Devour the Dark (Devourer, #2)

by Nikki St. Crowe

He has no regrets, he tells everyone, but he is full of lies. His nearest regret is sitting in the chair beside his bed… …begging him to be okay.

When the Crocodile transforms and goes after my crew, it’s Wendy and me who pull him out. He won’t respond to anyone else, so we always have to be ready and on high alert.

learned a long time ago not to bend myself to others’ will. But truth be told, I would like to see Peter Pan for myself.

Throughout all seven archives, none of the scholars, none of the experts, seemed to have an answer as to what Peter Pan is.

myths that I’m still a bit vague on. In the Dark Archives, his name is cited seven hundred thirty-four times but only by ‘Crocodile.’ His birth name seems to have been expunged from the records, either by him or someone else. The facts I know about him are:

I like facts and I like accuracy and I like rules and I like being able to depend on all three.

We share the Neverland Dark Shadow, but most days, it clings to her more than me. It’s with me begrudgingly because of her. And I don’t fight it. Winnie Darling is the queen of this house and the dark goddess of this island. I’m happy to relent. Except when we’re in bed. Then I’m in charge.

She has me. Every part. Heart and soul and every dark urge. I am hers. And she is fucking mine.

I’m terrified of losing her. I’m terrified of never measuring up. Terrified of my past repeating.

I make my way down with Winnie right behind me. The shadow likes it when we stay close. I often use it as an excuse to keep her near.

Peter Pan is a god, but when Winnie Darling scowls at him, he is reduced to a man.

Pan might sometimes make her pay for her brattiness in the bedroom, but here, right now, her stubbornness will make him bend. I already know it. He knows it. I’m not sure why he’s still dragging his feet.

Roc and I, we are a darkness that cannot be tamed and I will do everything in my power to keep her away from it.

I hated Roc and Hook for not rescuing me. But I hated Peter Pan more. Not because he’d abandoned me. But because he’d taken my home from me, swept me into the magic and mystery of Neverland, introduced me to Roc and Hook, and then quickly snatched it all away. If it wasn’t for Pan, I never would have met Roc and Hook and my heart would have never broken into a million fucking pieces.

“The scholars were never able to come to a consensus as to what Peter Pan is.” Asha turns to me. “Do you know?”

“You are not weak. You never were. Those were the lies they told you. Because a woman who sees her power is a woman who cannot be controlled.”