Page 47 of Freeing Hook

I blink, peering over the railing down at the foaming black waves. The rocking of the ship is making me nauseous, or perhaps it’s simply the compilation of the last few days’ events.

The pouch grows heavy in my hand. My mind races, thumbing through my options for any possible scenario that would play out with me successfully getting the faerie dust back to our cabin. But Charlie is staring at me intently, and I’m not talented enough at sleight-of-hand to switch the pouch out with something else.

Charlie sighs, though it’s more patient than not. “I’ll do it for you if that’s what you need. But it would be best if you did it.”

Peter had wanted me to have this, but there’s no way of explaining that to Charlie. No way to tell her about my attempt to take my own life because of the wraiths, not without betraying Peter visited me.

I could throw Charlie overboard.

The waves are angry tonight, crates sliding across the deck every few minutes. The wind is howling. It’s unlikely anyone would hear it happen. And Charlie wouldn’t be expecting it. It’s doubtful I could overpower her otherwise, but aided by the element of surprise…

“Wendy?”

Shame and realization wash over me in equal measure. I shove the murderous thoughts back down, horrified they even popped into my mind.

“Right,” I say, hands shaking as I hold the pouch over the railing. I will my fingers to let go. Such a simple motion, but they seem locked in place. Like the faerie dust itself holds the key and has no intention of sharing.

“It’s the only thing that helps,” I whisper, not really intending for Charlie to hear.

“I know,” she says. “But we’ll find you other things. I promise.”

I let go.

The next day,Maddox informs me that he’s been assigned to teach me to defend myself.

CHAPTER 18

WENDY

“Well, you have excellent grip strength,” says Maddox, clearly stretching for something positive to say.

Our first training session started an hour ago. It hasn’t gone well. In that time, he’s almost cut my arm off twice with blows I didn’t have the strength to parry, nor the speed to avoid.

“Maddox here is too optimistic,” says Charlie, perched on the edge of the ship watching us like we’re here for entertainment. “He starts everyone off like this: way in over their head.”

Maddox rolls his eyes then offers me a wink. “Charlotte is just bitter because I gave her a paper cut on our first day of training.”

Charlie guffaws. “A paper cut? It went down to the bone.”

“That’s not how I remember it.”

“That’s because your brain magically erases any negative memories. We had to dock for a fortnight until the healers could extract the infection. I thought for sure I was going to be left behind.”

“And did we leave you behind, Charlotte?” says Maddox.

Her lip twitches up as she kicks her heels against the edge of the boat. “No.”

“Then I’m not sure what you’re complaining about.”

I’d be laughing, except my ribs hurt from where Maddox slammed me across the chest earlier. Thankfully, he’d had the sage wisdom to switch to a blunt weapon by that point.

“This is hopeless,” I say, resigned to the fact that there’s little I can do to avoid my frequent kidnapping.

“Nah,” says Maddox, poking me in the side with the blunt edge of his sword. “I wasn’t kidding about the grip strength. You haven’t dropped your weapon once. Even when I’ve landed a blow and knocked the breath out of you. That’s more than some can say.”

“Yes, I’m sure my ability to hold on to my hilt for long periods of time is going to really come in handy,” I say, tugging my arms upward to keep the short sword from dragging on the ground. Even holding it in front of my chest in the stance Maddox taught me is a labor. “I’m hardly able to keep a defensive stance for more than a few minutes.”

“Unless you’re going into battle anytime soon, a few minutes is all you need.”

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