Page 81 of The Last Lost Girl

I rub the heel of my palm against my temple. “Is headache among the other things?”

“It is, though I’m not sure Belle’s shove in the cave did you any favors. Drinking water may help to ease it.”

“No,” I quickly say, clutching my stomach. “Not yet.”

Not while the ship is still rocking side to side or so soon after being sick. I feel okay and want to continue to feel okay until I feel much better than that.

A shiver works its way from neck to calf and my skin prickles, then my teeth begin to chatter. “It’s so cold in here.” I pull the blanket up to my neck.

Hudson leans forward, towering over me even though he’s seated. He brushes a strand of hair out of my face, then feels my forehead with the back of his hand. “You have a fever.”

I shift uncomfortably. “There’s a deep ache in my back, between my shoulder blades.” I arch and try to reach it, then memories of Pan blowing something toward me rush toward the surface. Something hit my back and felt like it impaled me. I was about to tell Hudson about it before he went to exchange the bucket, then forgot so quickly.

The hair on my nape lifts as my pulse roars in my ears.

“What did he do?” I claw at my skin. There are no bumps or scars. My back doesn’t even feel bruised.

“He who?” Hudson demands, helping me lift my shirt – his shirt. When he looks upon my back, he curses loudly.

“What?” I shriek. “Is my flesh melting off or something?”

“No,” he says before calling Smee back inside. Hudson crouches in front of me as he waits for his first mate. “When did this happen?”

“Pan was standing on the shore when you carried me into the water. When we left in the skiff, he took something out of his pocket and blew it toward me.” I pause, shivering. “It was so cold against my skin. I felt it slither up my spine and then it stabbed me through the heart.” I shake my head. “It sounds so stupid when I say it out loud, but it’s true.”

Hook watches me carefully. “Pan wasn’t on the shore. I watched for him.”

“Yes he was! He was wearing a shadow and he told me you couldn’t see him. He asked if Belle was aboard your ship, and then he said he had a welcome home gift for me and blew a shadow toward me. It was so cold when it hit my back.” I clutch his shirt, anxious for him to believe me. “Do you remember when I arched against you? We were near the ship when it hit.”

Hudson looks pale. “I do.”

Smee rushes in, looking worried. “Ava?”

The captain turns to him and holds my shirt up so Smee can look at it. “Have you ever seen a mark like this?”

“No,” Smee breathes, his eyes wide. “What is it?”

“Pan,” Hudson seethes to his first mate.

My bones begin to tremble. “I’m so cold,” I chatter, shivering.

Hudson tugs the back of my damp shirt back down and wraps a throw blanket around my shoulders. “She’s feverish.”

Smee lifts a hand and lets it hover before me until I nod my consent. The backs of his knuckles graze my head. He shoots a fearful look at Hudson.

The captain licks his lips the way he does when he’s thinking, then asks Smee, “Can you find some spare blankets?”

The giant rushes from the room, promising to return as quickly as possible.

“Did everyone make it back?” I ask, tugging the blankets tighter around my shoulders, finally remembering that his crew was on Neverland, too. Grim knew they were there because Pan knew.

His posture turns rigid.

My heart sinks. “Who?” Who didn’t return to the ship?

Hudson looks away. “Juneau and Paris are still on the island. The skiff is waiting for them. They may have been forced to hide for a time, like you and I had to.”

May have?

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