“No.”
She finishes her wine. “All right, then what are you planning to do?”
I plan on stealing fairy dust from a Lost Boy and flying back to the mainland on my own. But I don’t say that. Instead, I opt for, “I guess I’m going to see what fate has in store.”
Nessie lets out a little giggle from the kitchen.
I turn the questions on Shiner. “Last I heard, you weren’t a fan of pirates, much less Hook. Why did you all agree to come here?”
She shrugs. “I didn’t want to come. We all advised against it, but Tiger Lily had different ideas. Hook offered safe passage and said he wanted to discuss a solution to the magic problem.” She pats the blade at her waist. “But we’ll see how it goes.”
“You think he’ll try to hurt you?”
She gives me a skeptical look. “Hurt? No. Kill? Probably.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve been here for days and no one has said anything about attacking you. In fact, all the pirates are supposed to be on their best behavior.”
Her skepticism only increases. “You think Hook would share his plans with you, Moira? When you’ve been cozied up to Peter?”
That hit lands. I hate to think that I’ve been duped yet again, but given my track record, it’s entirely possible. I assumed from everything I’d heard that this meeting was supposed to be peaceful. Would Hook be feeding me that lie to turn it all to bloodshed when he feels he has the upper hand?
“Just keep an eye out, that’s all.” She grabs a bottle of wine from the buffet and puts her glass down. “Come on. Tiger Lily will want to see you.”
I let her lead me to the porch where Widow is leaning against the railing seductively and listening intently to every word Tiger Lily is saying. Hook is out in the back yard talking to Cobweb, the two of them looking a bit standoffish with stiff posture, but still conversing amicably enough.
“There you are.” Bunk, who’s the only person I’ve seen to even come close to Bill’s size, gives me a nod.
Wraith barely acknowledges my existence with a slight jerk of his chin, but at least he remembers me.
“—and that’s how I knew we could travel through the Fading Forest without worrying about the imps.”
Widow laughs and reaches out to touch Tiger Lily’s arm. “Well aren’t you a clever one?”
Tiger Lily smiles, but I can’t tell if she’s taking the bait. Bunk certainly is, because he’s staring right at Widow, seemingly forgetting all about me.
“Moira?” Tiger Lily turns to me. “Can I have a word?”
“Sure.”
She pulls Bunk over to Widow. “This is Bunk. He’s very familiar with this island. If you have questions, he’ll be happy to tell you anything you want to know.”
“Hi, Bunk,” Widow says brightly, though she still cuts a glance over at Tiger Lily.
Bunk seems at a loss for words as I follow Tiger Lily to a quieter spot on the wraparound porch.
Once she seems satisfied we’re out of earshot, she turns to me. “Are you safe?” Her tone is no-nonsense, none of the warm chat she was giving to Widow.
That’s a good question. One I don’t know if I can answer. “Hook hasn’t hurt me.”
“Does he intend to?” Her eyes narrow.
“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
She sighs and leans against the house. “That doesn’t tell me anything.”
I throw my hands up. “Then ask him.”
“I did. It was one of the conditions of our coming here. He gave his oath that he has no intentions of harming you.”
