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I laughed, reaching into my satchel for the little woven bag Gillie had given me before I left. “Then let’s get this done so we don’t have to listen to them anymore. You ready to do this?”
“Not really.” Lonan watched with an uneasy expression as I opened the bag and tipped its contents into my palm. “The last time was… strange.”
“You didn’t like it?”
“Not overly.” He exhaled and held out his hand. “Give them here.”
I hesitated, looking down at the wrinkled mushrooms. “Why don’t I just take them? It wasn’t so bad for me.”
“No. I made the bargain, so I think it has to be me.” He gestured with his fingers. “Give them.”
After a pause, I snorted and handed a few over, then patted the water skin slung over my shoulder. “Hopefully it won’t take too long, and I have the tea that’ll make the effects wear off quickly when we’re done.”
Lonan nodded, then took a deep breath and stuffed the mushrooms into his mouth. He grimaced as he chewed. “Do you have anything else that will take away the taste?”
I laughed. “Afraid not, Holly King.”
“Wait,” he blurted around his mouthful as I raised a mushroom to my mouth. “What are you doing?”
I gave him an odd look. “Eating the mushrooms.”
He frowned, shuddering as he swallowed. “I don’t think we both need to take them.”
“But then I won’t be able to come with you.”
“If I can take him with me”—he nodded at Cethlen—“then I should be able to take you too.”
I looked between him and the mushrooms, then shook my head. “Fuck that. I’m not getting left behind if you can’t.”
Before he could protest any more, I stuffed three mushrooms into my mouth and immediately screwed up my face at the rancid taste. It became clear that they’d already started working for Lonan when he snorted with laughter at my expression.
“Okay.” I swallowed with a wince. “Ready. Oh shit, wait.”
“What?” Lonan sobered, but a second later he squeezed my cheeks between his thumb and fingers. “Make that face again.”
I let out a snort, but shook my head as I pried his hand loose. “No, seriously. Do we need to give some to him too?” I nodded at Cethlen, shifting uneasily on my feet. “Forcing him to take magic mushrooms kind of feels like a line we really shouldn’t cross.”
“No, I don’t think so.” Lonan turned and made his way over to Cethlen, a little unsteady on his feet. “Time to go, Cethlen.”
“Fuck you, Lonan,” he spat, yanking violently on his restraints as Lonan untied them from the branch. I went over to hold him still so Lonan could retie his hands behind his back.
Our eyes met over Cethlen’s bent head. After a second, Lonan started cracking up, which set me off too.
“Fuck both of you,” Cethlen snarled, trying to jerk away as Lonan gripped his shoulder and started leading him forward.
“Oh my god, fucking relax.” Okay, the mushrooms were definitely kicking in. I nudged his other shoulder as we left the Midsith behind, walking aimlessly through the trees. “You’re alive, aren’t you?”
“Exactly.” Lonan looked over at me, trying not to laugh. “You and Bres are finally better than Balor at something. Staying alive.”
I chuckled. “My dad loved that song.”
Lonan snorted. “What song?”
“Just a…” I waved a hand. “Mortal song.”
He grinned over at me. “Sing it for me.”
I huffed. “I’m not going to sing in front of your douche brother.”
