Chapter 15 #6
I wipe my wet cheeks, my tears still rolling as I try to brush them away.
I’ve never heard that kind of pain in someone’s voice, not the sort of raw emotion that leaves a lifetime of scars.
I felt it when my mother died. I felt it when Coy died.
And now I know Hook feels it, too. Some scars can never fully heal.
Tiger Lily’s stony countenance has softened somewhat. “I understand,” she says quietly.
He gives her a nod.
“With that aside, I still need to know how you plan to use Moira to break the curse over the island. If she is a boon from the island, I won’t let you harm her.”
“You let Peter harm her.” Hook snaps with sudden ferocity, his pain transformed to anger. “You let him sink his claws into her and said nothing.”
“We didn’t know.” Tiger Lily meets my gaze. “I had my suspicion, especially when you said you would tell Peter stories.”
“Why? I still don’t know why he asked for that.”
“When Peter communed with the island, he made a bargain. I don’t know what he asked for, but you were what the island granted to him. He brought you here and asked you for stories. That alone is suspicious.”
“You lost me.”
Tiger Lily adopts a patient tone. “Stories have power. You believe that, don’t you?”
“Yes.” The fact that I’m currently trapped in one isn’t lost on me. “They’re magic.”
“Exactly. Island lore has it that fae told the first stories. They were the first beings to ever attempt to make sense of the world around them by telling it to others. In it, they found magic, power, and other realms.”
“I’m not fae. Wouldn’t Widow and Tinker Bell know if I was one of them?”
“We don’t know what you are, but the Spinner will be able to tell.”
“Nessie, I think, mentioned a Spinner.”
“Spinners are the leaders of fae society here on the island. They’re, for lack of a better word, fae royalty.
Their magic, if freely given, can heal wounds, save lives, do any number of powerful things.
If you are descended from the line of Spinners, then you may be the answer to Peter’s request because of it, because of your link to the island’s deep magic. Your fae blood line could be his boon.”
“His boon.” I’ve come to hate that word. And now I’m starting to resent the island. Why does it think it has the right to give me to anyone? I look at Hook. “What did you ask the island for?”
He meets my gaze, but he doesn’t answer.
“He’s never divulged it, even though it might be a great help to all of us,” Tiger Lily says pointedly.
Hook scowls. “I think I’ve told you enough. What I need is for you to tell me who you intend to ally with. If it’s Peter, I’d rather know now than later, and I give you my word I’ll let you leave this forest safely. After that …” He doesn’t need to say more. The implication is clear.
Tiger Lily’s eyes narrow, and she and Shiner whisper to each other for a short moment, then turn back to us. “We will work with you to save the island, conditionally.”
“What conditions?” Hook asks warily.
“I assume you intend to visit the Fairy Village as soon as possible to find the Spinner, if she’s still alive.”
“Why would you assume that?” Hook tosses back.
“You are a lot of things, but a fool isn’t one of them, Captain. If Moira is somehow part of the island, the Spinner will know.”
Hook considers for a while, then gives a slight nod. “We set sail tomorrow.”
“Good. Shiner will accompany you as long as Moira is with you.”
Hook raises a brow. “How is she at swabbing decks?”
“I get seasick.” Shiner grins. “Easily.”
Hook doesn’t seem particularly pleased, but he doesn’t argue. “Anything else?”
“If Moira is fae, then you will deliver her to us, the only neutral parties on this island, while you and Peter—”
“No.” I stand so quickly that Shiner reaches for her weapon. “I’m not a trading card. I’m not a boon. I’m a person. I decide where I go and what I do. You don’t.”
Tiger Lily rises, all grace and elegance. “I didn’t mean to offend you, Moira.”
“You’ve been talking about me like I’m some sort of pawn on a chess board. It’s pissing me off.” After the words are out, I have a twinge of worry. After all, she’s an actual princess. I probably shouldn’t speak to her so—
She coughs into her hand, which is when I realize she’s covering a laugh. “I don’t think anyone’s ever used that turn of phrase with me. I rather like it.”
I shrug as Hook stands at my elbow.
Tiger Lily sighs, and I realize she looks tired. Even through her dazzling beauty, she’s weary of the island’s troubles. “You’re right, Moira. I apologize. There’s no excuse for it. Would you be all right with Shiner accompanying you to the Fairy Village?”
