Page 50 of Heir of the Autumn Queen

Finn gives me a mischievous grin.“Are you asking me if I enjoyed myself, Trouble?”

I clear my throat, suddenly feeling bashful.“Did you?”

His smile softens and then disappears altogether.“I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

“What do you mean?” I study his face, worried that I did something wrong.

“I mean, that felt… different,” he says, still struggling to find the right words.

“Well, I don’t have anything to compare it to.” I smile at him shyly.“But I can’t imagine it gets much better than that.”

“That’s what I mean.” He runs his fingers up and down my arm lightly, lost in thought.“And I’m not just talking about the sex being good. Ifeltyou… like our souls were connected, not just our bodies.”

“Isn’t that what sex is?” I ask, feeling naive.

“It can be. But I would say it’s rare. Most people use sex as a physical release, and nothing more.”

“So you’re saying I’m special?” I tease, turning my body toward him and playing with his chest hair.

“You’ve always been special.” Finn places his chin on the top of my head.“But now… you might be stuck with me, drangáli.”

“Are you ever gonna tell me what that means?” I pull at his chest hair playfully.

“What fun would that be?” He runs his large hand down my back and squeezes my ass in response.

I roll my eyes but smile into his chest. After the day we had, and his warm body curled around mine, sleep threatens to pull me under, and I don’t resist. Finn runs his hands up and down my back, relaxing me further.

Tomorrow.I’ll tell him who I am tomorrow.

Chapter Twenty-four

Iwake to an empty bed. The room is chilly, the fire burnt down to embers. And while the sunlight is streaming in through the small window, it does nothing to curb the cold. I don't remember falling asleep, but I know I was wrapped in Finn's arms when I did. Now he's nowhere to be seen.

I get out of bed quickly, wrapping the quilt around my naked shoulders and taking it with me off the bed. I head to the hearth and stoke the fire, adding another log to try to build the flames back up. I find a small piece of parchment on the table, a note scribbled in Finn’s penmanship there.

Had to take care of some business. I’ll be back before lunch. -F

I’m not exactly sure what time it is, but I know it’s still early. Since I’ve got several hours to kill before Finn returns, I call for the maid who brings hot water for the small bathing tub. I take a proper bath, spending a decent amount of time scrubbing my hair and body since my makeshift bath in the river yesterday just wasn’t cutting it. I get out and then use the same water to wash all of my clothes, save the dress from Pearl’s. The blood stains from the Rovern aren’t going anywhere, but it's better than nothing. I drape the wet clothes over the chair for them to dry near the fire.

Left with no other option, I don the peach dress, now thoroughly wrinkled after spending so much time stuffed into my knapsack. I sit on the bed, replaying the events of the previous day with Finn.

After we slew the Rovern, Finn said that there are few with enough power to summon such terrible creatures, which leads me to believe that he has some idea about who sent them, a thought that is both comforting and disheartening. Perhaps that’s what he’s gone to do, confront whoever sent them, or send word to his father about the attempt on our lives.

Although I can’t help but think that the deathhounds were sent for me, not Finn. Sending them after Finn, attacking the prince of the Winter Kingdom—whose moniker is the Reaper of Souls for Aeron’s sake—would ignite a war. And the only person who would want me dead enough to send literal demons from the Faide after me is my aunt. She has to know I’m here, but how? The only person I told my real name to was Pearl, and I doubt she has any idea about my connection to the Autumn Kingdom.

I’m thinking in circles, giving myself a headache. My thoughts drift to my night with Finn, and the powerful connection I now feel with him; the love I undoubtedly feel building for him. The energy that always seems to pass between us when we touch is now a steady thrum in my veins, leading me to believe that our joining last night really did connect our souls and not just our bodies. I find myself smiling as I reach up to touch my lips, still feeling the sensation of his mouth on mine.

I make the decision to tell Finn the truth about who I am and why I’m here when he returns from his errand. It just doesn’t seem right to continue to lie to him, after everything we’ve shared together. And even if he can’t get the Winter Kingdom to ally with me, at least he’ll know the truth, which he more than deserves at this point.

But midday comes and goes, and Finn doesn’t come back to the room. I wait another hour, just to be sure he’s not just running late, before deciding to head out to find him. I can’t shake the feeling that something’s terribly wrong, that he’s in trouble somehow. I pack up my mostly dry clothes and don my weapons before heading down to the stables for Shadow. I saddle her up and get on, still wearing my dress, which makes for less-than-comfortable riding. We ride out to the main road and head west, figuring it makes more sense to head this way than backtracking, since Finn would have no reason to go back to Elsreth. I look to the skies for any sign of him flying above, but there’s only the occasional bird or goose flying south for the winter.

We ride for hours without passing anyone on the road, and I’m starting to panic, not only because I can’t shake the feeling that something happened to Finn, but because the whole atmosphere feels off. I can tell that Shadow feels it too as she tosses her head anxiously, ears back as she listens to the forest around us. I take my bow off my back and nock an arrow out of an abundance of caution, scanning our surroundings continuously.

Out of nowhere, three riders dressed in all black emerge from the trees, mounted on massive black draft horses. Shadow retreats a few steps with a snort, and I draw my bow, taking aim at the front man.

He laughs darkly as he stares me down, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. These men are not like the thieves from the forest or the men from the card table; they’re well-dressed knights, but not from the Spring Kingdom. No, the emblem on their saddles is of a huge raven, its wings spread wide as it carries a sword in its sharp talons. I don’t have to ask to know that they’re from the Winter Kingdom, knights of the Ravencrest family.

“Where’s Finn?” I ask them, trying desperately to keep my voice from shaking.

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