Page 15 of Heir of the Autumn Queen

“Ooh, what name are you gonna pick?” Briar’s face lights up.

“I have no idea.” I shrug.

“What about Sunny? Like Ma used to call you,” Killian suggests, his mention of my childhood nickname tugging at my heartstrings.

“Mmm…” I consider it, but it sounds too juvenile.

“How about Hazel?” Briar offers.“Like your eyes on the night of your birthday. You know, when theyglowed.”

“What?” Killian startles.“Your eyes glowed?”

“They were like two golden orbs,” Briar answers.“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“You’re so dramatic.” I roll my eyes.

“I know I have a tendency to over-exaggerate, but I swear I’m not this time.” Briar shudders slightly at the memory.“It was like there was a fire in your veins just begging to be let out.”

Fed up with her antics, I bring the conversation back around.“Hazel works.”

“So what’s your plan? Just walk to the Autumn Kingdom and kill your aunt?” Killian’s voice cracks.

“I was thinking I’ll do some reconnoissance first. I’ll be in the Eastlands for a while, maybe I can learn more about the royal court there and if people know anything about how Selena rules.” I’m basically admitting to not having much of a plan in place, but I honestly haven’t thought much beyond my immediate future of getting through the Pass.

“And then what?” Killian presses.

“I don’t really know…” I admit, clenching my jaw.“I’ll have to play it by ear.”

“Are you sure about this?” Briar asks, reaching out to touch my arm.

“Yes, I’m sure.” I move my arm out of her grasp, my skin crawling with pent-up emotion.“I don’t expect either of you to understand, but ever since I found out about who I am and where I come from, I’ve felt this…pull.”

“Pull?” Killian asks.

I nod.“Like a part of me that was dormant awakened, and I have to answer the call of my birthplace. I don’t know exactly where I’m going, but I can’t stay here.” I’m rambling now, but I can’t stop, verbally processing everything that’s been on my mind and my heart.“Staghorn Forest will always be a part of me, and you guys will always be my family, but I can’t sit here, knowing that there’s a place I come from, a place I can trulybelong. Where I can maybe make a difference, or alleviate someone’s suffering, even if it’s just one person. If I can just save one person from the same fate as my mother, that would be enough.” I exhale shakily, as Briar and Killian nod, giving me hope that I explained myself well enough.

“Do you want to be queen?” Briar asks me, searching my face.

I look up at the night sky with a sigh, knowing this question was coming.“All I know is that I don’t want Selena to be queen after what she did to my mother.”Her own gods-damned sister.

“Well if you don’t want your aunt to rule,someonehas to do it.” Killian eyes me like I’m a rabid animal caught in a trap.

“Well,Ithink you would be an amazing queen.” Briar smiles at me, preventing an explosion that would’ve undoubtedly occurred had Killian kept asking me questions I don’t have the answers to. I try to return my friend’s smile, but it’s really more of a grimace as I think about all the responsibility that would come with ruling a kingdom.

Everyone remains silent for several moments before Killian finally speaks again.“Just don’t get yourself killed, or captured. I’d never forgive you.”

“Yeah, me either,” Briar echoes.

“Will do.” I salute them, exhaustion from our day of travel settling in.“Time for bed. I’ll wake you in a few hours, Kil.”

They both find their respective tents and within minutes, I hear Killian snoring loudly and Briar breathing heavily, proof that they’ve both passed out after our long day.

I keep the fire going, listening for sounds of any kind of predator around me, but all I hear is the occasional crack of sparks and an owl here and there. I figure it's been a few hours by the time Killian emerges from his tent, explaining that he has to pee and that he’ll take over. I shoot him a grateful look and climb into the warm spot he was occupying in his tent, snuggling into the residual body heat there under my cloak. I fall asleep almost instantly, having not slept much the last few nights.

I sleep dreamlessly until the snap of a twig on the ground right outside my tent jolts me awake. I sit up and reach for my dagger, listening keenly. I get into a crouching position and peek my head around the canvas of the tent, relieved to see Killian walking back toward the campsite. I stretch stiffly, my muscles aching from sleeping on the hard ground before emerging from the tent in search of the stream.

Killian points me in the direction of the small water source, and I grab my canteen to fill up while I’m there. I find the creek without any difficulty, leaning down to drink a few mouthfuls and splash water on my face to wake myself up a bit. I quickly find a spot to pee, already missing the basic luxuries that come with living in civilization, before heading back to our campsite.

Briar got up while I was gone, but she barely looks awake. She rubs her eyes sleepily and yawns before I realize that Killian didn’t wake her for her portion of the watch. I don’t know if he just forgot, or chose to let Briar sleep, but my best friend seems to realize at the same moment I did.

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