Page 28 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

He smiles like it’s one question he hoped I’d ask. “I may have been able to manipulate it and charge it. But it won’t last forever. You’ll need something more permanent.”

I look down at the bracelet and focus on its warmth. The bracelet pulses as if answering my call and I feel a small measure of safety from those that hunt me, my presence in this Realm, not an issue for now.

But even if I have one problem dealt with, I still had another.

Hook.

“So, if I help you, you’ll let me keep this bracelet and find me a more permanent solution? And then what?” I question, searching his face for any tell that would reveal this is just another one of his games. But once again, I find none. “Will you just let me go?” I push, needing to hear him say it. Needing to hear him tell me that I will be free once I did what he asked of me.

“Exactly. Sounds like a fair deal, does it not?” Hook smiles, but something flickers in his eyes that I don’t catch.

I look at him warily not believing for a second that there will be anythingfairabout it. But push aside my growing doubts for now to listen to what he wants.

“Whatexactlyis it you want me to do?” I didn’t want any more half-truths or veiled lies or games. If he wanted my help with something, he needed to ask me outright.

As if reading my thoughts, Hook’s smile widens before growing into something wicked. Something that has a sense of dread rolling through the pit of my stomach.

“I want you to be my bait.”

CHAPTER8

The lookin his eyes tells me he’s completely serious. That this is most definitely not some idiotic joke.

I take another step back from the madman in front of me.

Why is it that everyone wanted to use me? Why do they always have an ulterior motive that suited only them?

I knew there had to be a catch. Something that would cost me way more than I realized, and in this case, it was my life.

Hook didn’t want myhelp. He wanted touseme. Just like everyone else.

“So, you can hand me over to them and solve two of your problems at once?” I shake my head, my guard truly and firmly up.

“I think I’ll pass and take my chances without your so-calledhelp.” I cut him a glare, ready to fight him on this but instead catch his eyes soften.

“No, Tink. Despite what you may think of me, I would never let them have you, nor would I ever go back on my word.” The sincerity in his voice makes me pause.

“Why?” It would quickly solve his problem and he could go back to his life before the Hunters arrived and I dropped into it.

“Because I may be the villain of your story, but I’m not a monster.” He takes a step closer to me, a sinful smile sliding across his lips.

“Cruel? Most definitely.” He moves another slow, calculated step, his eyes trained on me and every move I make.

“Vicious? Even more so…” He takes another step, and then another until he’s standing right in front of me once more, his eyes blazing down on me, holding me captive.

“And utterly ruthless in every way,” he says in a dangerous tone. “But only for those that deserve it.”

Butwhodeserves it? And just because he’s choosing not to add me to that little list doesn’t mean he won’t suddenly change his mind when the time comes.

“How do I know you won’t double-cross me?” My voice is low and shaky, sounding strange to my ears.

“I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.” His eyes darken with a pained look before he takes a step back, giving me the space I needed to think.

I mull over his words as I consider his deal. If I believe him and he betrays me, I’ll be stuck with those Hunters and could end up some place I might never escape. Or worse, they could end up taking me to the Fae Realm and then death would be a reprieve from what awaits me there.

I run my thumb across the oval stone on the bracelet and feel a thrum of its power since Hook charged it.

I could escape. Now that I have the bracelet and it's already charged and activated, technically, I could go anywhere I please and hide.

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