She shivered and hugged her knees closer.
Oh yes, she knew that ship, and not just by reputation. “I’d wager you’ve had a run-in with it before. Maybe even had the joy to meet its delightful captain?”
Tink whirled on him, her eyes wild. “Delightful? He’s the nastiest, most horrid, disgusting, awful pirate who ever drew breath!”
Aye, she has that right.He leaned back on his hand and hook. “Worse than me, love?”
“Yes! You’re…” She sucked in a breath and turned away.
Intrigued, so very intrigued.He scooted closer until her wings nearly brushed him. “I’m what?”
When she turned to him this time, he had to hold himself back, letting the tip of his hook dig into the wood. A deep flush painted her cheeks, visible even in the dim light. Her chest rose and fell. Those perfect lips begged him to close the gap between them, and he never left a woman wanting.
“A kidnapper. Just like him.” She accentuated each word.
Hook gaped as she got to her feet and stalked farther into the darkness of the porch that wrapped around the massive house.She may as well have slapped him, but even so, he was on his feet following her in a heartbeat. “What did he do to you?”
If he’d hurt her—
She stopped abruptly and shoved him in the chest.Do it again, he nearly begged. His boots almost touched hers. Heavy breaths filled the space between them.
“He kidnapped my cousin, all right? My favorite cousin, who is like a sister to me. I went after him to get her back. He demanded my dust in exchange. I gave it to him. All of it. Selling my dust for her life…” She held up her arm and looked away, all her fire gone out in a rush.
A bracelet hung from her wrist. The sapphire gem bound in thin strands of metal was cracked—shattered—yet none of the pieces fell free, as if magic held them in place. She sold her dust to save her cousin and got banned from home for it. For a brave, noble act. His shoulders drooped as something heavy settled in his chest, next to the simmering coal of a need for revenge that lived there. She wasn’t some criminal, some peddler of pixie dust for gold or riches. She just wanted to save someone she loved. And Blackbeard… That bloody, fucking crocodile had forced the choice on her.
“Did he hurt you, love?” A soft growl rumbled in his chest. He nearly vibrated with rage. If he hadn’t already sworn vengeance upon him, he would have in that moment. To treat someone that way, to do that to this fierce, beautiful woman was unthinkable.
“Not really. But demanding my dust…what that cost me…”
He took her upheld hand in his, savoring the way a shiver rolled across her at his touch. “We’ll get you home, love. We’ll find the scale, return it to Titania, and you’ll have your reward. On my honor as a pirate.”
“A pirate’s honor?” she asked skeptically, as she peeked up at him through the fall of her long hair, half-blocking her lowered face.
“Aye. A pirate’s honor, his word, is one of his most valuable treasures.” Without thinking, he raised her hand to his lips and placed a kiss upon its back. Her skin was warm, soft. The faint scent of flowers clung to her.
She jerked her hand away and slid it behind her back with her other. More color raced across her cheeks. Sharp little teeth chewed at her lip.
“Aye, well…” he said into the silence that lingered.
Tink stared at her boots but didn’t flee.
One thing nagged at him, though. “You gave him all your dust? You didn’t sell any later?”
“Some,” she whispered. “At home, it comes back easily. Here…well, I haven’t made any in a while, but some came back after my deal with Blackbeard. I sold it.” She spat the words like a bad taste in her mouth. “To get by. I needed food, shelter, ship passage… But that ran out months ago. Playing the mandolin and selling my little inventions didn’t make near so much.”
Months ago? His brows drew together. “The bartender I met in Tortuga said he’d bought pixie dust from a blonde woman only days ago. That was the night I found you.”
Pink lips parted. Her head cocked to the side. “In Tortuga…”
“It wasn’t you?”
She shook her head.
Then who was selling dust? One of Blackbeard’s crew? But why? Maybe it hadn’t even been her dust, but it had still led him to her by some twist of fate.
The back door cracked open. Laughter spilled out into the night along with a few of his crew.
“Captain!” Smee slurred as he hoisted a mug in the air. “Brought ya a drink!”
