Tears stream down my face, falling on Michael’s forehead. He quickly wipes them away with the back of his sleeve.
“Don’t cry, Michael,” he says, “Mommy’s here.”
“They’re happy tears, buddy,” I say, stroking his hand before I fall to my knees and wrap him in a hug. He wriggles in my arms, but he doesn’t attempt an escape.
When I’m done weeping into my brother’s shoulder, I stand up and gesture between Nolan and Michael. “Nolan, Michael. I don’t believe the two of you have met. Well, unless you count…”
Nolan holds his palm up. “Let’s not count,” he says, grimacing as we both remember the night he had one of his pirates grab Michael and take him from my parents’ ballroom. At the time, I’d assumed they were kidnapping him, but now I recognize that Nolan hadn’t wanted Michael to witness our parents’ slaughter.
Nolan kneels in front of my brother, who appears more entranced with his hook than anything. Michael reaches out and runs his fingers over the shiny glass, humming softly to himself. Nolan’s cheeks contort strangely as he says, “I’m Nolan.”
Michael continues humming and stroking his hook.
“He’s not one for small talk,” I explain.
Nolan glances up at me nervously, then stands, turning to Lady Whittaker. “Thank you for your help,” he says.
She stares at him for a long moment. “Did you have anything to do with the fact that one of my best workers has been taken from my home?”
Nolan flushes.
“Not nearly as much as I did,” I say.
Lady Whittaker humphs. “If she hadn’t gone willingly, don’t think the two of you would be getting out of this manor alive.”
She must see my guilt-stricken face, because her stance softens. “Just remember what a good friend you had in her. That’s all I can ask, I suppose.”
I nod, once again grabbing my brother’s hand, thinking of how Tink protected him when I couldn’t. Guilt pangs at my chest for letting the Nomad get away with her.
He never hurt me, at least.
I just hope the same holds true for Tink.
CHAPTER 2
TheIasois a lone, dark tower, swaying up and down on the waves of the sea. It’s docked in an alcove, just below the cliffs, a perfect hiding spot for the Gathers, which like Maddox reported, is gone.
There’s no trace of the Nomad. No trace of his people. No trace of Tink.
My heart twists, and I hope that wherever they are, she’s not afraid.
One of the crew members lets down a rope ladder, and Nolan makes as if to carry Michael on his back, but Michael squeals in panic as soon as he feels Nolan’s touch. A moment later, and Michael’s on the floor of the dock, rocking back and forth, singing a sea shanty I don’t recognize.
Again, Nolan’s neck turns red, and he glances at me, clearly at a loss. “I didn’t mean to upset him.”
“It’s okay,” I say to Nolan as I kneel in front of Michael and allow him to rock against my chest. “I do it too sometimes.”
As Michael curls into my lap, Nolan appears less than convinced, his face stricken. When he takes a step toward us, Michael yelps again.
“Why don’t you go ahead and climb up,” I say. “He’ll settle down in a second. Besides, he’s a good climber. I’ll just go up behind him.”
Nolan’s face falters. “Are you sure?”
I smile over Michael’s head, now tucked underneath my chin. “Of course. I don’t mind.”
Nolan seems unsure, but I couldn’t be telling him anything more true. After almost a year separated from my brother, I’m more than happy to have him curl up in my lap a bit.
Nolan looks as though he’s about to say something, but instead he swallows and hauls himself up the rope ladder. I watch him as he climbs, the ease and grace with which he manages it despite his size, and I wonder why a man like that looks twice at me.
