Devour the Dark (Devourer #2)

13. Hook

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

HOOK

I can’t seem to shake this cat. It’s following me everywhere, mewling for treats, batting at my trousers as I pass, begging for attention.

“Go on, beast,” I tell it as I make my way below decks.

But the beast either doesn’t understand or pretends it doesn’t.

I go to my room first, but find it empty and a little thread of disappointment pulls at my spine.

No matter. I shouldn’t be surprised that the Crocodile has found other things to entertain himself while I was helping the crew untangle a knot.

I go to Wendy’s room next.

The lamp has been turned down, but moonlight spills in through the circular window next to the bed.

Roc is there, his back propped against the headboard, Wendy curled in his arms. Roc is awake. Wendy is fast asleep.

The kitten meows, then charges in ahead of me, leaping onto the bed.

“There’s my little firecracker,” Roc whispers, cooing at the beast. It clumsily makes its way up Roc’s thighs, then finds a nest between Roc and Wendy, curling into them.

“Of course now it’s behaving!”

“Shhh,” Roc says, scratching at the cat’s head. “He’s sleepy, Captain. Let our firecracker rest.”

I grumble. “Is Wendy…”

“She’s all right. She needed reassurance.”

I understand that more than I’d like to admit.

“Get over here,” he orders.

I kick off my boots, shrug out of my coat, and toss it into the nearby chair.

There’s just enough room on the bed to slide in on Wendy’s other side, sandwiching her between us. She’s warm and soft and smells like honeysuckle. If she needed further reassurance, I wish she would have come to me. I think we are both afraid of drowning in the Crocodile’s ocean. I want her to know she is not alone.

Every day I’m shocked I’m still here, falling further and further in l?—

“Did you save the ship?” Roc asks, teasing me.

“I like to make myself useful.”

He smiles at me over the top of Wendy’s head. “I always have a use for you, Captain.”

“Poor form,” I whisper, but I’m only half joking.

He chuckles to himself and Wendy stirs, moaning in her sleep. The kitten lifts its head, scowling at me as if it’s my fault it’s been disturbed.

“Has she been reassured?” I ask, tucking a stray hair behind Wendy’s ear.

“I believe I did my part.” His teeth flash in the moonlight.

“Poor form ,” I repeat.

“Oh Captain, my form was impeccable.”

“Will you two shut up,” Wendy murmurs, and then adds, “His form was impeccable.”

“See?” Roc raises his brows at me.

“Don’t feed his ego.” Knowing she’s awake, I relax my body into her, readjusting so she’s half in my arms. She arches, sinking into me.

I never would have expected this to be our outcome, the three of us in bed together. We haven’t spoken of where we go from here. We never had the chance.

I’m afraid to ask.

Just the thought of it has my heart racing beneath my ribs, my stomach see-sawing.

Roc looks over at me, his brow now furrowed.

“What is it?” he asks.

Wendy lifts her head to look over at me.

I swallow.

“You’ve reassured Wendy.”

She readjusts so she can see me better in the sliver of moonlight.

“And—”

Wendy slips her hand into mine and squeezes.

“I know you don’t like to stay in one place for long,” I say. “I just need to know, after Darkland, after we fix you and you are well, will you leave again?”

I hate that Wendy and I are like sycophants for the Crocodile, on our knees begging for him to love us. I don’t blame him for it. I don’t think he wants us to worship him any more than he wants to be worshipped.

That’s the problem—the Crocodile has always been free to roam. He’s never owed anyone anything, not after he lost his sister and his brother.

I glance at him in the semi-darkness.

For the first time, I see real fear and suddenly I know…he’s held himself back all these years, claiming no one, not in any real way, to protect himself.

I can sense him retreating behind those walls, afraid to lose something, afraid to be lost in something.

Wendy and I are both staring at him now, waiting.

The stillness makes my stomach hurt.

Suddenly he’s up and moving.

“Roc,” Wendy says.

But he’s gone in a flash, shutting the door behind him.