His stomach dropped as his heart lurched into his throat.Shit.
“James!” Tink’s scream nearly rent his soul.
He lunged for the cliffside in front of him as the bridge dropped. Breath fled his lungs as his chest slammed against the boards between him and the cliffside. His fingers slid on wet wood. His hook dug into the soft fibers, wrenching his arm. And his feet… Only crumbling cliffside met the tips of his boots.
Fuck.
Rain poured from above, dragging him down into certain death. He’d never make it. He’d—
“James!” Dainty hands hooked under his arms, tugging him upward.
His heart nearly stopped. “Tink?”
“Up!” Her wings buffeted him with frenzied gusts.
Shit. She’d flown…with her poor wings, in this rain. She couldn’t die because of him. Never. With a renewed burst of strength, he pulled at the boards and stretched his hook to dig into the cliffside.
“There,” she gasped. “Just…a little…”
His hand closed around a jagged rock at the top of the cliff, the edges biting into his skin. But he had it. Let it cut him, let him bleed—he’d give his one hand just to get them onto the cliff.
“Up! Now!” he yelled at Tink as she helped to pull him up. He needed her safe, couldn’t concentrate with her in danger.
Another burst of effort had his elbow over the cliff edge. Leverage. He sucked in a breath.
With a rasping gasp, Tink crawled onto the cliff next to him. Her wings collapsed across her back, limp as wet cloth. Hook’s boot found purchase on the last remnants of the bridge, and he pushed himself onto the cliff.
“Captain!” Smee’s shout reached across the gorge between them.
He glanced back over his shoulder. His crew stood along the edge of the far cliff.All there. Safe.
Lightning struck another tree, causing them to jump and crouch in the downpour.
Maybe not so safe.
“Get to cover!” he called.
They wouldn’t be crossing the gorge in this weather, especially not without a bridge.
Hook cupped his hands around his mouth. “Meet here after the storm!”
Whenever that would be. He didn’t wait for confirmation. They’d carry out his orders—so help them, they better. Last thing he needed was more of his crew in trouble.
“Tink!” He scrambled to the woman still lying on the ground. His heart nearly pounded right out of his chest. If she’d—
“James,” she gasped, pushing up on her arms. Rain soaked her like a wet rat. Bright red lips stood out against too-pale skin.
Tension slipped from his limbs as he pulled her to him. “What the bloody hell were you thinking?”
“I…I had to—” A shiver wracked her body.
Cold—too cold. And soaked.
They needed cover, shelter. Trees ringed the narrow clearing. Narrow paths wound off in two directions. “Come on.” Hook pulled Tink to her feet, linked his hand with hers, and took off down to the right.
Right is right,the witch had said.
A previous clue, but now was no time to search for the next. The eagle could wait. Such a proud bird wouldn’t be out in this squall anyway.
