Free Love in Neverland: Book 2 in The Neverland Trilogy by Heather C. Myers Page B

"Just thought you'd have yourself a nice little stroll in my direction? Just happened to overhear my conversation with Esmeralda? Hmm?" He took a step forward and it took everything in Magda to not to take a step back. "What do you think you're doing?"
     
    "My job," Magda said. Her jaw was tight to ensure her tone came out strong though her insides were jumping like frogs on lily pads. "You're my captain. For now. You realize you're the most important man in The Neverland, correct? You ferry souls to their final resting place. The realms would not function without you. I know you think you're charming, but many ports here are calling for your replacement. I cannot count the number of ports you are wanted in now. There is no one law here. You could be killed in an instant with hundreds of people lining up to take over. I knew you were flighty but I didn't think you'd be downright stupid."
     
    Nick paused, shifted his weight. He looked like he was actually thinking about what she said. Then, "You think I'm smart?"
     
    Magda rolled her eyes. "Is that what you got out of my speech?"
     
    "Of course not." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked out at theses. The salt touched the air in a subtle way, making it smell cleaner, more fresh.  “What I got out of it is that you’re worried about little ol’ me.”  He grinned, causing his teeth to sparkle.
     
    “You are important,” Magda reiterated, her eyes flashing a darker blue than the irises normally were.  “Don’t tempt fate by taking that for granted.”  She paused.  “Why did Esmeralda condemn you here?”
     
    “Are we sharing now?” Nick asked, the playfulness gone.  His guard was back up.  “I don’t have time for this.  We have to get the potion.”
     
    “What potion are you talking about?” Magda asked, knitting her brow together.
     
    “If you’re so concerned about it, come with me,” Nick said.  He stepped back from her person and spun around on the heel of her foot before heading away from town and further down the beach.  Magda had no choice but to follow.
     
    --
     
    It took a good ten minutes of hiking down the beach, along the edge of the water, to get to where Nick needed to go.  The sand was sticky and filled with pebbles, not soft like the sand she was used to, in both The Other World and her home with the fairies.  There was a shack buried in the bushels of greenery, still adjacent to the water.  It was less beach and more swamp now, with seaweed floating in the water and long, unruly grass that bent at the stem in awkward angles.  It was heavy with humidity, even at night, and Magda felt herself start to sweat.  She followed Nick closely, afraid to get lost in the shrubbery.  Afraid of the unknown, vile insects waiting to leech onto her skin and take a bite out of her –
     
    She felt a shiver of disgust slide down her spine and she jumped as though she could feel the dreaded tickle take from on her neck, one of the only exposed areas of her body.
     
    “What’s gotten into you?” Nick asked, though he did not turn around to look at her.
     
    Magda glared.  “Nothing,” she snapped, and while she could not be certain, she was almost positive he was laughing.
     
    After another ten minutes of stomping over high grass and walking through rocky terrain, Nick stopped so abruptly Magda nearly toppled into him.  Luckily, she managed to catch sight of Nick just before he did so, so she was able to right herself before their bodies touched.  She softly cleared her throat and looked ahead.  There, in the shadows, amongst the tall, thick trees, was a small wooden shack.
     
    “She lives here?” Magda asked, making sure to keep her voice down.  However, she could not keep the disbelief out of her tone if she tried.  She could not fathom why anyone would choose to live here.
     
    “Yes, I do Magdalena,” a voice said from behind her.
     
    This time, Magda did jump, and before she could stop herself, gripped the