Page 18 of Devour the Dark

She’s thinner than I am—are they feeding her?—but there’s a strength to the line of her shoulders that reminds me of Asha. She’s sure of who she is and what her place is among these feral boys.

Nothing seems to have changed about the Lost Boys.

Vane is next to Winnie, looking just as dark and dangerous as I remember.

On Pan’s other side are twin brothers. Likely Kas and Bash, the fae princes. I was before their time. James informed me of them joining Pan, of warring with their sister, of reclaiming their wings.

“I’m going down,” I tell Asha.

“You sure you don’t want to make them come to you?”

If I stand here waiting any longer, I’m worried I may vibrate myself right off the quarterdeck. I’m full of energy that needs to be expended and I don’t want my first meeting with my descendant to be shaky and sweaty.

“I’m sure.”

Asha loaned me a pair of her leather trousers, but the old habit of lifting my skirts catches me off guard and I find my hands fumbling at my thighs. I quickly turn and make my way down the quarterdeck and to the gangplank.

Seeing the shifting sea beneath the gangplank has me doubting this decision. I don’t love heights, and I especially don’t love deep, dark water, but I take a breath and make the first step down, following the pattern of the toe boards to keep myself from slipping over the edge.

As soon as I’m on the stone of the harbor road, I feel better.

You can do this, Wendy.

Peter Pan doesn’t matter.

He holds no power over you.

I step forward, teeth clenched together.

Winnie presses a hand to Pan’s chest and he stops, looks down at her.

Her lips move, but I can’t hear her words. We’re still too far away.

Pan scowls at her. She scowls back and points at him, then at me.

Finally, he relents. He and the Lost Boys stay behind as Winnie comes forward alone.

Asha and I glance at one another.

“I don’t think you have to worry about her,” Asha mutters.

Did Winnie Darling just order Peter Pan to stay behind?

I love this girl, my distant descendant, already.

And seeing the way she’s advocated for herself, how she’s handled Pan easily and without fighting, gives me confidence.

I step forward.

She quickens her pace.

My heart races in my chest and my stomach swims.

We meet at the edge of the road.

The people of the harbor continue their work around us, oblivious to the weight of this moment and what it means.

“Hi,” Winnie says.

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