Hook plunked his cup on a random windowsill—an interesting present for the lucky owner—and wrapped his good arm around her shoulders. “I could take you back to the tavern.”
“No!” she replied, a little too quickly. “No, I want to go with you. Weren’t you going to reenact your theft of the Heart of Fire for me?”
“Interested in my jewels now?” He laughed, his tone warmer than the night.
“Well, you know they say the fastest way to a girl’s heart is pretty things.” She leaned in, letting her body brush against the heavy fabric of his coat. A massive ship loomed at the dock just ahead. It had to be his, and damn if it wasn’t as impressive as the rumors said.
“Well, what do you think?” He gestured to the ship. His arm slid down her cloak, tugging her closer. “Is she all you—” He halted.
Tink froze. Nessa’s flute, her wings. He didn’t know what she was, didn’t know about them. But he felt them.Holy elders, why hadn’t I thought of this?
“You’re a…?” He trailed off, waiting for her to answer.
“Pixie,” she responded, barely a whisper. The last thing she needed was more people to know about her. Humans were greedy.Never tell them what you are if you venture into the human lands, because they’ll want your dust.That was one of the first lessons every pixie learned before they came of age and were allowed to leave. A pixie could give some away. A little here. A pinch there. Blessings for folks who were kind. Butneversell it. Not one coin or they could never go home.
And didn’t she know it.
“I’m sorry.” Genuine panic laced her voice as she waited for him to pull away and leave her standing at the edge of the dock. “I enjoyed being with you. I worried that if I told you, you might…” She shrugged and stared at her feet.
Hook’s calloused hand tipped up her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. “You thought I might not be interested?” She could just make out the arch of one dark eyebrow.
She nodded, swallowing her apprehension.
“I’ll admit I’ve never been with a pixie before, but that’s not going to put me off.” He leaned in, his warmth lulling her in like a gentle tide. “That’s what this is for?” He tugged at her cloak.
“Not everyone is so kind to pixies.” Especially not pirates. Is this where he would ask for her dust? To shower him with the drug humans couldn’t get enough of?
He slid his arm up, careful not to press on her already folded and bound wings. “You’re safe with me, love.”
Her stomach twisted. There he was being all kind and courteous, and she planned to rob him blind. Doubt twisted around her, tugging her back from the boat. She stumbled, blaming it on the strong drink they’d shared, but it wasn’t that.
Captain Hook had a reputation, all right—ruthless, skilled, rich. He’d plundered a number of royal ships, not to mention the rumors that he’d participated in some moreabove-deckbusiness dealings. Because he hoped for someone to share his bed? Yes, that had to be it. Rum and resolve straightened her back and steadied her step. She slipped her hand in his and let him lead her aboard.
Masts towered into the night above, their sails pulled in and tied up while at port. The deck was clean, orderly, lacking the stench of fish and even more unsavory things that had dominated smaller vessels she’d visited. The intricately carved door they passed through into the heart of the ship could have easily belonged on a fancy manor.
Hard as it was to admit, his rooms were nice too. A lush, comfortable-looking bed with crimson coverings dominated one wall. A sturdy desk of carved dark wood—mahogany?—stood across from it. Various objects and treasures were tied to the walls or secured on shelves with books crammed between them. Thick glass windows let in natural light, or they would during the day. This night, only candles illuminated the room, which Hook lit as Tink took her time admiring his collections.
“So, who was Roger?” Tink asked.
“Roger?”
“You know, of theJolly Roger?” She canted her head to the side.
“Ah, that Roger.” He placed the last candle back in its stand. “Would you believe I don’t know?”
Tink’s brows rose. The ship’s deck tilted—or was it the rum making her unsteady?—and she stumbled a half-step. “You, the great Captain Hook, don’t know who your ship is named for?”
Hook rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “The great Captain Hook. Now I like the sound of that.”
She glanced away. The blush on her cheeks wasn’t even faked.
“So do I get to see the fabled Heart of Fire?” Tink asked over her shoulder as she trailed her fingers along the edge of his desk.
“Yeareafter me jewels,” Hook replied with a smirk, letting a lilt into his voice.
Oh, if only he knew.Queen Titania asked for that jewel, and only she possessed the enchanted pearl that could fix Tink’s bracelet and get her home. Whatever she had to do to earn the Queen’s trust and get one step closer to home, she would.
Tink settled on the edge of his desk. “You did promise.”
