“The spell worked perfectly, just like we wanted,” I confess, and his eyes widen. “Not telling you the end game, is not my problem.”

“Wendy?” he anxiously questions. “If I had known…”

“Must I remind you why you came to us in the first place?”

“No matter what I wanted, Tinker Bell, your plan was always to let Peter win in the end. You’d drink poison for him. You’re so obsessed, you can’t see straight. Even when he constantly pushes you away. Even after he banned you for interfering. For stealing his magic and…”

“I took what I needed to in order to save Neverland.”

“Neverland doesn’t need Peter Pan,” he shouts. “And it sure as hell never needed Hook.”

His words pierce through me with brutal force as I square off against him. I quickly take a few steps forward, intent on doing him harm, and only stop when I hear my name called out.

“Tink,” Tiger Lily shouts. “We still need him to live if we have any chance at the plan working.”

I cock my head to the side and let what she’s just said roll around my mind. Studying the person in front of me, I contemplate all the ways I would find joy in ending him now, and how that might affect our progress after all this time. In the end, I decide the princess is right and take a step back.

“You give us what we want,” my teeth clench in anger as I stare deep into his eyes, searching his soul, “and I’ll give you the opportunity to prove you’re more worthy of ruling Neverland.”

His eyes light up. It’s an offer I know he can’t refuse. One that’s undoubtedly a lie. There is no way I would let this mortal rule a world like Neverland. But, in the end, I know he’d never deny the chance. Ultimately, I know he wouldn’t be ruling so much as pretending to rule like they all pretend when they cross over to our side. They’re all puppets, doing as I tell them to, because their lives would be empty without the magic only I can provide.

“How do I know you’re not lying?” he questions quietly.

With a shrug, I turn and make my way across the room. “You don’t,” smiling, I add, “But come, let’s seal it with a drink.”

“I know better than to take food or drink from you, Tink.”

A sinister smile spreads across my face as I turn back his way. He’s already bound to us. Mind, body, and soul. A piece of meat, a slice of bread, or a sip of wine won’t change that.

“Well then, let’s cut the bullshit. Do we have a deal?”