When Holt shows up at Hook’s house, he’s damp from the rain and not the good kind of damp. He’s surrounded by the remainder of his guard, which is not many. Matthieu is by his side.
The younger Remaldi cousin looks like he might have had one too many sniffs of everpowder, but who am I to judge?
When Holt spots me in the barroom, he charges at me, dagger out, then slams me into the wall and places the blade at the pulse point in my throat.
“You fucking traitor.” His eyes are bloodshot. Was he crying or is he sleep-deprived? He always wanted the throne and now he has it by right. He should be thanking me. Not that I had anything to do with his sister’s death.
“If you’ll kindly remove your blade,” I tell him.
“Or you’ll what?” A vein throbs on his forehead.
“Or I’ll eat you.”
His nostrils flare. He can’t tell if I’m joking. I’m not.
The pressure disappears and he staggers back.
I straighten my borrowed shirt. “Holt, if you want to win back your shadow and secure your throne, stop acting like a jilted little boy and start acting like a king.”
The fae queen’s wings flutter behind her as she watches the room.
What was it I said about underestimating everyone on Neverland? I may have done the same with her.
She’s tenacious. And possibly more observant than reckless.
She’s been fighting Peter Pan just as long as Hook. But neither have won. Proof is harder to ignore.
“If you’ll have a seat,” James says and nods at one of the round tables.
Several of his pirates are dotted around the room, several at each entrance and exit. They seem to have varying degrees of capabilities unlike the fae queen’s warriors who aren’t quite sure if they showed up for war or an early breakfast.
The queen must be having doubts. She’s ill-equipped for this war and that’s becoming glaringly obvious with every passing day.
She reminds me a bit of Giselle. A woman in power who has to work twice as hard as the men to keep it.
The question is, does she deserve to keep it?
Holt gives the hem of his tunic a sharp yank and then takes a seat. Matthieu stays standing just behind him.
James sits across from him, then the fae queen joins them.
Smee and I take the remaining seats next to one another. She brings with her the scent of her cigarillos, a bit of sweetness and earthiness.
“Vane has been wounded,” Hook says, and Tilly and Holt’s expressions immediately shift, registering the surprise and shock.
“How?” Holt asks.
“Not important,” James says. “If you want your shadow back, now is the time to strike.”
“And James and I plan to help you deal with Peter Pan under one condition.”
The Captain glares at me. I can practically see the steam shooting out his ears because we never discussed a condition.
“What is it?” the fae queen asks.
“We’ll help you, but my brother is left unharmed.”
Holt leans back in his chair and puffs out his chest. “Vane is prone to revenge. We all know that.”
“Yes, and his streak of revenge was directly connected to our sister and the Lorne family. Not you and yours.”
I’m not entirely sure how my brother will react to having the shadow taken from him, but that’s another problem for another day.
One of the pirates brings over several glasses and an uncorked bottle of rum. He sets a glass in front of each of us and fills them with a few fingers of liquor.
“All right,” Holt finally says and takes the offered drink in hand. “James, you’ll lend us your men?”
James’s gaze immediately cuts to mine. I lift a brow. See? my brow says.
“I can spare a few,” he answers.
“I would also like my brothers to remain unharmed,” Tilly adds. “Let me deal with them.”
Holt nods once. “As you wish.”
James downs his liquor. He barely winces at the burn. “The next question is, where do we stage this coup?”
“The treehouse would be a risk,” Smee says.
“I agree,” James says.
“Perhaps we could lure them—” Holt starts, but Cherry appears in the doorway and cuts him off.
“If Vane is injured, they’ll take him to the lagoon. That’s where they’ll be.”
I’m shocked she’d give him up so easily.
Maybe he betrayed her one too many times.
“Then it’s settled.” Holt shoves his chair back. “We should leave now and take them by surprise.”
“I agree.” I down my rum and stand next to him, giving him my most irreproachable smile. “I hope your magic rock does its job.”
Holt reaches for it hanging from the end of the chain. “Of course it will.”
Honestly, I’m hoping it works. Because if he does manage to take the shadow from my brother, I plan to take it from Holt.
And it’ll be much easier to steal as a magic rock than as a shadow.
I smile at Holt and gesture for the door. “After you, Your Highness.”
I’m going to enjoy watching that mother fucker die.
