“Peter.” I sag, my legs finally giving out.
“Come on.” She hoists me over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and runs across the sand.
“What’s happening?” I can’t see anything except Bill Jukes running along behind me, a huge axe in his hands and blood on his face.
“Hook has the upper hand,” Widow calls. “Peter is falling back toward the trees.”
“Tinker Bell?”
“She’s fucking with Peter, flying in his face and flashing that bright gold.” Widow slows, then puts me down on the sand. “Bill!”
“I’ve got her,” he calls.
“I’m going to help.” Widow blows me a kiss then runs toward Peter and Hook.
I watch helplessly as Hook continues unleashing his fury on Peter, his sword shining and slicing through the air until Peter stumbles backward and falls on his ass, his sword in the sand. Hook is ready to make the killing blow.
Tinker Bell bursts into her full form and lets out a harrowing cry full of pain and rage. A golden blade is in her hand, and she stabs it straight down toward Peter’s heart.
She doesn’t make it.
Peter pulls a second blade from his side and shoves it into her chest. “Traitor!” he yells, and even the water seems to tremble at the force in his cry. “Fucking traitor, Ineverbelieved in you!”
Tinker Bell falls, her skin leaching of color.
Peter rises straight into the air, his gaze sweeping the beach and landing on me.
Bill steps in front of me, his axe at the ready. “Come on, you twat,” he growls.
I hold my breath, my entire body taut.
Then Peter takes off toward the mountains, disappearing under the glow of the falling moon.
“Bill.” I reach for him. “Take me to her. Please.”
He scoops me up easily and lumbers over to Tinker Bell.
“Are you all right?” Hook runs to me.
“I’m okay. Tink saved me.”
He takes me from Bill and sits me down next to her.
“Tink?” I take her hand.
“I’m here. And you’re still here too, I see. Dummy,” she says it almost warmly.
“You almost had him.” I squeeze her hand.
“I should’ve known he’d have a trick up his sleeve. He always does.”
“Do you think you can?—”
“No.” She sighs, golden blood leaking around the knife in her chest. “I’m done.”
“I’m sorry.” I reach up and stroke her hair.
She lets me.
