“Gods,” I said quietly.
“Fucking right! It was a nightmare!”
“The mushrooms werethattoxic?”
She looked at me closely. “You didn’t recognize them, did you?”
I shook my head.
“Widowmaker mushrooms are the deadliest in the realm.”
“Huh?”
“They shouldn’t be anywhere near here. Why did you touch them?”
“I thought Kizzi might like them,” I mumbled.
At that, Fiella laughed. “She probably would. Crazy witch. Do us all a favor and don’t bring them to her.”
“Now that she knows they’re here, she might find them herself.”
“Fates save us all if she does,” she deadpanned.
“I was just trying to bring her something nice—I didn’t realize I was grabbing a murder weapon,” I joked half-heartedly.
She patted me on the shoulder. “It happens to the best of us. Are you feeling okay now?”
“More or less. Just a bit groggy, but nothing I can’t nap away.”
“And Shade?”
“What about Shade?” I asked tightly.
She settled onto a stool. “You know gossip spreads like wildfire in this town.”
“I’m aware,” I sighed. “What is everyone saying?”
“That Shade tried to murder you. And almost succeeded. And now he’s locked up in the dungeon and will probably rot away and die there, if the King’s men don’t come for him first.”
I swallowed. “Gods.”
“Is that close?”
“Close enough, alarmingly.”
She grimaced, flashing her fangs. “That asshole.”
“Not that part,” I insisted. “He didn’t try to murder me. That was all me.”
“You tried to harm yourself?”
“No! I?—”
“I swear to the Old Gods, Ginny, I?—”
“Why don’t you just let me explain my side, and then you can ask your questions.”
She crossed her arms with a huff. “Fine. But do it quickly.”
