Wink Poppy Midnight(51)

The Hero talked to the boy all night long. They shared a crisp red apple and a mug of golden milk and a piece of gingerbread. And then, when dawn came, the boy packed up his tent, gave the Hero a smile—a solid, true one—and went home.

The Hero stood alone in the forest, red hair flowing down her back.

She held out her arms and felt the plump, sunrise breeze blow across her skin.

The Hero suddenly knew that this story wouldn’t be like all the other stories. There wouldn’t be swords, or monsters, or trials. There wouldn’t be riddles, or revenge, or resurrections.

But there would be redemption.

And love.

And life.

And ever after.





Acknowledgments


Jessica Garrison. Editor, friend.

Everyone at Dial and Penguin, especially Bri Lockhart, Kristin Smith, and Colleen Conway.

My inimitable agent, Joanna Volpe. Thanks for the tarot in New Orleans, and for liking the gypsy romp.

Klindt’s Booksellers.

Katharine Mary Briggs, queen of the fairy tales.

Mandy Buehrlen.

Kenny Brechner.

Nova Ren Suma.

Victoria Scott, for the circle of fire.

Megan Shepherd—what would I do without you?

Kendare Blake, for calling me the kitchen witch.

Alistair Cairns and Kelly Cannon-Miller, for skull-watching.

The Hicks kids.

Dad.

Nate.





About the Author


APRIL GENEVIEVE TUCHOLKE is the critically acclaimed author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea and Between the Spark and the Burn and curated the horror/thriller anthology Slasher Girls & Monster Boys. April has lived in many places around the world. She currently resides in Oregon with her husband.