Bay scoffed. “I’m not a girl.”
Rolling my eyes, I grounded myself in their banter. “Use a reed or vine.”
“Or hack it off.” Whisper folded her arms.
“Don’t you dare.” I scowled at him. “Use a reed or a vine, and please, both of you.”—I took a shaking breath—“we need to be on the same team here.” Lowering my spyglass, I bagged it and brushed the handle of the dagger Bay had given me. “This is war.”
“We’ll never make it against those numbers. We need to somehow get an advantage.” Whisper’s brow furrowed, stiffness in her form. Something lit in her eyes. “Our pirate ship. It still has ammo inside. If I can get the cannons to work, maybe we can at least take out some of the ships?”
“Perfect. Gather the people who aren’t trained to fight and head there. Tiger Lily is front and center, so watch where you aim, and watch your dust or replenish.” The idea of her being inside a pirate ship, safely away from the thick of the battle, settled my nerves, but the idea of her leaving me in this moment made my heart jump erratically. “Be careful.”
“Look who’s talking.” She threw her arms around me and squeezed. “I will never abandon you.”
“We will never be apart,” I murmured.
With those words, she zipped away, landing and running through the trees until I couldn’t see her anymore.
Anxiety fought for a hold on me, but I couldn’t let it take over. I believed in myself. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be flying right now. “We need to meet up with Peter.”
“Unless I’m mistaken, he’s way ahead of you.” Bay pointed at a streak of orange and green. I squinted, making out Peter hovering before the armada. He glowed, a different shade than the ships, but he was little more than a speck against the pale blue, ever-darkening sky; they were foreboding suns.
My heart jerked, and I was flying toward him before I could think, Bay hot on my heels.
“Wind Song!” he shouted, and I whirled in time to see him drop.
My stomach fled, and I shot after him, reaching for the wind to grasp his body and carry him safely to the ground. When he had landed, I hit the earth, panting. “Are you okay?” I stammered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think you were that low on dust, and I was focused on—”
A cannon fired; my lungs tightened. Any words I was saying deserted my mind and my mouth.
“It’s okay.” Bay held my shoulders, and worry swam in his eyes, but he found half a smile to offer me. “I already fell for you once.”
I stared at him, ignoring the flush running over my cheeks. Everything could go wrong . Another cannon fired. I could lose it all. Wincing, I linked my hand around the back of his neck and pulled his lips to mine. Tears pooled in my eyes as I kissed him quick. “Wait for Skye,” I said, pulling away. “And don’t do anything stupid.”
I turned, but he caught my wrist. “Like running into battle alone?”
“I’m not alone. I never have been. Even when I thought my mother had abandoned me here, people surrounded me and gave me a home. My strength comes from each and every one of you. Each breath alone may not be much, but together, they create a storm.” I held his gaze and hoped he didn’t see the way terror consumed me.
Whether he did or not, his grip loosened. “I believe in you, Wind Song. But that doesn’t mean I’m not scared of losing you.”
I was scared of losing everything, and I didn’t have time to waste. The second he released me, I left, pushing myself to meet Peter in the air.
Head raised, arms folded, cannons blasting behind us toward the ships, Peter barely glanced my way.
“How can you not remember me?” Hook sputtered, his face red with rage. He had dragged Tiger Lily to the front of the ship, and both of them were pressed tight against the deck rail.
Peter shrugged. “Maybe you just weren’t entirely too memorable?”
Tinkerbell laughed, the chiming sounds too merry for the moment.
“You!” Hook spat, lifting his metal hand off Tiger Lily to jab toward me as though just noticing I had appeared. “You remember me, don’t you?”
Peter looked at me then, raising a brow.
I caught the unspoken glimpse of mischief in his eye and tilted my head. The bundled nerves in my stomach settled, if a little. “Not sure? You have one of those faces. I think I’ve seen it before, maybe? But then again, maybe not.”
Hook blustered, slashing his arm outwards, accidentally smashing his hook into Smee’s face. The stout man collapsed, but his captain couldn’t care less. “What madness are you spouting, girl? You were with my son just days ago!”
“Son?” Peter’s brows lifted. He floated to my back, all gloat and pride as he presented me. “Hey, that’s neat! This is my daughter. Where’s your kid?”
Hook snapped. My heart soared with strength and confidence.
“Attack!” Hook yelled.
I didn’t need a command. Both Peter and I rose through the night sky, our arms bent at our waists. Our crow rang above the cannon fire, the shouts, the buzz of pixie wings. Everything in that moment was adrenaline, excitement, assurance. There’s no way we could lose.
Out of nowhere, the Lost Boys swooped in, diving for Tiger Lily. Their whoops and wallops overlaid the pirates’ yells. Cannons went off from Hook’s ships, targeting Aire. I felt the wind breathe through me, swirl around me, and I sent the lead balls tumbling right back.
Hook screeched, jumping away from Tiger Lily as one ball crashed through the deck right next to him.
“You missed, Lyric!” Peter teased.
I smirked, brushing away the sweat beading on my forehead; moving lead wasn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world, but I had done it. “I’d like to see you do better!”
He flourished a bow. “My pleasure.” Drawing his knife, he waggled his brows and zoomed toward Hook.
“Bring her ashore!” Hook hollered, catching Peter out of the corner of his eye. He drew his sword the moment Peter landed on the cannonball protruding from the deck. The pirate crew circled the orange-haired boy, but Hook sneered. “This one’s mine.”
“Hmm.” Peter twirled his blade. “Bold words for a codfish.”
