The Edge of Strange Hollow by Gabrielle Byrne (best affordable ebook reader txt) 📕

her attention to Poppy. Her voice grew deeper. “It means using what you know to gain an advantage.”

“It means cheating.” At his sides, Mack’s hands fisted, every muscle in his body tight.

“Does it?”

Mack looked nothing like himself as he fought to contain his anger. And where was Nula? Poppy looked behind them and spotted her. The pooka had backed up, and was standing a few feet away. It was this, more than anything, that made Poppy’s heart begin to race. Nula was shaking so hard, Poppy could see it from a distance, but the pooka didn’t change forms, and she didn’t run. Her expression was fierce and … defiant? Did Nula know something?

She knew something.

Poppy tried to catch her eyes, but the pooka wouldn’t look away from the faeries.

The queen had made her way back around to face Mack. “The Fae never cheat,” she said tightly, raising her dark eyes to meet Mack’s steady copper gaze. “The Fae watch a thing until we understand it, and then we find the cracks and the loops and the holes, and we slip through and cut your throat before you know we’re there.”

Poppy looked up. The trees were filled with Fae in dark glittering armor. As she watched, the giant spiders emerged, moving forward out of the trees to stand behind the queen. The spiders’ handmaidens, their dark hair pulled tight, rode their backs—and they were armed with blowguns.

She reached for Mack’s arm and gave it a shake, but he wouldn’t look at her.

“Now.” The queen whipped around to Poppy. “About that bargain.” She held out her hand and an enormous meaty bone appeared, hanging in the air over her palm. Dog moved away from Poppy’s side, the bone taking Brutus’s full attention.

Her stomach dropped. “Dog,” she hissed. “Come!”

But Dog’s full attention was on the bone. Two whined.

“I believe we stipulated that if I didn’t get my song in time, I could take something else.” Her eyes narrowed. “Something of my choosing.”

Poppy felt the blood drain from her face. The queen’s tight smile grew in response.

“No!” Mack said. “You can’t!”

Her smile widened. “Can’t I?” She turned to look at Dog, and shifted the bone in the air, watching as Brutus’s eyes followed it.

Eta looked back at Poppy and whimpered.

Poppy couldn’t speak. She almost couldn’t see. She turned to Mack, but his expression reflected hers.

“No,” he said softly and reached down to try to hold Dog back.

“None of that,” the queen growled and flicked her hand at him. Mack froze.

“Mack!” Poppy cried as the queen stretched the bone up above her head. “Good Dog,” she purred, and flung the bone through the Rowan Gate into the wood behind her. It vanished into the distance, and with a bark of joy, Brutus followed, taking Eta and Two with him.

“NO!” Poppy wailed, running forward to chase them, as whatever held Mack back gave way and he toppled forward into the dirt.

“Eta! Two! Brutus!” Poppy sobbed, unable to hold back her tears.

The queen knocked Poppy’s feet out from under her and she landed flat on her back, all the air knocked from her lungs. “Now,” the queen said, looking down at her. “Where is my song?”

Nula appeared at Poppy’s side and helped her up. “That wasn’t the bargain,” she snapped, leaning close. “The words were clear. The song or something else. The song OR something else.” She let go of Poppy’s arm and moved back behind Mack.

A wave of gratitude washed over Poppy. It wasn’t enough to dull the pain of Dog’s loss—not even close, but she had never been more grateful to have Nula’s friendship.

Her spine hardened as she turned to the queen. “No.” She lifted her tearstained face. “We agreed. I would bring you the song in exchange for the information I need, and if I failed, you would take something else instead. You took something else. You don’t get anything more.” She widened her stance, and Mack moved to her side.

“You’ve been paid.” Poppy crossed her arms as though they could hold back her heartache. Each moment her heart beat on without Dog at her side was like being stabbed. She wanted to drop to the ground and sob. “Now, keep your promise.”

“Damnation,” the queen spat, spinning to glare at Nula. Her smile was back in an instant. “Very well. Why not. You were promised information. Now you will have it.”

All the strength vanished from Nula’s face. “No,” she begged.

“About the Soul Jar,” Poppy insisted. “And about my parents.”

“Yes, yes. Very well.” The queen waved her hand in the air. “As you wish, my dear. And let this be a lesson to you.”

“What lesson?” Mack ground out.

“To be careful what you ask for, of course,” said the queen. She began to pace, circling the three of them like a bird of prey that’s spotted its next meal and is only waiting for the right moment to drop out of the sky.

“The Grimwood belongs to the Holly Oak. Everyone is here by-her-leave. Every tree of the wood is connected to her, including the thorn trees. And that means everything belonging to the thorn trees is connected to her. That includes the Soul Jar and—”

Poppy’s jaw dropped. “The Holly Oak makes the maledictions?”

“As for your parents, I can tell you only one thing for certain—they are not in the Soul Jar.”

Poppy rocked back. “They have to be. If they’re not in the Soul Jar … then…” Poppy’s teeth caught the inside of her cheek. She tasted blood.

The queen’s expression turned sly. “If I were a betting person, Poppy Sunshine,” she hissed. “If I were you, I would look to your own people. They’re the real monsters, you know.”

Poppy’s thoughts faltered as she tried to make sense of the Faery Queen’s words. “You … you think my parents were taken … by people?”

The Faery Queen moved on, her predatory smile the only answer. “You also asked if I knew how to find the Soul Jar. And. I. Do.

“I do indeed. I know a great deal more than that, in fact.”

She turned