“They’re waitin’ just ahead.”
Lily.
Her heart nearly beat out of her chest.Had she gotten away? Did he have her too?A tear slipped down her cheek as Blackbeard ushered her forward. Everything she’d sacrificed was to get her home safe, and now Blackbeard probably had her again. She’d gotten James and his crew cursed, put them in danger, and for what?
“Drop tha sword,” Blackbeard ordered, angling the blade of his own against her throat for emphasis.
James didn’t take his eyes off her. “If you hurt her…” He tossed his blade away.
“Ye’ll what?”
A bulky man with long, greasy hair kicked the back of James’s legs, knocking him to the ground. A grunt of pain slipped out as he slammed into the dirt. Tink yearned to run to him, but Blackbeard held her steady. One move, one ill-timed lunge, and his sword would cut her throat.
Another man, short and lean, punched James in the face, knocking him to the ground. “Fish bait,” he spat.
In moments, they bound his arms behind his back and hauled him to his feet. Blood dripped from a cut on his lip. She ached for him, hurt worse for his wounds than her wings screaming in pain, trapped against the bulk of Captain Blackbeard.
The pirates pushed James down the path ahead of her. Deadly quiet reigned until they entered a small clearing. Even the birds and other animals made themselves scarce in the presence of these monsters. Blackbeard removed his filthy hand from her mouth, but what could she say? There could be no reasoning with this monster. She knew to even attempt it would mean wasting her breath. Hook’s men were bound and gagged, tied together in little clusters with Blackbeard’s men on watch.
A tight knot bobbed in her throat as Tink scanned each of the crew, taking stock of injuries—bruises, a little blood, nothing fatal that she could see. But…
Lily. Her heart skipped a beat. “Where is she?” she blurted, before she could think better of it.
Smee looked away. Sage snarled against her gag. Why…?
“Looking for me?”
Lily strolled out from between two of Blackbeard’s men, none the worse for wear. Tink’s brows scrunched. Her mind tried to work it out and failed.
Blackbeard lowered his sword and shoved her forward. Tink floundered like a fish, mouth agape, and fell to the ground. Her knees barked in pain even as her wings sighed.
“Tink!” James lunged for her, only to be jerked back.
“Bind ’er.” Blackbeard ordered.
She scrambled to kneel, blinking at Lily, before her arms were wrenched behind her by two brawny men. “You’re…” Reality choked her. Truth stabbed her in the gut.
“With them?” A feral grin crossed her cousin’s face.
No.
Acid crawled up her throat.
No. This couldn’t be.
“I loved you. I saved you,” she gasped. “I gave everything.” Tears burned the corner of her eyes, but she refused to cry, not for her. Rope bit into her wrists as the man behind her pulled the bindings tight.
Lily sauntered over and crouched before her. “Your mistake.”
“My—” Breath left her. She hunched as if kicked in the stomach. A cold sweat broke out on her skin.
“Iwantedto go with them that night.” She grinned at the only decent-looking man among Blackbeard’s crew, who blew her a kiss in return. “I planned to come back…eventually.” Sheshrugged. “But then you had to be all perfect and heroic. Little shining star Tinker Bell, off to save the day.”
Tink reared back at the sarcasm in her voice.Perfect? Shining star?
“They told me what you offered for them to send me back to shore. And you know my first thought? Freedom. Finally. No more being Tinker Bell’s shadow. Always overlooked and unappreciated.”
Each word struck worse than a blow.
