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

sea washed against the cobbled shore throughout the night, but despite its soft song, Poppy still couldn’t sleep. She lay awake, staring into the Holly Oak’s branches, thinking of everything she’d lost.

When she dozed off at last, her sleep was full of dreams. Images of Dog filled her head. Memories of their soft fur—and the way they would bowl her over each time she came home. She dreamed of Two’s eyes, and Brutus’s bravery, and Eta … sweet Eta, with all her wise looks.

She dreamed that her mother was calling for her. She dreamed of her father apologizing—asking for forgiveness, but she wasn’t sure for what, because his words were jumbled and foggy. Even Nula made an appearance. Poppy dreamed that she woke up to find the pooka staring down at her from the tree branches above them. She was crying, and her blue tears dripped down on Poppy’s head.

When she opened her eyes for real, there were streaks of pale blue through the branches above her, but there was no one there. Just the breeze rattling the Holly Oak’s leaves, and beyond them, the fading stars.

Mack sat with his back against a boulder. She got up and moved to sit next to him. When the sun finally rose, he had dozed off again, even though he was still sitting up. They had a long way to go to get home. And they still needed to come up with a plan to get her parents back.

The sharp ache raced back in and she shoved all her thoughts deep, far into the shadows of her mind where she wouldn’t have to look at them. Instead, she allowed the only thought that mattered to simmer where she could feel the heat of it, and remember. She would get them back. Somehow, she would get her parents back. And then she’d find a way to save Dog.

At the end of the dock, she rang the bell—felt its tolling roll over her body, but she didn’t even look up as she dropped the coins in the Boatman’s hand. She stepped in and sat in the floor of the boat with her eyes closed, and didn’t once bother to wonder which route he had chosen for them this time.

Stumbling back onto the broken-down dock where they had started made Poppy want to cry again—but she had no tears left. The last time she had been here, they had all been together. Mack pointed out some berry bushes that were safe, and they gorged until their stomachs ached. Poppy took out the last of the bread and cheese from the market, too.

“Mack?”

“Hm?”

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

He made a face. “Do what?”

“Help me. Are you sure you don’t want to go home—see your family?”

Mack frowned. “I’m sure.”

“But—”

“No, Poppy. I’m sure.” He paused. “Unless you don’t want my help?”

“No! It’s not that.”

He started walking. “It’s not your fault, you know.”

“What?”

“It’s not your fault—about Dog. And I didn’t know about Nula either.”

“Maybe you didn’t know, but you had a feeling. You said you weren’t sure we should trust her.”

He grunted. “I did—say that. But that was before we really knew Nula. And … and maybe I said it because I was being selfish, wanting to keep your friendship all to myself.”

Poppy’s eyes jerked to his, and he laughed. “But I was wrong, okay?”

“Well, we both know if I had listened to you, Dog would still be here.”

“No. I was wrong about that too … about always being so cautious.” He stopped walking and turned to face her. “Rules are important—caution too. We need them.” He looked down at his feet and Poppy watched with amusement as he dug his toes down into the soil. “But just being careful all the time doesn’t always keep us safe,” Mack admitted wryly. “Sometimes you have to take chances.”

Poppy swallowed and reached out to squeeze his hand. They stood that way a moment, then the quiet got strange and she let go.

“Anyway.” Mack muttered as they started walking again. “You heard Nula. The Faery Queen already knew about Dog. She had her eye on them from the start—before you ever set foot in the forest. She would have found a way to get them.”

“You really think so?”

“I really do.”

Her throat tightened. “If we can believe anything Nula said at all! Why did she lie to us? All that time! Why didn’t she just tell us? I hope I never—”

But before Poppy had finished her sentence, Nula herself stepped out from behind a tree.

She didn’t look at Poppy, but her eyes flicked briefly to Mack. Her voice was quiet. “Hi,” she said.

“Are you following us?” Poppy cried.

The wood seemed to grow still around them, listening.

Mack shifted his feet. “Hi, Nula,” he said.

Poppy glared. “What do you want?”

Nula’s hands twisted in front of her. “I—I want to make it up.”

“Make it up?” Poppy’s voice was high and tight. “Make it up? Make up that the Faery Queen took my Dog?”

A blue flush had risen in Nula’s cheeks. Her tufted ears lay flat, hidden in her thick brown hair. “I’m sorry,” she pleaded. “I thought … I thought I belonged with them … the faeries, I mean. I thought—” She looked up, and her huge gold eyes met Poppy’s. “I didn’t think enough about what it would cost. But I was wrong, Poppy. I don’t belong with the Fae. I don’t … I don’t even want to be anywhere near them.” Her brows knit together making her face fierce. “They’re terrible.”

For a moment Poppy couldn’t speak. Then she remembered the moment Brutus leaped for the bone—the moment Eta gave her plaintive cry, and rage washed over her. “She TOOK Dog, Nula! She—” Poppy’s throat closed. She swallowed, her voice dropping to a threatening whisper. “You lied to us—you were never our friend. You tricked us.”

Poppy fought the urge to physically attack Nula—to hurt her the way she was hurting. Instead, she let out a roar that made Nula and Mack both jump, then stormed past them, her hands fisted