Page 58 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

My body shakes on its own but not from fear. From anger. My chest burns climbing up my throat as if ready to breathe flames.

The dark power stirs beneath my skin as an answer to my rising anger. It’s the bucket of cold water I need to snap out of it.

I push the power down and focus on staying calm.

Staying quiet the rest of the way back, I lose myself to thoughts that help distract me. But my mind instantly drifts to thoughts of Hook.

That’s why he was so angry. He wasn’t angry withme. He was angry because of Ben and what could’ve happened.

What could’ve happened…I was so foolish, so naïve in this Realm that I could’ve let something horrific happen, all because I thought someone was being nice to me.

I should’ve known better. After all, Peter was nice in the beginning. Before Hook left.

We arrive back at Hook’s before I know it. I ignore Cash’s look to start up to my room, but he reaches out to stop me.

“He cares about you, Tink,” his voice is soft as he frowns at me.

I shake my head. “He thinks this is all a game, and he wants to own me, nothing more.”

Cash’s eyes widen as he releases my arm. “He planned this entire night just so he could spend some time with you. He’s been wanting to dance with you since he came up with the idea to go out. He thought Dagon’s club would be safe. He may be over the top when it comes to you. But it’syou, Tink.”

Me?“What does that mean, Cash? Why me?” Could this be just another one of Hook’s games? Something that has yet to be revealed to me.

“I can’t…” Cash shakes his head, stopping himself. “You need to talk to Hook. He’ll explain.”

“Explain what?” I push.

“Why he cares,” he says before turning and leaving me more confused than when I started.

Still angry with not only Hook, but myself, I move up the stairway and keep moving until I find my room. Taking a quick shower, I throw on some light nightwear and head for my bed. Ready for another restless night just like every other before it.

But after the night I had, I hoped that I would have just one night of rest. Just one.

Throwing my damp hair up into a bun, I reach over and turn off the light before I get under my covers and lie down.

Only to freeze at the sight before me.

A dark night sky comes alive before my eyes with thousands of tiny stars slowly blinking to life across it.

Bright, beautiful starlight that slowly soothes my restless thoughts and turbulent emotions. I take a deep breath and a cool air drifts down to me making me feel like I was outside, instantly easing the tightness in my chest.

Similar to my room in Neverland, Hook gave me the stars. He plucked the starlight and night sky and placed it in my room across my ceiling.

But more than that, he gave me a light in the darkness and a place where I could feel safe.

Cash’s words about Hook caring about me flash across my mind.

He cares… The stars above me prove it. If he just wanted to own me, he wouldn’t have done this. He wouldn’t have gone out of his way to put my mind at ease. The thought alone soothes something inside me.

My heart was another issue. I was scared to trust myself and what I felt because I’ve been wrong before. The people closest to me have always betrayed me. So why would he be any different?

As if the sky full of starlight can hear my hidden thoughts of Hook, a storm of color sweeps through it. A swirl of green follows a pulse of blue and a strike of pink. The array of colors mix together to form new ones to become something breathtakingly beautiful.

My mind finally relaxes, my thoughts drifting away as I watch the magical sky above me. I stare at the starry night until my eyelids grow heavy and slowly close as I drift into a peaceful sleep. One with stars watching over me and stormy blue eyes following me close behind.

CHAPTER16

I wakewith a small smile on my face after a full night’s sleep. I haven’t felt so refreshed and awake in so long.

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