“Thanks.”
“Enjoy your breakfast. I’ll be back later,” she says and slides off the bed.
“Cherry?”
“Hmm?”
“Did Vane give you those cuts and bruises?”
It’s really none of my business, but I have to know.
She bites at her bottom lip before giving me a nervous laugh. “It comes with the territory.”
“Which is what?”
“Vane has a shadow too. From another island.”
I think I know what she’s going to say before she says it.
“And his shadow is death.”
13
BASH
Kas and I are in the hammocks strung up between palm trees down by the beach. I haven’t told Kas yet about the trouble I caused last night.
Using a long stick, he shoves off the ground, getting the hammock to swing again. Then he pushes me with it, jamming the stick into my ass.
“Fucker,” I say.
He laughs.
A gull dares to come closer, hoping we have some scraps to give, but I only have a length of rope in my hands. Tying knots soothes me.
“I have to tell you something,” I say to my twin.
The rope hammock groans beneath Kas as he resettles. “I’m listening.”
“I fucked the Darling.”
He’s suddenly silent, but the hammock still creaks. Another wave laps against the shore. A sand fly lands on my arm and I smack it beneath my palm, smashing guts on my skin.
“When should I start planning your funeral?” Kas finally says.
“Very funny.”
“He’ll kill you. Surprised he hasn’t yet.”
I take a handful of white sand from the ground beneath me and grind it against my arm, cleaning off the guts.
“What happened?” he asks.
“Pan caught us and told me to keep fucking her. Honestly, I think the Darling liked it.”
My cock twitches, remembering the feel of her tight little pussy. I’ve never given in to a Darling before, as much as I’ve wanted to. I like fucking. I like fucking what I shouldn’t even more.
“How was she?” my twin asks.
I’m hard now, aching for more.
“Slutty, just the way I like them.”
He blows out a breath. “You’re such a fucking asshole.”
“Yeah, well, the whole reason I went into her room last night was because of you.”
“You keep telling yourself that.”
Up the hill, I can just make out Cherry crossing the balcony and scanning the beach. When she spots us, she comes down.
I’m not in the mood for Cherry.
I’m not sure I’ve ever been.
Unlike the Darling, I’ve always had free access to Cherry. Takes away some of the fun.
“Hi,” she says when she comes up. “Can Winnie come to the bonfire tonight?”
Kas gives me another gentle push with the stick. “Why?” he asks.
“I thought it might be good for her while we wait for the full moon.”
“Pan will say no.”
Cherry puts her hands on her hips. “We have a bonfire every night. Since when do we need his permission?”
“We don’t,” I say, “but he’ll certainly have an opinion about the Darling attending.”
“I’ll take care of Pan.”
Kas laughs at the sky. “Just what the fuck do you think you’re going to say to Peter Pan to make him bend to you?”
“He’s not as unreasonable as you both make him out to be.” She squints as the wind shifts and the palms break open allowing the sun to stream in. “Besides, where is she going to go? There’s nowhere to run.”
“Looks like you did plenty of running last night,” I say.
Kas frowns at me and says, Stop teasing her.
Why, when it’s so easy to get her flustered?
“Stop doing that,” she says.
“Doing what?”
“Talking in your fae language. I can hear the bells, but not the words and it annoys me.” She huffs.
“We were just discussing the Death Shadow is all,” I lie. “Did it give you the best, most terrifying orgasm of your life, Cherry?”
Her face pinks.
To be honest, I’m surprised she’s upright and walking.
When Vane’s shadow takes over, it fucking terrifies me and he’s not trying to fuck me.
“I’m not talking about my sex life with you two anymore,” she says. Then, “So can she?”
“I suppose,” I say. “You know how much I love pretty girls and parties.”
“Because you’re a self-absorbed prick,” Kas says.