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Hook groaned at my feet, and I glanced down. “Hang tough for one more minute.” I tried not to let any concern slip into my voice, but with his blood pooling around my feet, it wasn’t the easiest thing in the world. Panic tried to seep in. If Matty was here, in this world, was he facing this kind of attack right now too?
My blood turned to ice in my veins. If something bad happened to him, I would destroy every evil creature in this realm.
I counted to ten in my head before turning back to Hook and squatting beside him. “Where is everyone else?”
He didn’t respond. My heart skittered for a second before I saw his chest was still rising and falling. It was shallow and weak, but I would take it.
“Where is your worthless crew?” I pressed my lips together and stood, trying to remember where the pirates had all been going when they were moving around the deck. I spotted a slanted hatch off to one side and stalked over to it. Using the sole of my boot, I stomped hard on the panel three times. It was solid, but I could hear the booming racket I was making down below.
“Hey!” I stomped again. “Wake up, you fucking pussies, and get your asses out here! Your captain is dying!” I felt a sharp pain in my chest at the thought but shoved it away. It was just adrenaline, just the excitement from the fight. Because I wasn’t developing feelings for the guy. That was a big nope to me hooking up with a pirate. No pun intended.
Normally something like that would at least bring a smile to my lips, but I wasn’t even in the mood for my own stupid jokes. I was worried about my brother. And now, apparently, I was worried about my captor.
I heard a noise below and stepped back. When the hatch swung open, a slender man with a sharply angled face that still somehow managed to be handsome stared up at me. He spotted the sword in my hand, did a double take, then climbed up the stairs with his wide eyes locked on me.
“Where?”
I used the sword to point to where Hook was curled on his side and the guy took off across the deck without another word.
14
NEVER
Two hours later, Hook was locked in his room and William, the guy from the hatch, was filling me in on all things siren. Like, apparently, they could only shapeshift in water. Which meant the rainstorm was the only reason they were able to climb up onto the ship.
“Does this happen often then?” I asked, motioning to the blood-stained deck. The crew had already finished off the injured sirens who weren’t able to drag themselves off the ship and unceremoniously pitched their remains overboard.
He shook his head. “We usually sail through the storms rather than remaining anchored close to the island. It makes it harder for the sirens to latch on.”
“Why stay anchored tonight then?”
“The captain said he would take you to shore in the morning. He wanted to remain close to the island so he could keep his word.” He gave me a look like I was just the most adorably foolish girl he’d ever met. I should have been offended, I wanted to be, but I could tell he wasn’t doing it to be a jerk. The man really thought that was something I should have known.
“So, instead of being a little tardy delivering me back to the island, now he’s on his death bed. That’ll make it a little tough for him to live up to his commitments, won’t it?” I held up my hand. “You know what, forget it. I don’t care.” I glared over at Hook’s door. “Shouldn’t someone be in there with him, making sure he’s not choking on his own blood or something?”
“He’ll be fine. Miss…” He motioned to me. “The captain has indicated you are not fond of your family name. What would you prefer I call you?”
“Call me Never.”
“Very well. He’ll be fine, Miss Never. He’s not—”
“Just Never. No miss, no ma’am, none of that.”
William’s right eye twitched like his brain couldn’t process what I was saying. “It’s not proper to call a lady—”
“See, that’s where you’re getting your wires crossed. I’m no lady.”
He offered me a curt nod. “Never it is. Just, bear with me, please.” He paused, straightening his blood-stained vest. “I am not accustomed to speaking so casually with a woman.”
“It’s my name, William. See, I’m using yours. It’s not that hard. Try it again.” I lifted my brows and flipped my hand in a circle.
“What I was saying, Never, is that the captain will be fine. He is not like us.” He motioned between us. “He is—”
“Not fond of his first mate sharing details that aren’t his to share,” Hook said, buttoning up his shirt as he walked toward us.
William jerked to a stand, a stuttered apology spilling from his mouth.
I ignored his groveling and studied Hook’s chest. “How are you upright?” I got to my feet and started to take a step toward him, but he held up a hand.
