Peter ignored him. “Why’d they keep you?” he asked again.
He leaned forward, letting his hook clink against each bar in turn as he trailed it back and forth. “Torture,” he said.
Peter stepped back.
“Know how I got this hook?”
The boy shook his head.
Hook mustered the most menacing grin he could. “It’s how they initiate boys to the ship. Maybe they’ll give you one.” The lantern shook. “Or take your leg. Maybe an eye…”
“Y-you’re joking.” He set the lantern down with a clatter. “Trying to scare me.”
His hook arm slipped through the bars, snagging the boy by the front of his faded green shirt. To his credit, he didn’t scream. “Oh, I’m trying to scare you all right. Get off this ship, Peter.” He nearly shook him as the boy stared wide-eyed back at him. “First chance you get, take your boys and run.”
Peter shoved away from him. “This the best place we’ve had. Plenty a’ food. Soft beds. Coin to spend.”
Hook retreated. “Ain’t worth it. Mark my words, kid, you and your boys are better off as far from this crew as you can get.” He expected the boy to run, to turn and flee. Instead, he stared back at him like a bizarre puzzle he was trying to solve.
Now it was Hook’s turn to shrug. He frowned at the small splash of rum that escaped the flask to drip down his hand.What a waste.He tipped the rest to his mouth, ready to fade away.
“Stop!” The urgent whisper stabbed straight through his heart.
She’d come back to haunt him already. Her ghost wouldn’t even let him drown himself in rum and escape. He didn’t deserve to. What captain led everyone he loved to their death?
Peter stumbled back, nearly dropping his lantern as a hand clamped over his mouth. “Don’t you dare scream.”
Lantern light highlighted her blonde hair, the smooth planes of her face, her skinny arms, and the shiny dagger she pointed at Peter’s face.So perfect. So…
“James.” The hint of a sob caught in her voice.
Something burst within him like the wind of a squall. “Tink.” The flask tumbled to the ground as he lunged for the bars, throwing his bruised body against them as if he could leap straight through to her. She was alive. His Tink.Surely the gods wouldn’t fuck with me this badly.“You’re…”Real. Here. I love you.“How?” He’d never been at such a loss for words.
“Long story. We’ve got to go.”
Peter’s gaze darted between them, at least as much as he was able to manage without moving. The boy barely breathed in Tink’s grip.Damn. She looked good holding a dagger.
“Promise not to move or scream?” Tink asked the boy, inching the dagger tip closer for good measure.
The slightest, shaking nod was his only response.
“Good.” She dropped her arms. A moment later her empty hand was back, but this time clutching something he couldn’t see that she shoved into Peter’s face. His eyes widened before fluttering shut. His limp body collapsed to the ground, knocking over the lantern. Tink righted it.
Unexpected panic for his half-brother surged through him. “What did—”
“Pixie dust.” Tink grinned at him. “He’ll be fine.”
His heart swelled. “Clever girl.” Of course she wouldn’t hurt a kid.
She leaped over the boy’s body and slammed against the bars, clutching at him for dear life the best she could with the metal between them. Breeze from the flutter of her wings ruffled past his face just before her lips crashed against his through a slit in the bars.
The touch of her skin gave him life, lit up the darkness that had nearly swallowed him whole. If he had any doubts left, her kiss erased them. Impossibly, she was there, with him. If the bars weren’t between them, he’d have her half-undressed and pressed against him already, even with his brother’s sleeping form nearby. All too soon, she pulled back.
“I love you too.”
He blinked, barely able to process the confession. “You would confess to me when I can do nothing about it,” he smirked. Gods, what he wouldn’t give to take her in his arms that very moment.
Her gaze hooded, as if she could read his thoughts. Then she cocked one perfect brow. “Filthy pirate. Now...” She shook herself. “Time to go. We’ve got to get back to the ship.” She fumbled with a ring of heavy keys.
