Page 26 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“Some objects allow me to manipulate the energy within them. While others, I can simply use and control,” he murmurs, his lips dancing around a smile as if he already senses what his nearness is doing to me.

His words finally filter past the haze riddling my mind, leaving me stunned silent at his admission.

Not only can he find and use these items himself, but he could also manipulate and imbue them with his own energy.

It’s not an easy feat to be able to control magical items you haven’t created yourself. The most powerful Fae, Witches and Warlocks even had significant issues accomplishing that. So, to be able tocontrolthem,manipulatethem andgivethem power is… extraordinary.

It was no wonder he only ever followed his own rules. With this type of power, who would go against him?

He watches me for a moment, his expression turning guarded the longer he stares at me. A strange look flashes across his face. A look that makes it seem as if he’s questioning whether he should reveal anything more.

I don’t move an inch, and hope that my eyes convey how much I want him to continue. Even after him revealing this secret about himself, I didn’t fear him. At least I didn’tthinkI did. I feared what he could do with that power and what he could become if he used it against me.

But something inside me tells me he’d never do that.

It takes a moment of my complete stillness before he gives in, and his eyes move to the bracelet.

A warmth encircles my wrist and I watch him closely for any changes that may reveal this power. But apart from the sliver of warmth swirling my wrist, I feel nothing.

It takes a moment but then I notice the slight change that reveals it. His power. I wouldn’t have spotted it at all if not for the fact that I wasn’t solely focusing on his face.

It’s his eyes.

Hisstormyblue eyes.

I used to think it was a glint of light from the sun, or something I must have imagined. But it’s been there right in front of me the entire time.

The air in the room quickly shifts the longer he stares at the bracelet. I look closer, my focus only on those blue irises, and watch as the semblance of a storm swirls inside them. It builds and grows until his blue eyes darken and a flash of lightning strikes through them.

The warmth I felt moments ago grows and spreads further around my wrist, pulsing once before disappearing completely.

He glances at me as his stormy eyes clear and those electric blue eyes stare back at me.

“I’ve manipulated it now to give you what you wish. But there’s a catch.”

“Of course there is,” I mutter, watching as his smile grows and eyes brighten.

I cut him a glare and wait for him to share this little catch.

“Some magical items have an expiry date before becoming ordinary once again.” He dips his head to my wrist.

“And the bracelet is one of these items?” I ask, my hope starting to fizzle and dissolve as I realize what he’s saying.

He nods his head. “It was nearly completely drained already. But it had some residue of energy left over from the previous wearer. I was able to manipulate it and imbue it with enough of my power to give a kick start. It should give you one more chance to use it.”

“One more chance? What does that mean?” I grasp onto the sliver of hope before it distinguishes completely. Any chance he gave me was better than nothing right now.

Hook gives me an impassive look, but I don’t miss the flash of frustration across his eyes before he closes off any revealing expression.

“Meaning that whatever you pick, it will stay that way. I won’t be able to manipulate it again to give you another shot. Meaning you will only be able to choose one thing to stay hidden from. And after you choose it, you won’t be able to change it.”

So, I can choose to either hide from him and this island or choose my other larger problem that’s haunting me. But I can’t have both.

My shoulders drop as I realize I’ll have to come up with another way to escape Hook. If I only have one option right now, he isn’t the most pressing issue at hand.

“How far does that one thing extend to?” I didn’t just have one person I needed to hide from, there were many. So, if this only worked on one person, it would be useless to me.

I ignore the questioning look he gives me to stare at the bracelet.

---