Read Online Hook's Pan by Marie Hall - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Marie Hall
Tags: Romance
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a hand through the air, James twirled and growled. “Enough! I know the stories well. If you’ve nothing more to say, then you may go.”
Fire raced through his gut. He was tired of this endless routine, suffering each night for the loss of what he’d never have again. Danika had come with her lies and her silver tongue and promised all sorts of fairytales…but there was one who’d never lie to him—because she hated him nearly as much as he hated himself.
Lifting a brow, he stared at his man.
Smee cleared his throat, jerking to a ramrod position. “Aye, sir, in fact I do,” his Irish brogue thickened just slightly. “We’re soon to enter the drop, are the settings still the same?”
Squeezing the bridge of his nose against the sudden throbbing building behind it, he said a bit more gruffly than he’d intended, “Have I given you any reason to think I’ve changed my mind?”
Clenching his jaw, Smee turned as if to go and Hook sighed.
“Blast it, man, I’m sorry. I’m just out of sorts right now. Aye, keep to the course we’ve set, I’ve more reason now than ever to visit Seren.”
“Yes, sir,” Smee said, voice sounding tired.
It was on the tip of Hook’s tongue to say more, but really, what more was there to say? He’d been an ass to nearly everyone for the past century. The time for apologies was past. Turning back toward the prow, he gripped the rails. Soon they’d enter the drop, and he’d be unable to speak with the inhabitants of the upper world. Cupping a hand around his mouth, he whispered with strength, “Tinkerbell.”
She hated to be called. Especially by him. In fact she rarely came, unless it benefited her in some way, but if Danika didn’t lie, then surely she’d know and curiosity at the very least, would drive her to him.
Staring at the glassy surface of the neon sea, he squinted as a bright orange flame fell as if a star falling from the heavens. Glancing up, he licked his teeth as the shooting sparks of flame zigged and zagged through the sky before a statuesque, ten-inch fairy dropped to the mass of corded rope beside him.
Dressed in nothing more than strategically placed moss, she quirked a smooth blonde brow. Masses of straight hair spilled down her back, threaded through with mini red roses. Eyes the color of a sunlit ocean gazed back at him.
“What?” Tinkerbell asked without preamble, sharp little fangs in prominent display as she crossed her arms under her breasts. “I should neuter you for that stunt today.”
Bending over the rail, he rested his chin on his fist. “Tell me,” he drawled, choosing to ignore her outburst. If she’d wanted to cut off his balls, she would have already. Tinker wasn’t one to ever make idle threats, she merely did. “Surely you’ve heard what your sister is up to.”
She rolled her eyes. “If you imply I give a whit about what that crackpot Danika does, you do not know me at all.” She cocked her head and flitted up a little, large mother of pearl wings fluttering gently behind as she mimicked walking on air. Every step she took left a golden shower burst of stardust behind; it glittered upon the wood like twinkling light. “If, however, you refer to the girl,” she smiled viciously, “I may have heard something.”
“Mmm.” He nodded, of course she had, she wouldn’t have come to him otherwise. “And what, pray tell, did Danika tell you about it?”
“Absolutely nothing.”
Tilting his face up, he inhaled a greedy gulp of salt tinged air. Soon they’d be in the under and the smell he loved would remain behind.
“Then why are you asking me? Ask her. She’s your godmother.”
“Because I find my godmother has an exceedingly annoying habit of trying to keep me happy and right now, I’d rather know the truth.”
Coming to rest on his shoulder, she caressed the shell of his ear with her tiny finger. “You always were a handsome
Fire raced through his gut. He was tired of this endless routine, suffering each night for the loss of what he’d never have again. Danika had come with her lies and her silver tongue and promised all sorts of fairytales…but there was one who’d never lie to him—because she hated him nearly as much as he hated himself.
Lifting a brow, he stared at his man.
Smee cleared his throat, jerking to a ramrod position. “Aye, sir, in fact I do,” his Irish brogue thickened just slightly. “We’re soon to enter the drop, are the settings still the same?”
Squeezing the bridge of his nose against the sudden throbbing building behind it, he said a bit more gruffly than he’d intended, “Have I given you any reason to think I’ve changed my mind?”
Clenching his jaw, Smee turned as if to go and Hook sighed.
“Blast it, man, I’m sorry. I’m just out of sorts right now. Aye, keep to the course we’ve set, I’ve more reason now than ever to visit Seren.”
“Yes, sir,” Smee said, voice sounding tired.
It was on the tip of Hook’s tongue to say more, but really, what more was there to say? He’d been an ass to nearly everyone for the past century. The time for apologies was past. Turning back toward the prow, he gripped the rails. Soon they’d enter the drop, and he’d be unable to speak with the inhabitants of the upper world. Cupping a hand around his mouth, he whispered with strength, “Tinkerbell.”
She hated to be called. Especially by him. In fact she rarely came, unless it benefited her in some way, but if Danika didn’t lie, then surely she’d know and curiosity at the very least, would drive her to him.
Staring at the glassy surface of the neon sea, he squinted as a bright orange flame fell as if a star falling from the heavens. Glancing up, he licked his teeth as the shooting sparks of flame zigged and zagged through the sky before a statuesque, ten-inch fairy dropped to the mass of corded rope beside him.
Dressed in nothing more than strategically placed moss, she quirked a smooth blonde brow. Masses of straight hair spilled down her back, threaded through with mini red roses. Eyes the color of a sunlit ocean gazed back at him.
“What?” Tinkerbell asked without preamble, sharp little fangs in prominent display as she crossed her arms under her breasts. “I should neuter you for that stunt today.”
Bending over the rail, he rested his chin on his fist. “Tell me,” he drawled, choosing to ignore her outburst. If she’d wanted to cut off his balls, she would have already. Tinker wasn’t one to ever make idle threats, she merely did. “Surely you’ve heard what your sister is up to.”
She rolled her eyes. “If you imply I give a whit about what that crackpot Danika does, you do not know me at all.” She cocked her head and flitted up a little, large mother of pearl wings fluttering gently behind as she mimicked walking on air. Every step she took left a golden shower burst of stardust behind; it glittered upon the wood like twinkling light. “If, however, you refer to the girl,” she smiled viciously, “I may have heard something.”
“Mmm.” He nodded, of course she had, she wouldn’t have come to him otherwise. “And what, pray tell, did Danika tell you about it?”
“Absolutely nothing.”
Tilting his face up, he inhaled a greedy gulp of salt tinged air. Soon they’d be in the under and the smell he loved would remain behind.
“Then why are you asking me? Ask her. She’s your godmother.”
“Because I find my godmother has an exceedingly annoying habit of trying to keep me happy and right now, I’d rather know the truth.”
Coming to rest on his shoulder, she caressed the shell of his ear with her tiny finger. “You always were a handsome
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