Page 56 of Heir of the Autumn Queen

Finn swallows thickly and takes a step away from me. The shadows retreat and he clears his throat before saying,“You’ll need to head south, to the Summer Kingdom. Your uncle is the king there; he’s your best chance at staying out of Brutus' or Selena's hands.”

Even though I knew that my birth father was the second-born prince of the Summer Kingdom, I never really thought about my other family there. Theroyalfamily. I strap my dagger back to my thigh and pull on my cloak.“My bow?”

Finn shakes his head solemnly.“You’ll have to buy a new one.”

“Shit,” I say under my breath.

Finn walks over to the window where he flew in.“I’ll fly you down to the stables to get Shadow, but then you two need to fly out of here as fast as you can.”

“I don’t need your help.” I scowl at him, heading toward the door.

Finn crosses the room in a blink, blocking the door before I can even reach for the handle. “There are guards stationed right outside.” His voice is low, drawing an involuntary shiver out of me.

“Then I’ll fight them off,” I argue, shoving his chest roughly.

He smirks, my push having done absolutely nothing to move him. He leans down, his warm breath tickling my neck. “Then you’dreallybe dead, and I can’t let that happen. I’ll throw you over my shoulder if I have to.” He leans back and quirks a brow at me. “Is that what you want, drangáli?”

I grit my teeth. “Don’tcall me that.” I look up at him, hating the way my body is drawn to his, how his mere presence affects my better judgment. “Get out of my way.”

“Suit yourself.” Finn leans down and follows through on his threat, lifting me and tossing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. A surprised squeak leaves my mouth, but I know better than to start screaming.

He launches us out of the window, flying down to the courtyard, silent as an owl. He lands softly next to the stables, and he sets me down gracefully. I shove away from him as quickly as possible and peek around the corner of the barn to check for any guards, leaving him behind me when I’m sure the coast is clear. I sneak forward, happy to find Shadow munching away on some hay in her stall.

“Hey girl,” I whisper to her, reaching for her saddle on the rack. I open the stall door as silently as I can and quickly cinch it up, leading her out of the stall by the bridle.

“Here,” Finn says, handing me his belt with his short sword still sheathed in it. It’s the same sword he fought the Rovern with, and the memory of us fighting side by side only confuses me further.

“How many times do I have to say it? I don’t need anything from you.”

“Without your bow, you’re vulnerable.” As much as I would like to deny him, I know he’s right.

“Fine.” I take it from him and quickly cinch the belt around my waist. I can tell the sword is much heavier than what I’m used to, but it will be better than nothing.

“I’ll find you,” Finn says, searching my eyes.

I give him a death glare.“Don’t bother.”

Before he can further plead his case, we hear footsteps heading this way. I mount Shadow and she takes off at a full gallop out of the stables without any prompting from me. I squeeze my knees into her sides as multiple guards clamor to chase us down.

“Up, Shadow! Up!” I yell as we approach the wall with the gate. She spreads her wings wide, flapping a few times before launching us into the sky. We barely clear the thick stone wall as more soldiers shout in alarm, running around frantically as they try to figure out what’s going on, but we’re gone before they can fire a single arrow. I wrap my arms around Shadow’s neck, burying my face in her mane as she beats her wings in a steady pattern, gliding on the frigid air.

The sensation of flying on her back is significantly different than riding; it’s smoother, like floating through the sky, one with the birds and the pixies who roam these lands. I eventually relax, knowing we’ve flown well past Viaria’s borders. Only now that we’re far from the threat of Brutus do I stop and think, considering what Finn’s actions could mean if it’s discovered that he helped me escape.

There are very few explanations for Finn getting me out of there safely; either he has some other twisted plan for his own personal gain in the works, or he actually cares for me. Even if he has an explanation for his actions, that doesn’t change what he did, the pain that he caused me.

I convince myself it will be easy to hate him, to just decide he doesn’t mean anything to me and close that chapter of my life. After all, he taught me I need to be more careful with who I trust, who I let in. But if I’m really honest with myself, I know I don’t hate him, not really. You can’t just stop caring about someone, even when they hurt you.

It’s infuriating.

I’m exhausted from the escape and my own emotions, and eventually, I feel myself drifting off. I fall asleep on Shadow, still soaring through the sky.

Chapter Twenty-eight

Iawake sometime later, my stomach dropping and alerting me to the fact that Shadow is descending. It’s still full-dark out, the moon only a sliver in the violet-hued sky. I squeeze Shadow tightly and brace for impact as her hooves touch down, cantering quickly and then eventually slowing to a walk. We’re deep in the woods, and it’s cold enough to let me know that we’re still in the Northlands, but hopefully nearing the border. Shadow continues to walk at a quick pace, somehow knowing that stopping could mean that the Winter Kingdom guards could catch up to us. Especially if they have a legion of aengels like Finn and Bellamy, they could make good time and close the distance between us quickly.

We walk and walk, the forest sleeping around us, save the occasional opossum peeking out of a tree or bat flying overhead. I listen to the woods for any perceived threats, but I hear none.

I think of the Rovern, wondering if Brutus is the one who conjured them and sent them after us. But Brutus wants me alive so he can hand me over to Selena for their potential alliance, so sending those demons after me doesn’t make any sense… I suppose Selena could have summoned them herself, but I don’t think she wants to kill me outright either. The only other enemy I’ve made in my short time in the kingdoms would be… Xavier. Would he really stoop so low as to make an attempt on my life though? Somehow, I doubt the Spring Prince has the stomach for conjuring demons from the Faide; whatever that process looks like, it can’t be pleasant. Unless it was meant to be more of a message than an actual attempt on my life…

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