supposed to be the biggest Blackbeard has ever thrown.”
“I’m sure he wants to pat himself on the back for the sun rising and pretend he’s the one who made it so. He’s a self-righteous old twat sometimes.” A tough old barnacle, he also taught me more about sailing and pirating than anyone else. I’m glad he retired. It would’ve been a shame if I’d had to kill him.
Someone on the cay shoots off some fireworks, though they aren’t quite as brilliant in the daylight. I don’t mind at all. I’m getting used to seeing the blue sky again. You don’t know how much you’ll miss something until it’s gone, and isn’t that a kick in the nuts?
“Do you need me to press any of your clothes before the party?”
“I’ve got it covered.” I clap him on the back. “Make two more passes, then drop anchor.”
“Aye, Captain.”
I stomp down to the lower deck.
