Shadow (Wendy Darling #3)(39)

“No,” Kitoko answered. “Peter, if you insist, we can use his plan, since we can always adjust it at the last minute, but it will be too dangerous to take an amateur with us.” Kitoko’s voice, soft and yet assertive, spoke of experience. Wendy was hoping that Peter would agree with him. Her heart pained at the thought of either of her brothers being in real danger. Peter seemed to consider his thoughts for a moment and turned to Wendy.

“What do you think, Wendy? What say you to all this?” Wendy stood and looked at the three boys, each wanting something different from her. Her eyes focused on John, who looked at her pleadingly. She wanted him to feel included, and yet . . . his life was more important. What would her mother say if she were here? She tried to be magnanimous, but as soon as her words fell out, she knew John would hate her forever.

“I don’t think John should go on the raid. It’s too risky. Perhaps he can go over with the boys who are turning the ships? He has no experience with something like this. He’s never held a sword or even been on a ship. Perhaps it’s ultimately best if he stays behind. Please, Peter.” She turned to John, who looked as if she had stabbed him. “I’m sorry. But it’s true. Our parents aren’t here, but if they were . . .”

“SHUT UP, WENDY!” he screamed, his face flushed and tears blurring his eyes behind his glasses. “Our parents aren’t here, and in case you have forgotten, you aren’t our mother. I’m going to go with Peter and have an adventure, and who are you to stop me?” He took a bold step toward her, his face contorted in anger. “Why are you so awful? Perhaps if you looked up from staring at him”—he gestured to Peter—“you would notice that we aren’t in London anymore. So stop acting like the proper girl I know you aren’t and let Michael and me do what we please, you stupid, silly girl!”

John stomped out of the hut, pushing over a box of gold coins as he went. Wendy was mortified, and she rushed after him. “John, wait!”

Peter caught her arm roughly. “Let him go. He’ll calm down soon. I’ll go talk to him.”

Wendy peeked over his shoulder, but John was gone. She shook her head. “I didn’t mean to make him upset, but he’s my brother . . .”

Peter’s eyes met hers. “But here in Neverland, he’s not just your brother. He’s a Lost Boy, and he’s older than most of our boys. He’s ready to be a General.”

“But we just got here! You don’t know anything about him!”

“I have already seen that John is smarter than the rest of the boys. His intellect is way above both Abbott’s and Oxley’s. They are loyal, and yes, with John that has yet to be proven, but he’s smart.” Peter tucked a piece of Wendy’s hair back behind her ear, and she found herself breathless at his boldness. “All the Darling children, it seems, are very smart.”

She smiled, in spite of her stomach churning at the look of betrayal she had just seen on John’s face. “Michael?”

“Well,” he laughed, “Michael is very funny.”

Peter led her back to the table, and together they looked at the map. “What if John helps push the ships and comes nowhere near the Vault? He would be relatively safe from danger there.”

Wendy’s gaze lingered on Peter’s hand that rested next to the small model of the Sudden Night, docked up against Port Duette.

Wendy sighed, abandoning her principles one tiny surrender at a time. “I guess it is a good plan.”

“It is. And John seems very brave.”

“John seems to have lost himself a little.”

Peter leaned forward so that his mouth brushed her hair, his lips against her ear. “Everyone loses themselves a little in Neverland.”

Wendy leapt up from the table, alarmed at the feelings coursing through her body. She looked up at Kitoko, who was still standing silently in the room, watching them, his face totally void of emotion. She straightened up her spine as a strange thought slithered up it. She wanted an adventure too.

“However, I have one condition: If one of my brothers is going, then I go as well. That is the compromise I am willing to make.”

Peter grinned. “So you want a little adventure yourself? I like that. But you won’t be going with John. You’ll be staying with me. Only I can keep you safe here, remember?”

Kitoko leaned forward, balancing himself on his sword. “Peter . . . a girl?”

Peter looked up at him with a naughty grin. “Wait until Abbott hears about this! He’ll have a fit! Oh, I hope I’m there to see it.”

Kitoko simply shook his head, trying to restrain a small smile. Peter turned back to Wendy. “I’ll need a few minutes with Kitoko alone. You, my darling, should probably rest up before the feast tonight.”

Wendy could indeed feel the exhaustion pulling at the back of her eyelids, the tiredness that was seeping through her limbs. Between almost being drowned by mermaids or fighting with her brother . . . Wendy wasn’t sure which was worse.

“Yes, that would be good. Perhaps just a short nap.”

There was a rustling outside, and suddenly Oxley poked his head into the hut with a big grin.

“HELLO, ALL!”

If only he had been there the entire time, Wendy thought, things might have gone much better.

“Oxley, could you fly Wendy up to her hut for me?”