Valinx lies outside the kitchen, a hand at his stomach. “Moira.” His voice is reedy and thin.
Shiner ducks from beneath my arm and rushes to him, dropping to her knees. “How bad is it?”
“Could be worse.” Valinx sighs.
When Shiner grabs his wrist and lifts his hand from the wound, she puts it back quickly and places her own hand over his.
Widow lowers me to the ground beside him, and I stare at the blood that still rushes from between his fingers.
“Don’t go.” I take his other hand.
“I was hoping to fatten you up before I took my leave.” He smiles weakly. “You need a good cook to set you to rights.”
“You’re an amazing cook, and you aren’t going anywhere.” I squeeze his fingers. He becomes fuzzy in my haze of tears. “I’m ready to be fattened up, all right?”
“All right.” He gasps in another breath.
“Please, Valinx.” I hold his hand between mine, his skin dark and luminous, my own pale and aged in comparison. He has so much life. This shouldn’t be happening.
“No.” Shiner shakes her head. “No!”
That’s when I realize he’s taken his last breath. He’s no longer looking at me though his eyes are still open.
Shiner pulls her hand away, her palm bloody. “No,” she whispers.
I close my eyes and say a prayer to whoever’s out there that Valinx’s next kitchen is stocked to the brim with only the best ingredients. But he should still be here. This mindless slaughter has to end.
“We have to go. They’re still here.” Widow’s gaze is on the treeline at the edge of the village. I can’t see any Lost Boys, but I know she’s right. Peter will sacrifice as many of his soldiers as he must if that means he gets his hands on me again.
“You will be given a hero’s burial.” Shiner dips her chin, bowing to Valinx, and then she stands.
“I’m so sorry.” I lean on both of them again.
“He died a hero’s death defending the village and the island. There’s no nobler end for any of our people.” Shiner says it with certainty, but I can still sense the pain in her voice.
There’s nothing more to be said. Grief lives in the silence between us as they help me away from the kitchen and deeper into the village.
“Whoa!” Shiner pulls out her blade as a Lost Boy runs between the kitchen and the round house.
He doesn’t stop for us, only sprints away like the devil is on his tail.
Because the devilison his tail.
Hook appears from between the buildings, the scowl on his face so intense that I almost wince. He has blood on his shirt, a rapier in his hand, and vengeance writ large in his eyes.
When he turns his gaze on me, my breath catches.
His prey forgotten, he stares at me, his eyes wide with recognition. No, not just recognition—there’s so much more there, not the least of all is love.
My mouth drops open, and all the emotions that I carry hidden within myself, locked away in beautiful boxes with unbreakable latches—all of it bursts open like a dam giving way. My tears flow freely, and I whimper as he stalks to me.
Sheathing his sword, he grabs me around my waist, lifts me up, and kisses me hard on the mouth.
I can’t think, can’t focus on anything except the claiming brand of his tongue, the way his hands rove me with complete possession.
He crushes me to him, almost as if he wants to tuck me away inside his ribcage where its safe. I cling to him, wrapping my arms around his neck as he grabs my ass and pulls my legs so I’m straddling him.
“Lass.” He pulls back, his eyes meeting mine, like the sea crashing on the shore. “Are you hurt?”
