Could it be that they too had been suffering in Neverland? Had I somehow missed that, too wrapped up in my own pain?
Seconds later, and the moment I hadn’t realized I’d been longing for arrives. The Lost Boys descend on me, practically shoving Nolan out of the way to stampede me and wrap me up in a series of warm hugs and lanky arms.
I glance at Nolan apologetically, my face smashed against Benjamin’s cheek, but my husband just looks down at me in admiration.
Once I’m sufficiently smothered, the Lost Boys jump back at Victor’s command, the oldest reminding them they don’t want to cut off my airway when I’ve only just gotten here.
Upon backing up, Benjamin examines me thoroughly, looking pensive.
“What is it?” I ask.
“You’ve put on some fat since we last saw you,” he says matter-of-factly. “You can mostly tell in your neck. I suppose that means you’re healthy now and not quite so depressed.”
Nolan glances at me wide-eyed, gauging my response, but I just laugh. Benjamin has always reminded me of Michael in some ways. They both have activities they prefer to the neglect of all others. Though, where my brother’s messages are cryptic, Benjamin is more likely to be too precise in telling you exactly what he thinks.
“I’ve missed you,” I say, and my friend sweeps his gaze across the privateers.
“Where’s Michael?” Benjamin says, sounding alarmed.
“Back on the ship. Probably playing with his train set,” I say.
Benjamin frowns, as if this is the worst news he’s heard in his entire life. It soon becomes clear that he’s misunderstood, thinking Michael managed to get one of Benjamin’s train sets out of Neverland. “That’s unacceptable,” he says. “My skills have greatly improved since the last time I whittled a toy for your brother. How humiliating that he’s still playing with some of my worst work. I’ll have to make him a new set.”
And with that as his means of saying goodbye, Benjamin stalks off down the hallway and, I assume, toward his room.
We spendthe evening around the fire with the Lost Boys, Benjamin eventually returning to the den, perching on a stool in the corner as he furiously whittles away at a piece of wood.
Smalls tells me how they ended up in Serba, that Victor just had a feeling in his chest pulling them here. Benjamin pipes in, explaining how the tourist culture has offered them plenty of odd jobs. Benjamin whittles figurines of the Youngest Sister and the others take turns selling them in the marketplace during the day.
I finally learn the Twins’ names—Christopher and Aaron—though I still have no way of telling them apart.
After they retire to bed, Victor tells me, “Those aren’t their actual names.”
I raise my brow, and he continues. “Peter never told them what their names were, and since they had no recollection of their lives before Neverland, they eventually came up with names for each other.”
Charlie lets out a noise of distinct disapproval, though she doesn’t comment. Instead, she gives Maddox and Nolan a look, and with a gesture of her head, beckons them to follow her.
She stands and stretches dramatically, yawning. “Well, if you’ll just point us in the direction of our rooms, I think I’ll need to retire for the night.”
Victor nods, and when he jumps from his seat to lead them to their rooms, Charlie shakes her head. “We can see ourselves there,” she says.
Maddox and Nolan both look at her quizzically. Nolan glances at me with a silent question, but I nod at him with a smile.
“Down the hall and to your right,” says Victor. “There are a few extra rooms, and bedding in the closets.”
Charlie winks at him and saunters down the hallway, Maddox following her—Nolan too, after brushing a kiss against my forehead.
Victor watches my husband leave the room. As soon as he’s out of earshot, Victor whispers, “So you’re really okay, then? He didn’t force you into marrying him?”
“I’m really okay,” I say with a smile.
“Then why do you look so sad when you say it?” Victor asks, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.
When I don’t answer, he asks, “Does it have anything to do with those sickly looking tattoos that aren’t tattoos on his chest?”
When I shoot him a confused look, he says, “They’re coming up out of his shirt.”
“Nolan was my original mate,” I explain. “It’s a long story, how Peter ended up with part of the Mating Mark, but Nolan still had the other segment on his hand. I fell in love with him during those six months he’d bargained for me. He betrayed me, just before Peter brought me back to Neverland and called in my bargain. I was so upset, well…”
