Page 1
Prelude
MIKO
It’s certain…I’m going to die.
“I’ve got your whore, Hook!” a youthful male voice shouted far too close to my ear. “Return my lost boys, and I won’t harm her.”
“I’ve no carnal knowledge of that woman,” said a man, his voice sounding like an aristocrat from overseas, and I could only assume was the aforementioned Hook. His eyes heated and he continued speaking, “But bloody hells would I like to.” Hook tilted his head to the side. “Seems you forgot to don undergarments, love. Besides, Pan, you’re too late. I ordered Smee to toss them overboard not two hours past.”
The arm banded around my belly loosened, allowing gravity to take hold. For a moment, nothing but air touched me as I fell, pillowy clouds racing by in my peripheral. I stretched out my arms, reaching for something, anything, to slow my fall.
My arms strained, my hands brushing rough ropes strung up the mast and crisscrossing the sails. I ignored the searing of my fingertips as they burned away on the rough fibers, nevertheless, they remained out of my grasp. A strong gust of wind battered into me and my body swayed sharply midair, changing my trajectory and twisting me so violently nausea boiled up my throat. The lavender sky and puffy white clouds swirled with the dark hues of the ship as I fell, yelping in surprise as I connected with a sail then slid partway down its length before dropping back into free fall.
Hard planks rose to greet me as I landed directly on my back, every ounce of air whooshing from my lungs. Great. I aimed for a dive but instead executed a perverted form of a bellyflop. I laid there, lips falling opening in an O, exposed and utterly helpless.
A shadow broke my view of the cloud strewn battle above and a gorgeous, feminine face smiled down at me. I analyzed her perfectly symmetrical features as she came further into focus. A dash of glitter highlighting her high cheekbones, the glimmer just as natural as the rest of her.
I closed my eyes in a soft blink, mesmerized by the sheer beauty before me. She was haloed by two bright streaks of sunlight piercing through the clouds, streaming down from opposite directions, shining through her golden strands styled into two large buns. Somehow, despite the fighting surrounding us, not a hair was out of place.
How the hell is that possible?
I felt as if I was drowning, my pulse thudding rapidly in my ears, but I realized muffled indistinguishable voices peppered my hearing as if through something akin to a veil. My heart crashed against my ribs as a spot within me burned deeply, but I was too absorbed in the ethereal beauty’s attention to care. Who is this woman?
“Poor baby,” she cooed, crouching, then leaning over my face. I blinked rapidly, my eyes snagging on something opalescent and shimmery lazily moving behind her. My eyes squinted. No, flapping at her back.
Are those wings?
The woman reached out and lifted a dainty finger to tap the end of my nose, giggles bubbling from her lips. “It’s too bad really, you and I could’ve had such fun together, lovely,” she whispered and raised a cutlass above my throat.
CHAPTER 1
The Worst Season of the Year
MIKO
“Did you find the duck?”
My eyes refocused on my phone screen propped on the steering wheel. “Hm?”
“Koko, I love you, my most favorite, fated bestie in all of existence, but you spaced out on me again,” Monstera said, a sculpted, black brow arching. “I said, did you find the duck? I left you a little present somewhere in your Jeep before you left yesterday.”
The corner of my lips twitched. “Oh, you mean this cute little bastard that I found tucked into the air vent next to the stereo?” I said, allowing the smile to grow a bit, and held the tiny, glittery green duck close to my phone between my thumb and forefinger.
Monstera smiled brightly, flashing all of her straight, shiny white teeth. “That’s the one! I saw a pack of them at the store the other day I couldn’t resist.”
I nodded. “So, I can expect more of these to turn up randomly?”
“Maybe.” Her nose scrunched, the two gold nose hoops pierced through her left nostril glinting in the sunlight surrounding her, and her lips smooshed to the side. “Well, only if you’re a good girl and video call me at least once a day while you’re gone. Oh, and drink enough water. You’re probably already dehydrated. Annnnnd go to bed at a decent hour,” she said rapidly, all of the words blurring together, then inhaled, her ever present smile returning.
I remained silent for a few moments and rolled my new little friend between my fingers, ensuring that my best friend had no other thoughts to add to her rambling chat before I responded. “Yes, Mother,” I stated flatly, squinting as a ray of sunshine reflected off my phone screen, temporarily blocking out Monstera’s image.
She laughed, then rolled her eyes. “I only nag you because I care.”
“I know, and appreciate it,” I responded, then scoffed and took a large gulp of icy water from my tumbler. “You’re right, I am dehydrated. Sumer is the fucking worst. Don’t fight me on that, I’ll die on this hill.” My nose wrinkled. “This damn heat leaves me feeling like a soaked, dirty sponge left in the sink overnight.”
Monstera laughed, shaking her head. “On that, we disagree. Give me a lounger by a pool on a gloriously sunny, hot day, and I’ll gladly bake for hours.”
I snorted. “How are we best friends?”