I glance at Hook.
He dips his head to me. “It’s your say-so, lass.”
My say-so. I like the sound of that.
“Yes.” I offer my hand to Tiger Lily. “You have a deal.”
She takes it and covers it with her other one. “You have our protection for as long as you want it.” She squeezes my hand. “And our friendship.”
I blush. I can’t help it. I can’t wait to tell Widow about this. “Thank you.”
We pull away, the meeting over and a shaky alliance struck. It was only words, but I feel like we all took a momentous step forward … toward what, I don’t know.
“Starkey!” I hear Bill Jukes roar and then a hard thud.
Tiger Lily gives Hook a questioning look.
“I think the lads are showing off for you in the garden.” He leans over to peek out the window. “Yes, peacocking at its finest. Starkey’s already shirtless and Bill is out for blood.”
Shiner grins. “I’d like to try my luck.”
Hook makes a hmm sound. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea—oh, hell, Cobweb’s already thrown herself into the ring and is duking it out with Cecco.”
“Woooo!” Shiner jets out of the office.
“I thought you said no bloodshed.” Tiger Lily peers out the window as Shiner joins the fray, the violin music whining faster now.
“No serious bloodshed. Maybe a little for fun.” Hook grins as the brawl grows, though there are plenty of laughs and whoops included in the fighting. “It’s the way of pirates.”
“And of Guardians. I suppose we can let them blow off some steam.” Tiger Lily glides from the room, her long dark hair shining in the lantern light. “I’ll keep an eye on them, make sure no one dies.” She closes the doors to the study, leaving Hook and me alone.
He returns from the window. “We’re all wild things here, I suppose.”
“Definitely.” I’m looking at the wildest thing of all.
He stands in front of me, close enough to touch. Close enough to feel the heat coming off him.
“Why won’t you tell me what you asked the island for?” I look up and try to pry his secrets free from the deep blue of his eyes.
He studies me for a long while, our breaths mingling as our souls seek to find some common ground between lust and curiosity and fear.
“I don’t want to scare you, lass,” he finally says.
“Why would I be scared? Did you ask for Cthulhu or something? Maybe the kraken?”
One side of his lips quirk up. “Something bigger.”
“You did say you were greedy.” I run my fingers along the jewels at my throat. “Treasure, then?”
“Aye.” He moves closer, his hands at my waist.
I’m falling again, his spell wrapping me up in his scent and the need that blooms inside me.
He tilts my chin up, his mouth grazing across mine. “I think you know what I wished for, lass.”
My breath catches when he uses the forbidden word, and for the meaning that lies beneath it.
His lips are so soft against me, gentle and teasing. He’s a man full of ironies, one who I don’t know if I’ll ever fully understand.
“Tell me.” I grip his shoulders, demanding he yield to me. “Tell me what you wished for.” I kiss him, tasting him and biting his lower lip as he pulls me against him.
One of his hands strays through the slit of my dress and goes to my ass, and he lifts me with ease, wrapping his other arm around my back as he kisses me with unbridled fervor.
“Tell me.” I let my head fall back as he kisses my throat, his teeth nipping as he sucks the spot below my ear. “Please, James. Tell me.”
He carries me to the desk along the wall of maps and swipes his arm across it, sending everything to the floor as he sets me down.
Then he hikes up my skirt, grabs my panties and wrenches them off, the fabric tearing and falling to the floor as he spreads my legs, his hips between them as he kisses me again.
I run my hands along his chest, my body on fire as he reaches for his belt. I’m delirious from his kiss, and all I can think about is how I want more. More of him. All of him.
“Tell me.” I whimper as he frees his cock and runs it along my wet slit. “James.”
He yanks my hips to the edge of the table, his cock head pressing at my entrance. “I give nothing back, lass. Nothing.” He presses his forehead to mine. “I’ll never give you up. You are my treasure.”
I press my palms to his cheeks, my entire being focused on him, on this moment. “What did you wish for?”
“I wished for love.” With a thrust, he slides into me. He swallows my yelp of surprise, then pushes himself all the way in. I gasp, my body adjusting to him, to the thickness and the sudden sensation of being filled in a way I’ve never experienced before. “And the island gave me you.”