It’s the distraction we need.
As Hook comes at me, Vane flies toward Darling and Tilly. The Dark One has always been fast, but he’s faster when the Darling is in danger.
He has her scooped up in his arms before Tilly even realizes what’s happening.
Good.
Hook barrels into me and I let him cart me backward right through the open library doors.
My shadow senses me and trembles, wherever it is.
There’s shouting in the next room and several guns go off.
Right before Hook slams me into a couch, I spot the twins on their feet, decimating the fae warriors with nothing but their fists.
Hook and I go down and then he rises above me, eyes wide, mouth cut into a slash as the anger takes over.
I have a temper, but Hook’s is legendary.
His hand comes to my throat while his hook lashes out, catching me across the face. Blood immediately wells in the cut. He squeezes harder and a puff of air escapes me and lifts the sweat-soaked hair around his face.
“How could you!” he shouts.
“She…kicked…and…screamed the whole…way.” He doesn’t like that. He jabs his hook into my side and the tine pierces flesh. White hot pain lances through me.
But I’m more focused than ever and Hook is losing his fucking shit.
I reach into my pants pocket and pull out a watch.
The end of Hook’s hook punctures deeper and the sharp pain sinks to bone, forcing tears to well in my eyes.
Working blindly, I feel out for the pin on the side of the watch and press it in.
Tick-tock.
Hook flinches.
Tick-tock-tick-tock.
Terror ebbs into his face.
“No,” he says on a choked breath. “He’s here.”
Tick-tock-tick…
He stumbles away and clutches his hook to his chest. “No, no, no.”
As blood runs down my side drenching my shirt, I struggle to my feet and scan the room. My shadow is somewhere here. I can feel it.
Hook backpedals into the corner and sinks to the floor, his arms shielding his head. It’s so fucking easy to get to him.
In the other room, Kas is beating one of the pirates with a marble bust. Blood is painting the air. Tilly is circling Bash, her wings bright crimson and fluttering behind her.
Vane and the Darling are nowhere in sight.
There are cabinets at the bottom of every section of bookcases and I start opening doors, looking inside. I find a rectangular chest in the third one. The chest rocks when I crouch down beside it.
“There you are, you little fucker.”
The chest rattles again.
I grab one of the leather straps and yank it out, then retrieve the seashell just to be on the safe side.
“Here it fucking goes. Don’t you dare run away from me again.”
I flip the latch.
