Page 25 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

Of course, he does. He also seems to have an answer for everything, too.

“How? How can youchargeit and how can you find me something more permanent?” I’ve never heard of anyone being able to do that. It has to be another one of his tricks.

Hook smirks at me, giving me a look that says he knows I don’t believe him and yet still finds it amusing.

“I have many,manytalents. Most you are unaware of…” Suggestion bleeds through his tone as a wolf’s smile slides across his face.

“But the main one you should be aware of, is my ability to find rare and unique treasures of the magical kind.”

“But… but you’rehuman.” A jolt of shock shoots through me as I search his face and his eyes for anything that would reveal otherwise.

“Half,” he teases with a small smile. But I ignore it, still too stunned at his little confession.

How did I not know? How did I never sense it? I reach out trying to do just that. To sense something, anything. But like always, all I sense is human.

“And your other half?” I press while still searching his face for something that would reveal it. But apart from those otherworldly eyes, I find nothing out of the ordinary. Or nothing out of the ordinary for Hook.

Nothing about him ever screamedaverage. From the sharp line of his jaw, down the length of his body and every hard and taunt muscle in between. To the way he moved as graceful as a Fae but as stealthy as a hunter. To the way he captured everyone’s attention with his presence alone. To his mesmerizing electric blue eyes that could easily enthrall or enchant you. Reveal every emotion or cut you hard in one look.

“It’s not worth discussing.” He brushes it off as if he’s discussing the weather and not something important.

But my head spins with this new information he revealed.

I try to think back to what I’d heard of him from Peter. The vicious tales of how he easily conquered lands and pillaged villages and towns.

I used to brush it aside, thinking no human could do such a thing with many of the towns and villages in other Realms having magical beings to protect them.

But now?… Now I start to question if maybe it was real. If Hook could always do what he says and is able to find unique magical items to use. If it is, then he could have the ability to cause havoc and destruction just like Peter said he did.

Now that I think about it, having the ability to fling someone through the air or move as fast as a Fae or Demon makes sense now. And if he really had the ability to find these rare items, then he could be more powerful than anyone ever realized.

I still can’t sense any power from him though. But it could be a magical item blocking me from sensing his power. And something he’s always had on him, even back in Neverland.

I start to see him differently. And start to question everything I know about him. Every moment we spent together and the stories I heard from Peter after he left.

It’s silly to feel hurt that he never told me about this. Especially when I haven’t told him my own secrets.

But that’s what I am feeling right now.

Hook frowns as if sensing my shifting mood, losing any of his playfulness to watch me.

“All you need to know is that I can help you get you what you want.”

I wanted to know a lot more than that. Like how he was able to hide this ability from me. Or why? But it’s also not something I could outright ask him.

I doubted he even knew what it was I wanted. I didn’twantto have to hide. But it was a necessary evil.

“How?” I ask him, while wondering why he wants to help me at all. He left Neverland without so much as a backward glance. So, whatever this is, it’s not for my benefit.

He wants to make a deal. But I have a niggling feeling that it will weigh heavily in his favor and all my restless thoughts and irrational emotions will be for nothing.

“You also said you could charge this bracelet? Is that another one of your hiddentalents?” I raise my hand and shake the silver bracelet on my wrist.

Hook loses his frown and quickly dons a boyish smile as he reaches out to take my hand.

“My ability spans further than simply sensing rare relics and treasures of both the magical and normal kind.” His fingers move to my wrist and my skin tingles from his touch.

I ignore it and any other treacherous feelings that try to make themselves known. Especially when Hook shifts closer, and the warmth of his body slowly seeps into mine.

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