“Not for me, lass.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Filthy pirate.” I snuggle against him.
“Sultry temptress.” He rests his hand at my waist. “Sleep now. All that clanking around in your head can wait till tomorrow.”
It can’t. It shouldn’t. But I take the reprieve and drift off into dreams of a great golden tree with nothing but shadows at its roots.
Chapter
Sixteen
“Have you forgotten everything I taught you?” Widow dances out of range as I swing my wooden sword at her.
“No!”
“Seems like you did.” She swings her sword, narrowly missing my arm as I jump back.
“You’re just trying to make me mad so I do something dumb.” I back up and adopt a more defensive posture.
“It works every time.” She shrugs.
“It does.” Bill nods from his spot on the sidelines.
“Not helping.” I glare at him.
Widow streaks through my peripheral vision, and I spin and strike out, my sword smacking her in the ass as she sweeps my legs.
I fall but catch myself on a rope hanging from the mast beside me.
Widow’s back is turned, because she’s certain I’m on the deck. When I place my wooden sword on the side of her throat, she whirls. “Seriously?”
“You’re seriously beaten.”
“That fairy juice fixed you right up.” Bill gives an amused snort.
“Fairy juice? Gross.” I lower my sword.
Widow squares up again. “I guess I’ll have to stop holding back now.”
“You weren’t holding back.” I kick my chin up.
“Lass, she’sdefinitelybeen holding back.” Hook steps up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.
I lean against him. “I can hold my own.”
“You’ll get there.” He kisses my ear, which I’ve discovered are much pointier than before. They aren’t full fae, but they certainly aren’t the rounded tips I’m used to. “Just have to keep practicing.”
Widow looks up at the waning moon. “We’ve been at this for hours. I need a break.” She sheaths her sword and strides off toward Starkey, who’s waiting with a cup of water—or rum.
“How soon before we make it to the Crystal Caves?” I turn in Hook’s arms and look up at him.
“A day.”
“Widow said we have to get through the Neverstorm first.”
“Aye. We could dodge it, but that would take us all the way back around the island, past the cape, and up the other side. We don’t have that much time, not when Peter’s still after you.” He presses his lips to mine. “I won’t rest until that twat is in pieces.”
“You’re so romantic.” I kiss him back, then pull away. “We still haven’t talked about everything. You snuck out before I woke up.”
