When I turn around, I see two rowboats on the water. Skylights is in the one that’s flying toward us, his arms working the oars with speed and precision.
“He looks almost as good as me when I row.” Starkey shrugs. “Almost.”
The boat slows to a stop beside us, and Hook gingerly places me on the bench before climbing in beside me.
“Get a move on, Sky.” Hook turns to me and pulls me into his lap.
I should protest at him treating me like a doll, but I rather like it. It’s like I’ve been starved for him, for his touch. Which reminds me. “Where have you been?”
“Pardon, lass?”
“I was with Peter for I don’t know how long, and then with the Guardians. Where were you?” I even have enough strength to add some attitude to my question. Just being close to him is charging me up … with sass.
“Looking high and low for you, terrorizing the imps to get them to tell me the entrance to Peter’s cave, interrogating the Lost Boys we managed to capture, scouring the areas where we’ve seen Lost Boys hanging about?—”
“When you say ‘interrogating’ and ‘terrorizing’ do you mean …torture?”
He snorts. “Let’s just say I won’t be welcome back into the imp encampment for quite a while.”
“Don’t forget Anne.” Skylights gives me a grim look.
“Anne? The pirate queen?” I ask.
“That’s the one. Calico Jack was her husband,” Skylights says between rows. “She hated him of course.”
“Despised him,” adds Hook.
“But she’s looking for revenge now that he’s dead.” Skylights exhales and sucks in a breath before pulling the oars even faster.
“She’s chasing you?” I glance out over the dark water but see only the Jolly Roger.
“We shook her when she got tangled up with a sea dragon, but she’ll be after us again soon enough.” Hook shrugs.
“Is there anyone around here thatdoesn’twant us dead?” I lean against him, safe in his arms.
“No more than I can count on one hand, lass.”
Now I’m the one snorting a laugh. We’re escaping one danger and running—or rowing—right into another.
If there’s one constant about Neverland, it’s that something or someone is always out for blood. At least I know who my enemies are this time around. I look up at Hook, his eyes bright even in the cool moonlight. Whatever else he may be, this man is mine. Maybe I made a wish too a long time ago. Maybe I wished for him just as much as he wished for me. It’s a comforting thought that brings me back around to a not-so-comforting one.
What did Peter wish for, and why did the island lead him to me?
Chapter
Eight
“If you could give me some room, that would be wonderful.” Skylights shoots Hook a tart look.
“Get on with it.” Hook hovers by my side as Skylights holds the lantern up to my face.
I can’t help it—I slap the sides of my palms together in front of my nose and hide. “Don’t look. I know it’s bad.”
“No, lass.” Hook sits beside me. “You’re beautiful.”
“I’m wretched.” I groan. “I feel like a piece of taffy that’s been pulled too far, and I look like …” I don’t think they’ll get my ‘Crypt Keeper’ reference, so I let it go.
Skylights presses his listening apparatus to my heart.
