Page 26 of The Last Lost Girl

And Overshadowed, she is destruction. She is manipulation, and fury, and death.

For me, she held all the darkness back. But she would unleash it on Pan.

I reach for the pile of clothes Smee brought for me. I can’t hide from Hook forever, especially not in his own room.

eleven

The second I limp from behind the screen, Hook flings the doors open and is standing in front of me before I can manage another hop. Without giving me time to argue, the pirate scoops me into his arms and carries me across the room. He gingerly places me on his bed and shouts for Smee.

The giant man rushes in carrying a wooden box with beautifully intricate patterns carved over the fitted lid. Smee lifts the lid and carefully places it on the bed at my side just before dropping to his knees in front of me.

Hook watches as Smee removes a small jar from the box and untwists its gilded lid. Inside, the jar is mostly empty, but along its sides are swipes of a thick lotion that looks like it’s made of pure gold.

“It’s a healing salve,” Hook supplies tersely.

“What’s in it?” I question. Smee looks up at Hook as if expecting him to answer. Does he not know, or is he afraid to speak out of turn?

“I didn’t make the salve, Lifeguard, but it’s both potent and priceless. Count yourself fortunate that I’m offering you what little we have left.”

“What if you need it for someone else?” Someone worse off, I mean.

Hook blows out an annoyed huff. “As nice as it’s been, I can’t keep carrying you everywhere, Precious.”

Smee’s brows raise, either at the term of endearment or the silky way he says it. Hook’s first mate clears his throat and looks up at me for permission to use the balm.

Deciding that if Hook wants to waste the last of his golden healing goop on me, then so be it, I reach for the jar.

“Let him apply it,” Hook orders, ticking his chin toward his first mate.

I straighten my spine. “I can do it myself.”

Hook’s brows raise in annoyance. “Lifeguard, you’re tempting my patience.”

The way he growls the words makes a shiver slide up my spine. I see a sliver of pearly teeth before he sharply adds, “The salve must be applied in a very specific way. And afterward, your foot will need to be wrapped to limit its mobility as you heal. Smee is skilled at such wrapping. Are you?”

I look away from him and purse my lips.

“I’ll try to be careful not to hurt you, Miss,” Smee promises.

I nod and let him prop my heel on his muscled thigh. Every swipe of his thumb leaves a sparkling trail over my skin, but his swipes arch upward like he’s forming a brace with the substance. He wraps my ankle in a broad swath of linen fabric and tightly ties the ends to secure them.

Smee stares into the jar as he twists the lid back on. There is a tiny bit of glimmer left inside. For some reason, deep in my belly, I’m relieved it wasn’t all used on me and some of it remains, even if it’s only a scrape.

He nestles the jar back in the box and tucks a piece of cloth down inside it and around the glass to cushion it before putting the decorative lid back in place.

When Smee braces a hand on his knee and prepares to stand, I stop him by placing my hand on his. “Thank you, Smee.”

His dips his head. “Glad I could help.” He looks toward the captain and clears his throat before pushing to his feet. “I’ll go fetch the tray of food I made for her,” he tells Hook as if I’m not right in front of him. The captain hums his approval.

While I watch Smee leave, I’m aware of Hook’s eyes on me.

He leans back against his tidy desk and crosses his arms while I try my very best not to squirm or ask why he’s looking at me like that, or why he’s not talking. With a start, I note that he scrutinizes me with the same intensity he did the ocean. As if I – not it – can calm him. Which makes no sense at all.

“Who put the marks on your skin?” he finally asks.

What?

“I saw your back,” he reminds in a deadly calm tone that clashes with the fire kindling in his stare. “And your side. And I’m guessing there are other hidden places that are battered and bruised. Who beat you?”

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