Page 88 of A Strange Hymn

He studies me for a moment longer. Finally, he nods. “Consider it done.”

***

By late afternoon, Malaki’s made good on his promise.

I stand inside one of the Flora Kingdom’s expansive greenhouses, Temper at my side. The hot conservatory is filled to the brim with sleeping women, each one laid out in her glass coffin. Like in the Kingdom of Night, there are hundreds if not thousands of them, their caskets spread throughout the building.

“My God,” Temper says next to me. “This is…”

I nod. “I know.”

Considering that solving cases is what Temper and I do best, I brought her along to help me, filling her in on the mystery during our walk over here.

My gaze moves from woman to woman. I’m still not used to the sight even after all this time. It’s the little details that get to me—how one’s pointed ears peek through her hair, how another looks like she might have dimples if she were to wake up and smile.

I still remember Karnon’s terrible kisses, how he forced his dark magic down my throat. Being a lowlyhumanbenefited me then. Whatever tainted spell he put these women under, I escaped it.

The door to the conservatory opens, and in strides the Green Man.

“I heard I’d find you here,” he says, his footsteps echoing throughout the room.

“What’s this little pipsqueak up to?” Temper asks under her breath, watching the Flora fae head our way.

I shrug. “I think he finds us curious.”

“Hmm…”

The Green Man reaches our side, introducing himself to Temper, who looks less than impressed.

“So you plan on solving the mystery?” he says, turning to me.

I hear the subtle scorn in his voice. Why wouldn’t he be scornful? For ten years this mystery has plagued the Otherworld, and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t stop the disappearances from happening again—and again and again.

“I plan on trying.”

His eyes move over the women around us. “I knew some of these women…personally.”

The way he says this makes me want to scrunch my nose. I think he was more than just friends with some of these soldiers.

Temper and I share a knowing look. God, Ilovehaving my best friend here with me.

“Where are the children?” I ask, turning my attention back to the Green Man.

“They are sleeping a different sort of sleep,” he says cryptically.

My brows furrow in confusion.

“Mara has them killed,” he explains.

Temper sucks in a breath.

“‘Poisoned fruit’—that’s what she calls them,” the Green Man elaborates. “They’re removed as soon as they enter the kingdom—rot spreads quickly.”

I fold my arms across my chest. “The queen’s trees seem to be rotting as well—why aren’t they too being removed?” I ask.

The Green Man assesses me. “What are you talking about?”

“The sacred oak grove. The trees are bleeding.”

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