Page 14 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

My grip loosens as I pull the blade back. A look of disappointment fills his eyes as he moves forward and grabs it.

“Never show an enemy your weakness.” Unflinching, his grip tightens on the sharp blade before he flings it to the side, his aim hitting a tree dead center. I look back at him as he moves quickly, throwing me over his shoulder and carrying me towards the house.

“Hook! Put me down.” I hit and punch his back and try to kick my way off him, but his grip tightens around my legs, holding me in place.

“No. You’ve had your fun and now it’s my turn.”

“My—You’re insane! I was trying to escape. None of that was fun.”

He chuckles and the deep sound of it vibrates through my body. “Are you sure about that?”

“Of course, I’m sure,” I grit out.

“Sure.” Hook chuckles again.

“Let me down…please?” I attempt a pitiful plea as a last resort.

The scenery blurs around me, making my head spin. I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment and open them as Hook slides my body down his before placing me on the ground.

“Don’ttry to run again,” he warns.

“Or what?”

His eyes narrow on me as he opens his mouth to reply but I cut him off.

“This place may be shielded but I’m guessing it’s just an illusion like you said. What’s stopping me from walking right out of here?”

“You mean apart from the many watchful eyes and me?” he drawls, too cocky for his own good.

“You’ll have to let your guard down sometime.” I glare up at him.

He steps closer, his eyes darkening. “When it comes to you, Tink, you’ll find that you hold my undivided attention. So, try as much as you want but you won’t ever escape me.”

I clench my fists and ignore his lie. Iwillescape him and this island. And soon.

Oblivious to my refusal to become another one of his prisoners, he continues on.

“And you’re wrong. The island is not only shielded through a powerful illusion. It’s also spelled.”

I freeze. “So, everyone on this island is spelled?” A flicker of hope rushes through me at the thought of being hidden right now and having one less thing to worry about. But one look at Hook shaking his head and it shrivels up.

“If someone really wanted to find anyone on the island, with the right spell, they could.” His eyes narrow on me as he straightens up.

That means I’m running out of time.

“But without my permission, everyone in this Realm knows better than to try anything so foolish.”

Everyone inthisRealm… but not in others. And it’s in those Realms that hide far more frightening monsters than the one in front of me. Far crueler and more corrupt with none of the humane side Hook may still have inside him.

I avoid the dark look he gives me and glance around wondering why it’s so warm in the garden.

Only to realize we’re already inside the manor.

CHAPTER5

A large imperialstaircase with ornate hand-carved woodwork immediately draws my attention. It sits in the center of a huge foyer, twisting off to each side, and curling up and around to the floors above.

There’s a deep blue landscape on the wall right behind the center of it. A moving illusion of some kind with clouds now darkened by dusk. And in the middle sits a large moon that casts light along the staircase.

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