“I got lost in the cave and accidentally made it out.” I shrug. “It’s kind of confusing down here.”
“So why didn’t you just go back down when you realized you were in the woods?” Peter asks, his gaze on me.
“Because …” I hiss as Nibs tightens the bandage.
“Sorry.” He straightens his glasses and leans back.
“It’s okay.” I drape the blanket over me.
“Becausewhy, Moira?” Peter crosses his arms over his chest.
“Because the pirate was there. He caught me.” That part isn’t a lie. The pirate did come out of nowhere. In fact, he did it twice. The blood in the water tries to cloud my mind, and I shake it away. I don’t want to cry anymore. I want to sleep. I want to sleep away all of this and wake up in my dorm room. Even if it doesn’t work, I just don’t want to think anymore. I’m beyond exhausted, my body aches in places I didn’t know existed, and my heart feels heavier than it ever has before. Maybe even more so than when my mother died. At least I knew that was coming. The pirate, though … He was different.
“You shouldn’t have been outside! Itoldyou to stay in the cave!” Peter’s sharp yell pulls me from my thoughts and makes the entire room go silent. “I don’t know why you keep disobeying me when it always ends in pain!” His eyes flash. “Fuck, Moira, I thought you’d be smarter!”
I recoil, pressing myself against the pillows. Something sick swirls in my stomach, and I clamp my mouth shut to keep my chin from wobbling. I won’t cry. I refuse.
Nibs and Slightly are completely still, as if afraid Peter’s ire will land on them if they move.
“I’m only trying to protect you.” He lowers his voice though a vein pulses in his forehead. Kneeling by the bed, he reaches for my hand. I pull back, but he takes it anyway and holds it. “You know I only want to keep you safe, right?” The twinkle returnsto his eye, the anger fading as Nibs and Slightly return to their work.
“I know.” My voice is small. Like me. Like my heart as it withers under the refrain of Peter’s words. But maybe he’s right. I disobeyed and got captured by the Guardians, then disobeyed again and almost got handed over to Captain Hook. Is he right? “I-I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right. You’re here now. You should rest.” Peter rises and sits beside me. “You’ve been through enough.” He strokes a limp strand of hair from my forehead. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.” He leans closer. “I won’t let it happen again. From now on, you stay here in the cave. It’s where I can protect you best.”
“I’m all right.”
“No, you’re hurt. I was too busy fighting pirates to know you’d been taken. There’s no excuse for it.” He places a light kiss on my cheek. “Can you forgive me?”
“Of course.” I fight the urge to turn toward him, to seek comfort against his golden skin. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“I have to keep you safe from Hook until the time is right. We’ll strike him after the next full moon. Once I’ve captured him, I’ll bring him to the tree and do what needs to be done to restore the island’s magic.”
“What do you have to do with him?”
“You’d rather not know,” he says grimly. “But once it’s done, you’ll be safe, and you can return to the mainland if you wish.”
Fear echoes through me, the dark kind that leaves a mark. “I don’t want anyone else to die.”
His fingers stroke along my cheek with featherlight touches. “If we can take Hook out, then no one else will. We’ll save everyone.” He says it with such hope, that boyish charm back in his tone.
I don’t want any more blood in the water, no dead fairies or Lost Boys. “Okay.” I nod. “If that’s what it takes.”
“That’s my girl.” He takes my hand, holding it between his again. “I know you’re tired, but could you tell us a story before you fall asleep? It might help relax you.”
“Better?”Peter takes my cup from me.
“Yes.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, the tension still tight behind my eyes. “I don’t know why I’m like this. I don’t remember having such a hard time with headaches.”
“It has to be the island. Maybe the magic messes with your head?” He smooths a hand over my hair. “I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” I sit up a little bit more. “Sounds fun. How long have I been in here?” The time since the mermaid bite has run together. Sleeping and dreaming, waking to find Coy or Peter watching over me, and telling stories—how many have I told, what did I even say? I can’t remember. All I know is that I’ve been in this bed for a lot longer than I want to be. I need fresh air.
“You’ve been feverish off and on, sleeping a lot.” He peers into my eyes. “But you seem better now. It’s been three days.”
“Three?” I rub my eyes. “Seriously?” I reach down and touch the bandage around the wound. “It doesn’t hurt as much. Just an ache.”
“I’m glad you’re better.” He offers me a plate of neverberries.
