Page 26 of Heir of the Autumn Queen

“Wasn’t planning on it.” I look around the room, if only to avoid looking directly at him. He really is so handsome it’s sort of disorienting, as stupid as that sounds.

“Wow.” He shakes his head teasingly. “Wherever you come from, basic manners must not be held in very high esteem.”

I narrow my eyes, but humor him anyway. “My apologies, good sir.” I bat my eyelashes flirtatiously for effect. “To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with on this fine eve?”

He laughs heartily, a pure, full sound that warms me, and I struggle to hold back my own smile. “Ah, so they do teach manners in this mystery place. Good to know.” I raise my eyebrows at him, awaiting the answer to my question. “I’m Finn. Or at least, my friends call me Finn.”

“Oh, so we’re friends, then?” I’m losing the battle withmaintaining a stoic face as one corner of my mouth turns up in a slight smile.

“Considering the fact that I’m the only person in this bar who actually appreciated what you did at the card table… yes, I would say I’m your friend.”

“I don’t need any friends,” I tell him, rejecting the idea that I would need him to defend me in any way. I push off the bar, not even bothering to finish my beer.

Before I can take a step, he reaches out and grabs my wrist, and a jolt of energy rushes into my body at his touch. Our eyes widen as we lock gazes, confirming that he also felt the zip of some kind of power pass between us. He quickly lets go of my wrist and clears his throat.

“Just… be on your guard. There are some here who would gladly see you hurt after that stunt you pulled earlier.” His eyes are full of concern, feigned or genuine, I can’t tell.

“It wasn’t a stunt,” I say, feeling slightly annoyed. “And I can take care of myself.”

“I don’t doubt that for a second, Trouble.” He smiles and winks at me again, the strange moment we shared forgotten. I study him for a moment longer before turning away to head up the stairs to my room.

I glance behind me, just to make sure no one is following me, and walk down the hallway, once again passing several of the rooms that are obviously being used for activities besides actually sleeping.

Once inside my room, I lock the door and place the table right in front of it under the handle. It’s not much, but it adds an extra layer of protection should any of the bitter men who I beattonight discover that I’m staying here and decide they want to come get their money back. I place my dagger under my pillow once again before laying down to sleep.

I drift off, thinking of Finn’s handsome face and that strange burst of energy I felt when we touched.

Chapter Thirteen

Isit up in bed, startled awake by the sound of Shadow’s frantic neighing. My heart pounds in my chest as I listen; I can’t tell you how, but I know it’s her.

Based on the pitch black sky outside my window, it’s the middle of the night, but I jump out of bed and sheath my dagger at my thigh. Running down the stairs, I realize a moment too late that I didn’t even put my boots on. I race through the bar to check on her in the stables and burst through the barn door to find the two men from the card table attempting to get a rope around her neck.

Still in her stall, she’s rearing violently, kicking out in the air towards the men with her wings spread wide, as they curse and duck to avoid her hooves.

“Hey!” I yell, not having much of a plan beyond getting them away from Shadow.

Their heads snap in my direction, their eyes dark with anger. They take a step away from Shadow’s stall and towards me, and I back up a step toward the street. I find myself in the town square, a lone torch in front of the tavern and the moon my only sources of light, as the men continue stalking towards me.

“Hello, witch,” one of the men says, spitting on the ground close to my feet as I continue backing away, trying to maintain some distance between me and the hostile males.

“We were planning on just taking your peg to sell to the highest bidder, but now I’ll get to take your beastandteach you a lesson.” The man who thought he had beaten me smiles savagely.

I immediately notice the lack of my bow and curse myself for leaving it up in my room. I may be a decent fighter, but even I have doubts about out-brawling two full-grown men by myself. I try to de-escalate the situation, wanting to avoid any kind of physical altercation.“How about I just give you back the money that you lost?” I suggest, trying and failing to keep the condescension out of my tone.

The man who called me a witch barks a laugh harshly.“Ah, but then you wouldn’t learn to stay in your place,woman.” He hisses the last word with obvious disgust.

I feel the intense urge to throw my dagger straight at his chest for that comment, but I tamp it down, reminding myself that I’m outnumbered, and that would admittedly be an overreaction. I think briefly about offering them double what I took from them in the round of cards, but that might only make them greedy for more if they know I have it. I take another step back, unable to see a way around a fight.

I take a deep breath to center myself, watching the men closely as they approach me from either side. Shadow’s now kicking her stall and snorting, her desperation to get out and protect me an obvious indication of her loyalty.

I try to ignore her increasingly frantic neighs and observe the men; they don’t appear to have any weapons with them, so I decide not to draw my dagger unless absolutely necessary.

The first man lunges to grab me, but I quickly side-step him, making him lose his balance and stumble forward. He goes down hard, landing on his hands and knees.

The second man grabs my forearm and lands a punch in my gut, forcing all the air out of my lungs. The adrenaline pumping through my veins allows me to recover enough to kick him in between his legs, but it’s not my best hit given my compromised stance and bootless foot. Still, he immediately releases my arm and keels over, gasping for air as he holds his crotch.

I turn around as the first man stands up and swings his fist toward my face, but I duck just in time. I stand back up and jab him in the throat, rendering him useless as he joins his companion on the ground, struggling to breathe. My stomach hurts and my knuckles ache, but I barely feel it as my blood thrums loudly in my ears.

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