“I could do that to you, Moira. Maybe I should have.” He pushes me closer to the body. “Is that what you want?”
“Stop!” I try for my cutlass again.
He grips my wrist and wrenches it behind me. “I won’t. Not until I get what I need from you.”
“Let her go.”
“James!” I scream his name at the sound of his voice.
“James?” Peter growls and twists my arm even farther up my back until my shoulder screams with pain. “You two are on a first name basis now?” He wheels me around to where Hook is standing, his blade drawn and fire in his eyes.
“Let her go.”
“Why would I? She’s mine.” He backs away, dragging me with him.
“Moira—”
“DidJamestell you all sorts of lies about me?” Peter’s tone is gleeful. “I bet he did. Did he make himself out to be the real hero?” He shouts at Hook. “Did you?”
“Just let the girl go, and you and I can finally finish this.” Hook steps closer.
Peter only drags me back farther until we’re under the lantern. “You want me to let go of my boon? No. I’d rather tell her the truth about you, Captain Hook.”
“You wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you in your lying ass.”
“I’m not the liar, though, am I? You are. Did you tell her about her mother?” Peter giggles. “Did you?”
I meet Hook’s eyes. “What’s he talking about?” I barely push the words past Peter’s grip.
“Did he tell you how he’s the one who drove her mad? When he came looking for you again and again, poisoning her mind with Neverland magic because he thought you were meant to be his? Isn’t that right,Captain?” Peter snarls.
“James?” I don’t want to believe it.
“He can’t deny it. When Wendy left, he realized his life of fighting and murdering wasn’t enough. He wanted more. He asked the island for love, and then he got it into his head that one of Wendy’s descendants was meant for him. He fixated on you. And then he drove your mother mad over it.”
My head begins to pound, my heart hammering in my chest. “James?” I demand.
“I did visit your mother, but?—”
“What?” I fight against Peter’s hold, but he doesn’t let up.
“That’s how he knew all about you. Your mother,” Peter whispers in my ear. “He even sent spies.”
“Lass, you have to listen to me.” Hook moves closer, his eyes on Peter. “Peter will say anything to convince you he’s good. Anything at all. You mustn’t believe a word he says.”
“And I’m supposed to believeyou?” I yell back. “You’ve told me over and over you aren’t good. That you’re a villain, that you were made into one. You were right!”
Hook has the audacity to look stung.
Peter laughs again. “Caught in your own trap, Hook. Fool.”
“Let her go, and we’ll see which of us is the fool.” Hook’s menace has doubled, his anger seething from him.
Much like mine.
“All right.” Peter releases me, to my shock. “She’s free.”
I step forward, but then I’m covered in darkness.
“Moira!” Hook yells for me as Peter’s shadow lifts me from the ground and carries me over the trees.
The last thing I see is Peter and Hook fighting to the death, both of their swords thirsty for blood.
