Unhooked(54)

“It was just another game,” he tells me. “I should have insisted for us to be on the same side. Liam’s my best mate, see. We’re always on the same side, but . . .” He looks up at me. “You sure you didn’t see him?”

“What do you mean, a game?” I ask, ignoring his question.

The boy’s wide eyes regard me as though I’m something of an idiot. “Same as always. A bit of fun is all.”

The way this boy is acting, the things he’s saying have my instincts on high alert. “What about the Captain?” I ask.

“I dunno, but I ’spect whatever’s left of him is locked safe in the dungeon down below. I didn’t get a swing at him, though,” he says, his brows drawing together in disappointment.

“This morning, I mean,” I say, trying to get the boy to focus. “You were with Olivia this morning. Didn’t you see the Captain out at the End when you all were attacked?”

His face scrunches in confusion. “Weren’t no Captain,” he tells me. “Just a bit of fun with us lads.”

My stomach goes tight, and ice slides down my spine. “If there wasn’t any Captain,” I ask slowly, carefully, “who attacked you?”

He straightens his spine, tightening his grip on his club. “No one attacked me. Not this time,” he says defensively. “I should’ve maybe gone with Liam, but I had a chance to be on the hunting squad for once. Couldn’t pass up a chance like that, now could I?”

“I don’t know,” I say weakly, not wanting to accept what I think he’s implying. “You’re saying the Captain didn’t attack you? That it was just a game to take Olivia out there?”

The boy starts to answer, but then his gaze jerks up and focuses on something behind me.

“Gwendolyn,” Pan says, sidling up next to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders, easy and calm. “Are you well?” he murmurs, his clear eyes conveying the depth of his worry.

“I . . . Um . . .” I look at the boy, who’s now talking to himself, his eyes studying the floor as he shuffles nervously in place.

“This one wasn’t bothering you, was he?” Pan asks. When he turns his attention to the boy, Pan’s face transforms itself. All traces of warmth are gone.

“No,” I say quickly. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine. I was just wondering where you and Olivia had gone off to and I was talking to . . . uh . . .”

“Amir,” the boys supplies meekly, staring at his feet.

“Yes. Amir. I was talking to Amir,” I tell Pan with what I hope is a believable smile. It takes everything I have not to pull away from him.

Pan is still examining the boy. “Why are you not with the others?”

“I was, milord,” he says, his eyes still downcast.

“And yet here you are before me. I wonder why that is?” He motions for one of the other boys to come over. “I think this one has need of some help to find his way. If you’d be so kind?”

The other boy, a tough-looking kid with his head shaved smooth and blood crusted at the edge of his nose, takes Amir roughly around the shoulders and leads him off as Pan turns his attention to me. I give him my best attempt at a smile, but when his eyes go tight, I end up glancing away.

If what the boy said is true, maybe there hadn’t been any attack this morning after all. Maybe the Captain hadn’t lied when he said he didn’t go after Olivia. My breath catches at the thought—at what that would mean—but I force myself to relax, to appear calm, so Pan won’t guess where my thoughts have gone.

“Terribly sorry about that,” he says with an easy smile. “I gave strict orders for my boys to leave you and Olivia be, but they are rather keyed up from our victory.”

“Where is Olivia?” I ask, trying to keep my voice as level and normal as possible as I ignore his apology.

“She was rather upset by the events today, so I’ve settled her into my own chambers. She seems to be more comfortable there.”

“I’d like to see her,” I say, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

He gives me a doleful look. “I don’t know if that’s wise right now,” he says slowly. “She’s resting quietly, and I think it’s best if we allow her to recover. I’ve come to escort you back to your room,” he says, tucking my arm around his. “I’m sure you’re quite worn out from all the excitement today.”

“I’ll see her tomorrow, though?”

Pan leads me around a pile of boys wresting over a fur. “Of course,” he says easily as he presses his hand to the far wall. With a grating rumble, the stones begin to move, forming the steep staircase from before.

When the walls of the fortress finally go silent, Pan gives me a pleasant smile and holds out his hand to help me onto the first step. But I ignore him and climb up on my own.

Pan’s eyes are sharp, a stark contrast to the easy expression on his face, but he takes my hand in his and presses his lips to my wrist. “Sleep well, Gwendolyn.”

I pull my hand away and force myself not to wipe off the part of my skin that tingles with warmth. “Will you leave me the steps?” I ask. “I don’t want to be trapped up there alone,” I say as meekly as I can.

Impatience flickers in his gaze, but the serene smile stays on his face. “Of course. You’re not a prisoner here, Gwendolyn. I do still hope you’ll come to think of Neverland as your home.”