“In the end, all I ever got from you was rotten love anyway.” My eyes flare with rage, warning her to take it back, but she goes on. Leaning forward, her breath feathers across my lips in challenge as she whispers, “Do your worst, Peter. I died the moment you walked away the first time. Never came back for me. Maybe saying goodbye to you a second time will finally bring me back to life.”

Before I can respond, her eyes suddenly start to fade. Her lashes flutter as they softly close and she falls back against the sheets. I barely have time to catch her as she starts to slip off the edge of the bed. The dead weight of her body forces us both to the floor. Glancing up quickly, I watch as a twinkling of lights flutters out of the room and then curse the fae who put a spell on her under my breath.

It’ll be hard to keep them from Wendy until I get what I want from her. But not impossible.

Lifting her in my arms, I lay my ear against her mouth and wait to hear her breathing. When I finally feel the warmness of life against my skin, I walk her gently across the room, my heart and mind tearing itself apart from the words that just fell from her lips.

My worst?

Oh Wendy Darling, you don’t have any fucking idea.

Chapter 8

Wendy

“It is humiliating to confess that the conceit of Peter was one of his most fascinating qualities. To put it with brutal frankness, there never was a more cockier boy.”

Peter & Wendy

- J.M. Barrie

I could hear them, but I couldn’t see them.

“She’s coming around now.”

“Did you tie those fucking ropes tight?”

“Any tighter, and she wouldn’t be able to breathe, Hook.”

“Good. Maybe this time she’ll remember who, and who only, has the right to breathe her back to fucking life.”

My hands struggle against my restraints. The tie around my eyes tugs my hair sharply when I attempt to look in the direction of their voices. The gag in my mouth stops me from being able to swallow properly and I choke on my own spit as my hands wrestle to loosen the rope tied around them. But it’s no use. The rope is secured multiple times around my wrists, then tied around my middle just as many times ensuring I have no chance to escape.

“Fuck, that’ll make you hard, right boss? The sight of a woman choking on her knees.”

“Shut your fucking mouth Rufio.”