Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
HOOK
The Queen’s hands are like ice, her fingers curling around mine with a grip that could freeze the sea.
She steps closer, all deadly grace and wicked smiles, her gaze as sharp as the edge of her blade.
Around us, her twisted game unfolds—the shadows tighten their grip on the prisoners, forcing them into stiff, stumbling dances, like broken puppets on strings.
I let her pull me deeper into a waltz, but keep my focus razor-sharp. I just need to be close enough to feel any flicker of the amulet’s magic. It has to be here—she wouldn’t leave that kind of power far from her reach.
You did, snaps a voice in my head. We did. Right.
That’s how she got the bloody thing in the first place—because it was out of our sight. Out of Peter’s sight. And now here I am, dancing with a monster, and still, I feel nothing. Not a flicker, not the faintest pulse of magic. Either she’s hidden it well, or it’s not here at all.
“Oh, Hook,” she purrs, leaning in, her breath brushing my ear. Her arm snakes around my waist, and her other hand fits perfectly into mine, as if this were a dance of romance instead of power. “Such tension. Relax, darling—you might actually enjoy yourself.”
"Oh, I'm having the time of my life, love," I say, giving her a lazy smile. But I can’t seem to keep my gaze on her. As much as I know I should, it keeps slipping left, back to her—Alice.
She’s right there in the centre of the ballroom, her limbs dragged forward and back by those cursed shadows.
Every step is a struggle, stiff and reluctant, she’s fighting the magic pulling her.
And even from here, I can tell—this isn’t Neverland’s magic.
I know its hum, its particular thrum. Neverland’s magic is alive, a bit wild, a bit untamed.
But Wonderland’s? This place reeks of something else entirely—dark, numb, like a spell gone stale.
Used and broken, with a sourness that gets under your skin.
Where is that bloody amulet?
I look at Alice, her eyes blazing even as she’s forced through this dance. She fights it, in her own way. And with her, there’s a flicker of something else—something that doesn’t fit in Wonderland’s twisted picture.
“Something catching your eye, Captain?” the Queen’s voice cuts through my thoughts. She’s followed my gaze, of course, before I can snap it back. “Oh, our dear Alice. Quite the intriguing little creature, isn’t she?”
I shrug, tearing my gaze from her and fixing it back on the Queen. “Intriguing enough, I suppose. Though I wouldn’t say I’ve got much of a taste for na?ve girls from the Hollowlands. But I was curious why you might?”
The Queen lets out a low, mocking laugh. “Oh, Hook, no games. Please. Don’t insult me—I see you watching her.”
I scoff lightly, pulling her closer, all charm. “The only thing I’m watching, love, is you.” I give her a pointed, lingering smile.
“So charming.” Her eyes narrow with that cruel gleam. “Poor little Alice don’t you think? She’s not like us. She doesn’t know when to submit.”
“Submission’s overrated,” I reply smoothly, giving the Queen a slow spin that throws her slightly off balance. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
She chuckles, her nails digging into my shoulder a little harder. “Only the foolish fight against the inevitable.”
“Is that so?” I guide her into another turn, but my eyes flick back to Alice. She’s still fighting, even if it’s just with her eyes—steady, unyielding, blazing with a defiance that’s rare in this world. And damn if something in me doesn’t find it irresistible.
“You’re curious about her.”
I give a careless shrug. “I enjoy a good mystery. Which, of course, is why I came here—for your aid.”
The Queen’s fingers trail along my jaw, forcing my gaze back to her. “Mysteries are poison, Hook. Intoxicating, but eventually, they destroy you.” She leans in, her voice a murmur against my ear. “But if it's a mystery you crave, I can assure you, I’m more than capable of keeping you entertained.”
I meet her gaze with a roguish grin, tilting my head just enough to let her think I’m buying into her game. “Oh, I don’t doubt that.”
She pulls back, smirking, clearly thinking she’s got me wrapped around her finger. But as we turn, her gaze flickers back to Alice, a dark glint in her eyes. A warning, perhaps. Or just a reminder that this game is hers to control.
The music shifts, slowing, and the Queen steps away, her hand lingering in mine a moment longer. “Enjoy the rest of your night, Captain,” she purrs, a promise and threat wrapped in one. Then she strides off, addressing the room once more. The moment she speaks, everything stops.
“Time for a new game,” she declares, eyes gleaming. “Thorin, remove a chair. We’ll play your game now.”
The shadows slink back, and everyone is left standing in crooked, breathless silence.
“The rules are simple,” she says, her voice carrying a wicked lilt. “When the music stops, you find a chair. The one who fails…” She grins, wide and gleaming. “Off with their heads.”
I glance back to Alice. She’s panting from the dance, shooting a glare at the shadows as they slink away, her face set and her gaze locked on the Queen. Clearly, her mind’s racing through a hundred thoughts. And this… this is about to get very interesting.
And, if I’m honest, I can’t wait to see just how far she’ll go.