The Never King (Vicious Lost Boys Book 1)

The Brownie has no name.

He is older than most on the island, but not older than Peter Pan.

Even the Brownie is unsure of where Pan came from or what he is.

It’s undeniable that he is connected to the island, that both he and the land have laid a claim on one another.

Which explains why the island’s energy is like a buzzing wasp nest that’s been whacked with a stick.

The Brownie remembers when Pan was king and he doesn’t wish to return to what Neverland was when it was under his rule, but if they are to be rid of him, they have to have a plan.

The Brownie set one in motion a very long time ago with Tinker Bell, stars rest her soul.

Hurrying through the underground fae palace, the Brownie’s leather shoes are silent on the rough stone floor. The walls are webbed in vines. The vines are dotted with primroses and honeycaps and bright pink hibiscus flowers. The air smells of sweet fae wine and chimes with court gossip.

When he enters the throne room, the Brownie finds Queen Tilly at a large round table sharing tea with several other noble fae. A golden circlet has been woven into her dark hair. One single ruby glitters in the centermost tine. Tilly looks like an eighteen-year-old girl, but she is older too.

Everyone on Neverland is older than they look.

The fae don’t age like mortals do, but even the mortals have escaped the toll of time, what with the Death Shadow gone.

“What is it?” she asks when she sees him.

When the Brownie is seen, there is always an “it.”

“Peter Pan has the Darling,” he answers.

“Leave us,” she says quickly and the others scatter.

The Brownie waits for the queen to command him, his hands clasped behind his back.

Once the room is empty save for himself and Tilly, she turns to him. “This Darling… She’s Merry’s daughter, isn’t she?”

“Yes.”

Tilly paces the length of the throne room. It takes her three minutes total. It’s a very large room. “Tell me your thoughts.”

The Brownie crosses the room to come to stand beside her in the bright glow of a pixie bug lantern. “He’s losing the island. I can feel it.”

Tilly nods. “And?”

“And I don’t think he’ll get his chance at another Darling.”

She nods again and worries at the inside of her cheek. “He’ll summon me soon and I’ll do what I’ve always done. No more, no less.”

“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, my queen, but if you wanted the island, now would be the time to take it.”

She regards him down the sharp slant of her nose. She got her mother’s cat-like features, but her father’s warrior’s eyes. She is the fiercest queen that’s ever ruled the fae on Neverland. The Brownie is glad to serve her.

But she could do so much more.

“What would your mother want?” the Brownie asks.

“Tink loved Pan once,” she says.

“Yes, and he killed her. Don’t make her death be in vain.”

“Don’t tell me what I should or shouldn’t do, Brownie.”

“Of course, my queen. But…” Compared to the Brownie, the queen is but a baby. Sometimes it’s exhausting trying to coax her into action. “Perhaps we could use your brothers to—”

“Absolutely not.”

The Brownie clamps his mouth shut. The twins have always been a sore spot. But they are an asset they could use if they wanted to unseat the king.

“I don’t have to do anything,” the queen says. “I just have to bide my time like I have been. Peter Pan will fail because I will make him fail. He will crumble and then I will claim his shadow and the throne will rightfully be mine.”

“And the twins?” the Brownie asks.

The queen wants to pretend that she has no love left for her older brothers, but the Brownie knows better.

Every time someone mentions them, she is gutted all over again, just like their father.

It’s why she’s forbidden anyone from speaking their names.

“I don’t care what my brothers do,” she says and walks away. “In the meantime, find out where Hook stands. I don’t want to fight him too.”

Then the queen is gone and the Brownie takes action.