Page 6 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“This isn’t Neverland. You play bymyrules here. So, you can either come of your own accord or come kicking and screaming. Either way, youarecoming with us.”

I ignore Hook’s attempt to scare or rile me up—my missing ring is a much bigger problem than him right now—and I continue to search for my missing ring.

I use every ounce of desperation inside me to spot some glimmer in the dark but the longer I look, the more I realize how hopeless it is. It could be anywhere from Neverland to here. And that could include the many Realms between them.

My shoulders drop with the realization, my stomach twisting and churning.

It’s more than likely long gone, and along with it, any measure of freedom I thought I had.

What am I going to do now?

I won’t be able to stay in one place for too long, that’s for sure. And I’ll have to keep moving and be on my guard anywhere I go.

My mind starts to spiral into unknowns and what-ifs when Hook steps closer, narrowing his eyes on me. I open my mouth to tell him he’s better off leaving me where I am when he swoops down and throws me over his shoulder.

The blood rushes to my head and quickly knocks me out of my stunned shock at Hook’s bold move.

“Hook! Put me down.” My eyes widen as I realize he’s moving us out through the small alleyway. I try to escape his grasp but no matter how much wiggling, kicking or hitting I do, he doesn’t budge.

“Hook!” I shout.

Hook continues to ignore me as we come out of the alleyway and out toward a large black machine. Or at least that’s what it looks like from my upside-down position as I try to make it out.

Similar to a carriage, large wheels sit beneath the machine, but these ones are plated with a shiny iron, the wheels thicker. Two small doors sit above them with dark windows that stop me from seeing what’s inside, only making my fears grow.

My logical mind tells me it has to be a carriage. And if I weren’t being forced into it against my will, I might even have enjoyed inspecting it to see what it’s capable of. But as I move closer and closer to it, all that’s screaming inside me is that if I get into that machine right now, I’ll become another prisoner. One who may very well never escape if Hook has his way.

“Hook!” Pushing against his back, I lean up and try to twist around to smack his hand off me, but as I do, his grip tightens, instantly stopping me.

“Let me go,” I grit out just as I drop back over his shoulder, the blood rushing to my head once more.

He chuckles. “You’re going to fall if you keep that up. And we wouldn’t want anything to happen to that pretty little head of yours, would we?” One of his hands slides dangerously close to my upper thigh, his tightening grip making me freeze.

“Put me down,” I grit out. “Or I’ll—”

“Or you’ll what?” He finally releases his tight hold only to slowly drag my body down his front before letting me go.

Thinking he’s finally come to his senses and is letting me be on my way, I soon realize how wrong of an assumption it is when I look up and find him staring down at me. His dark eyes filled with a possessive look.

He raises a brow while silently waiting on a reply.

Choosing to ignore him and his challenging stare, I take a step back and watch his eyes darken, the spark of challenge only growing.

I take another step back when my back hits something hard and cold, snapping me out of the little spell he has me under and back to the problem I’m in.

I make a move to go around him but within seconds he has me caged against the machine.

“Or you’llwhat, Tink?” A savage grin slides across his face as his eyes light up. “Will you run? Hide?” Leaning closer, his chest brushes against mine as he dips down to my ear.

“Or maybe even attempt another pitiful attack?” He chuckles as I shove him back.

He finally moves but stays close enough that I wouldn’t have a chance to make a run for it.

I narrow my eyes on him, allowing my building rage to show through my eyes as I stare straight at him.

“Don’t ever touch me again. Or next time be prepared to lose a hand.”

Instead of taking my words as a threat, Hook’s eyes grow heated, turning darker as he cages me against the machine once again.

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