Page 24 of Freeing Hook

I hidein a hall closet while the crew file out of the room. Captain Astor and Maddox are the last to leave. Judging by the whispered tones of Maddox’s voice, I’m guessing that wasn’t accidental. Footsteps come to a halt right outside the closet door, and I calm my breathing so their fae hearing won’t sense me.

“Is this really worth it?” asks Maddox, his previously carefree voice twined with concern.

“I don’t embark on quests that aren’t worth my time. You know that better than anyone.”

“Nolan…” My ears perk at Maddox’s use of the captain’s given name. I expect the captain to scold him for impropriety, but he doesn’t. “Iaso is gone.”

“I’m aware.”

Maddox sighs. Someone’s tapping their foot on the floor planks. “You at least have to acknowledge how this looks to the crew. Dragging us all over the world just to get rid of a Mating Mark.”

My heart skips two beats as I fumble with Maddox’s words in my head. I press my ear against the door, fearing I’ll miss out on any tidbit of information I could potentially use.

“There are plenty who understand why one might want to rid themselves of a Mating Mark,” says the captain. Something about the words sounds rehearsed.

Maddox’s response is infused with a wariness he’s not bothering to conceal. “One that’s decayed?”

“I can’t bear to look at it anymore.” Again, the floorboards creak underneath the captain’s shifting weight.

Maddox goes quiet for a moment. “I’m not sure this is going to help you get over her.”

“It’s not your choice to make, is it?” says the captain coldly.

Footsteps sound against the floorboards as someone—I’m assuming the captain—makes to leave. I have to clutch my heart to convince it not to ache for him, though I’m unsuccessful. As much as I hate the captain, I can’t imagine the pain that would rip through me if I lost Peter. I’d felt a portion of it when the ship had left Neverland, and even that had been unbearable.

The idea of Peter dying…

I believe I’d want to rid myself of my Mark, too.

“It’s not going to work,” says Maddox, calling after his captain. “Not if you need to convince the Carlisles that you’re in love with Charlie.”

The captain’s voice is distant, like he’s already made it down the hall. “I’ll make it work.”

“You’re such a stubborn fool.”

The captain laughs, but there’s a brotherly sort of affection in it.

“What if they don’t have the information you need?” Maddox asks.

“The Carlisles make it their business to know everything. I assure you, if there’s someone out there with the ability to remove a Mating Mark, they’ll know.”

I bite my lip, my mind whirring. I’ve heard of the Carlisles before, though I know little about them. John and I used to hide underneath the wheeled serving carts and spy on my parents’ dinner parties. People spoke of the Carlisles the way they spoke about serial murders, feigned horror disguising the elation of twisted intrigue. From what I gathered, if you had a question, the Carlisles could answer it.

For a hefty price.

If the captain has enough faith in the Carlisles’ hoard of knowledge to believe it’s worth impersonating this Cortland Rivers to learn how to rid himself of his wife’s dead MatingMark, then maybe the Carlisles could tell me how to rid Peter of his curse, the magic that makes it so that he can’t feel pain.

My feet move independently of my will, and I shove myself out of the closet, mouth blurting, “I’ll do it.”

The captain whirls around to face me, aggravated surprise limning his sharp features. Maddox, on the other hand, looks to be teetering on the edge of laughter.

“Why, you must be Wendy Darling,” he says, taking my hand and pressing a kiss to my knuckles with a wink. “I’m Darian Maddox, First Mate.”

My stomach flips over. He really is quite handsome, his eyes a steely gray, exuding warmth despite their cool tone. I can see why Charlie was disappointed when the opportunity to play the part of his wife was snatched out from under her.

“You’ll do what?” drawls the captain, glancing back and forth between me and Maddox. Maddox smirks and drops my hand.

I do my best to assume a more confident posture to make up for the trembling in my voice. “Be your wife.”

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