Page 29 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

But then… It’s also not a permanent solution. It will eventually drain. There’s also the little problem of having to find a Darling witch before it does, or everything I did to escape will be for nothing. And that’s assuming I even figure out where a Darling witch lives.

I didn’t want to be on the run for the rest of my life either.

I glance up at Hook as he watches me patiently. Something I didn’t think he had in him.

A flutter of warmth spreads throughout my chest as a sliver of hope rises up inside me.

What if he’s telling me the truth? What if he’s willing to protect me and also help me in exchange for me becoming hisbait?

The permanent solution he had might end up changing everything for me and for the better. Then I could avoid more than one problem and go live the life I wanted. Whatever that may be.

But in the end, it would bemychoice. And that’s all I ever wanted.

“Say that I believe you and I agree to be your bait. Then I have some…termsI’d like to add to this so-called deal.”

Hook’s eyes twinkle with amusement, finally losing that dark, pained look. “Letting you keep the bracelet, finding you a permanent solutionandkeeping you safe from the Hunters isn’t enough?”

“No.” I give him a deadpan look. If I was going to risk my life for his little cause, I wanted something more.

Hook smiles as he moves back to the desk to lean against it.

“Go ahead then. Tell me your terms,” he says, his tone amused.

I clear my throat, not expecting him to give in so easily. But I wasn’t going to throw away this opportunity so quickly.

“I don’t want to be treated as a prisoner. More of a…guest. And I want to be able to come and go freely.”

“Giving you a room full of luxury didn’t show you that you were never truly a prisoner here?” His brows lift in surprise.

“Prisons aren’t always dungeons and cells. And freedom can come in many forms.” I give him a pointed look.

Neverland was supposed to be my way to freedom. But it ended up becoming another prison like my life before it.

Hook quickly loses any amusement from my words as his entire body seemed to stiffen.

“You were always allowed to move freely about my home. No one will ever stop you, if or when you want to explore. But unless you’re with me or one of my men, you can’t leave the island. Not until we have our little Hunter problem solved.”

His eyes grow hard and cold. “Their shadow abilities are not something I’ve ever come across and they seem to be able to appear and disappear at will. I can’t protect you if they get a hold of you.”

I try to spot some twitch or flaw that reveals a lie, but I don’t find any. And hisrequestseems reasonable enough. I didn’t want to be caught by the Hunters either.

An icy shiver crawls down my back at the thought.

Either way, my options were extremely limited and no matter how resourceful I was, it didn’t change the fact that I was in a Realm I knew the bare minimum of and with no permanent solution to keep me hidden.

For now, it seems, this bracelet and Hook’s deal was my best option.

“Fine. If you do as you promise...” I wince, trying to force the words out, knowing somehow, somewhere, I’ll live to regret them.

“I’ll be your…bait,” I grumble.

A ghost of a smile brushes his lips as he gives me a look that makes me want to take back my words immediately.

Placing his hand in the air between us, he quirks a brow at me.

I roll my eyes at him and take his hand to shake it. But the minute I place my hand in his, he lifts it to his lips and places a soft kiss on my fingers.

“It’s a deal,” he murmurs, his eyes darkening as they meet mine.

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