Other voices reached her. Hair nearly ripped from her scalp as someone jerked her off the deck by it. “You just can’t go away, can you?”
“Lily?” Tink wheezed. Lily… It wasn’t enough Blackbeard tried to kill her. She twisted around, bringing her boot into Lily’s side.
The other pixie screeched and released her. Once, she would have pulled her punches. No more. Her cousin tried to kill her, her friends, and left her James to rot or worse.
Yells taunted her as the crew became aware of the scuffle on deck, or the fire.Probably the fire. Slurred exclamations rang in the air.
Tink pulled the dagger sheathed at her leg and pointed the tip at Lily.
Lily’s eyes flew wide as she followed the angle of Tink’s weapon toward her. “You’d—”
“Yes.”
Lily jolted as if slapped.
“Yourcaptaintried to kill me and those I love, so back off, bitch.”
“Kill you…” Lily stumbled back a step.
“Oh, missed that, did you?” Tink swatted at the strands of hair the breeze blew in her face.
“Get to the boat!” James called.
Tink twisted toward him. He’d grabbed a sword from somewhere…or someone. A pirate stumbled toward him, and he knocked the man back.
She’d get to the boat, but not without him. Tink raced across the deck, flecks of burning fibers floating down around her. Others emerged from below, hardly noticing the fight as the fire drew their focus.
“James!” She barely held herself back from leaping into his arms as he backed to the railing. He waved the sword in front of him, warding back the advancing pirates.
“You’ll have to jump. Fly.”
Tink twisted around, sparing a quick glance into the darkness where she could just make out the little rowboat on the water. The boys grabbed at paddles, shoving away from the side. She turned back to the pirates, adjusting the dagger in her grip. “Not without you.”
An imposing figure rushed onto the deck, blade already drawn. Tink sucked in a breath as Blackbeard turned their way.
“See ta tha ship, boys.” He pointed his sword at James. “This one’s mine.”
Chapter 40
Hook
Pirates rushed away to tend the flames as Blackbeard sauntered his way with slow, determined steps.
“Go, Tink. Now! Fly!” He needed her out of here.Now. Right now.
“Not. Without. You!” She tugged his arm.
He stiffened his shoulders and shrugged her off. He couldn’t turn, couldn’t look at her pleading eyes that no doubt matched the frenzied crack in her voice. He’d cave. He’d go with her.
But then Blackbeard would escape. Again. He’d fix his ship and come after them. Again. They’d never be safe as long as he lived, nor would his brother. He couldn’t save his mother. Damn if he was going to lose anyone else to this monster.
“James!” Tink squealed again.
“Sorry, love.” He sucked in a breath, then shoved her—hard.
She fell with a screech off the side of the boat. The act nearly gutted him, bled him out on the deck. But she could fly. Shewould. The boys would take her away in their boat. She’d be safe. He had to believe that.
Had to. Hook locked those thoughts away as he adjusted his stance and focused on the man in front of him.
