Hook lost his footing.
His head slammed against the deck. The sword flew from his hand.
Fuck all.
Stars swarmed before his eyes as he rolled to the side.Sword. He needed—
The tip of Blackbeard’s blade hovered in front of him. The captain’s heavy boots thumped on the deck.
“Didn’ want ta’ do this, boy. Ya leave me no choice.”
Chapter 41
Tink
Tink screeched as the water raced to meet her.
Her wings flapped with all their might, struggling as she tumbled toward the sea. With one pained flutter after another, she leveled off just above the surface of the water.
A glance over her shoulder showed the toweringKrakenbehind her.
James was up there.
James had pushed her!
To save her, but still…
“Pixie!”
She whirled toward the voice.
The boys bobbed in their boat a few feet away. The biggest one reached for her, leaning out over the edge.Oh, revered elders,a boat. Safety.
She flew in their direction until her feet dipped to the sloshing sea, and they pulled her in with them. She nearly sobbed in relief as her boots settled on the bottom. Burning bits and cindersfloated down from above, landing on the water then going out. Tink sucked in one breath after another as the boys picked up the paddles and began to furiously row again. TheJolly Rogerwas near. They’d see the signal and begin the attack. They had to get away from here.
Tink looked back over her shoulder. But how could she leave James?
A figure leaped onto the railing. Tink gasped at the familiar, slight form.
Lily took flight, soaring through the air directly toward them.
“Wait. It’s Tinker Bell!” called the boy who’d taken charge.
Wait, what?Her gaze darted around the boys. “I’m Tinker Bell.”
“Huh?”
Nessa’s flute. Before she could get to the bottom of it, Lily hovered just above their little dinghy.
“How dare you!” she screeched.
“Me? How dare you say such a thing after all you’ve done,” Tink shot back.
“It’s on fire!”
No shit. Tink’s lips thinned. It’d be splintered ruins soon, if her plan worked out. She glanced past Lily.James…
Lily barreled into her. Breath fled her lungs. Her calves knocked into something hard. Outcries rose from the boys around them. Then her feet slipped, and they went tumbling end over end. Her wings cried out in pain. Lily screeched. Tink’s hip crashed into the side of the boat, and they plunged into cold darkness.
