Page 76 of Welcome to Blackbird Hollow
The nymph snarls. “Let us take our revenge.”
I nod at the creature, who now looks more tree than woman. But she is far more beautiful this way. I can’t explain it, but I’ve never seen something as pure and good as this nymph. Cruel? Yes. But I have always loved the forest. Always loved the trees. Always loved these woods, dangerous as they are.
“I don’t know what you’re taking revenge for, ma’am,” I offer, “but I’m with you.”
She moves like the wind, and whatever she did to me doesn’t hurt any longer, and I can move with her as we follow them into the forest, catching up with hardly any effort at all. The nymph grabs Not-Cookie by the hair, I grab Alice by the arm, and weforce them apart. Alice rages like a feral beast, slipping out of my hands and onto the forest floor, scrabbling for the bowie knife that Not-Cookie dropped. There’s just enough moonlight to find it, and when she has it in her hands, she moves.
Before I can stop her, she’s shoved it in the woman’s gut. “That’s for the nymph,” she snarls.
My heart sinks as a part of me mourns for her. I never wanted her to have to harm a human. But the nymph who gifted me forest Sight smiles triumphantly with a love I didn’t imagine her kind capable of.
Before Alice can do anything else to the woman, the nymph swallows Not-Cookie whole. I don’t know how else to describe it, but it’s like her entire body becomes a gaping maw, and then Not-Cookie-G and the nymph both are simply gone, an ancient ash tree standing in their place.
Alice yanks on my arm, dragging me back toward the fight. “We’ve gotta finish them off,” she huffs. “Take the rest of them out.”
But when we make it out of the forest, there’s not a single Sector agent left. In fact, there’s no one behind the store except the hound with the missing eye and Mrs. Cheng. They appear to be talking.
The hound turns to me and Alice.You would be wise to keep your wits about you and set a watch for the forsaken.
I swear under my breath. “I don’t know what the fuck that means.”
You will, the hound promises, and then lopes off into the mist.
“Do you know what that means, Mrs. Cheng?” Alice asks, a little out of breath from our run through the forest.
Mrs. Cheng shrugs. “Who ever knows what that one’s on about? He’s a good enough pup, but a hellhound all the same. They speak in riddles.”
“Mrs. Cheng,” I ask, trying to keep the impatience out of my voice, but it’s been a wild end to a stressful day. “Are you some kinda expert on hellhounds?”
Mrs. Cheng just smiles at me. “Middle Hayes, you don’t know the half of what I’m an expert on.” And then she giggles, pointing to an overflowing grocery sack next to the smaller bag of s’more supplies. “Thought you could use some extra snacks after all that. Bring my bags back to me tomorrow, please,” she chirps as she heads back into the store.
Alice looks up at me, her eyes wide. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry?”
I curl my arm around her head, kissing the top of it. “Sweet girl, I feel the same.”
She leans against me, shuddery laughs fluttering against my chest. “I need to lie down on the bathroom floor and scream.”I know the feeling. “You have one of those at your house?”
“Sure do, sweet girl. Let’s get our dog and go home.”
I look down at Alice, and she throws her arms around my waist. “Don’t let go,” she sobs into my chest. “Don’t you ever let me go.”
“I won’t,” I promise as I hold her as tight as I can without hindering her breathing. “Now that I’ve got you, you’re mine forevermore.”
Alice doesn’t say another word, but she doesn’t need to. She’s staying. I know it.
Alice Blythe is staying in Blackbird Hollow forever, and my heart might burst for how happy I am.
Chapter 33
Alice
Fallon’s the first to turn around as we drag ourselves through the heavy door and onto Lucky’s roof. It’s a delightful scene. They’ve got lights strung up on the stucco walls and a little firepit with a crackling flame.
Wanda and Barnes are doubled over laughing about something. Mona and Julius are slow dancing to “Drive” by Incubus, which is impressive. Caden’s sprawled on a blanket with half a pizza in his lap, feeding the crusts to a very pleased-looking Fern. I recognize some of the witches of Foxglove Coven from the preparations in the gym, gathered by the edge of the roof. They have their arms linked and appear to be singing to the moon. Marion’s sitting up on the half-wall with a beer in her hand, her dark hair glinting in the firelight as she explains something to Janey and Mac with lively enthusiasm.
My heart swells so big that for an irrational moment, I’m scared it’s going to burst right through my chest. Tears spring to my eyes, and I roughly shove them away with the back of one hand, plunking the bag filled with s’mores goodies onto a worn plastic table.
“The hell happened to you two?” Fallon demands as she stalks over, her eyes wide.
