Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Stella stared at Susanna, disbelief written all over her face. There was no way Susanna could have done something like this.

But seeing Susanna falling apart right before her, Stella knew she had to get to the bottom of it. There was no way around it this time.

The thing with Susanna was different from anything that had happened with Tegan. Tegan's business was a matter of respect. But this? It needed answers.

"Fine, fine. Stop crying for a second and tell me what happened. I need to understand the whole thing."

Between sobs, Susanna recounted the previous night's events in broken sentences. The gist was that she was supposed to change Hull's bandages and give him his meds. But with all the mixing of pills and pouring of water, she mixed up the two medicines.

"You mixed them up?” Stella asked, incredulously. "That doesn't sound so terrible. Just a mix-up with the meds."

"And then, Hull took the external ointment orally," Susanna explained, "It's the one for wounds. It's really strong."

When Susanna said it was "really strong," Stella understood just how potent that ointment was.

Stella's eyes widened in shock. She was speechless, just staring at Susanna. It was beyond careless; it was downright dumb.

Susanna wiped her tears, muttering, "I'm so stupid, aren't I?"

nodded silently. Susanna was a mess, and Stella didn't have the heart to reproach her anymore. But she had to ask, "What

anything had really gone wrong, Hull's people would have dealt with Susanna,

end, thank goodness. But I was scared to death. His people looked like they were ready to eat me

there, he might have said something like, "You

I'd be pretty mad too. He was just

now?" Susanna asked, her eyes full of hope. "Can you get me

this story. "Is there

buy it. She grew

She was hiding

an

replied, "Please, just talk to him. I want out. I can't

shook her head, sensing there was more beneath the surface. "Where

"He's in his room."

Stella

whatever awaited. She

entering Hull's private space