Page 65 of Heir of the Autumn Queen

“A few weeks ago,” I answer honestly, silently wondering what that has to do with anything.

Shepherd nods to himself, not bothering to share why he asked in the first place. Rowan pipes up with another question.“How old are you?”

“Is that really relevant?” I hate this question. It’s not as if age has anything to do with maturity.

“Just curious.” Rowan shrugs.

“I just turned twenty,” I answer, and his mouth opens to ask me the question I know is coming.“And no, I didn’t have a Kindling.”

Rowan frowns but doesn’t open his mouth again. This time, Shepherd speaks up.“Are you not a witch?”

I shrug, frustrated by how little I know about my own abilities or lack thereof.“My mother was a witch, and my aunt is obviously a witch. But I don’t really know what I am.”

Shepherd and Rowan exchange a look over Shadow’s neck, communicating silently about this new information.“Now that I think about it…” Shepherd says.“I don’t know any witches that can thought-speak.”

“Do you know anyone that can thought-speak?” Rowan teases.

“They’re not exactly common.” Shepherd shoots back at his friend, a hint of bite in his words.

“What do you mean?” I ask, my stomach dropping.

“Thought-speakers, or the Psylaryn, are an ancient order of immortals, said to have been blessed by the gods themselves. There are few left, most of them having been hunted down due to their unique abilities,” Shepherd tells me, and I’m shocked, never having heard anything about this in school or during my short stay at the Blest Quarter.

“Power like that in the wrong hands has proven disastrous.” Rowan shudders.

“How so?” I ask, still shaken.

“Many of the Psylaryn worked for the kings and queens of the past. When their powers were perfected, they were not only able to speak into the minds of others but were able to convince others to do things, using their own minds against them.” Shepherd answers, his practical tone slightly colder than normal.

I roll my eyes, unconvinced.“Mind control? Seriously?”

Shepherd nods, deadly serious.“The Psylaryn have mostly died out at this point. The few who are still roaming the earth choose to keep to themselves, or keep their abilities hidden, and for good reason.”

I remain silent, unsure what to do with this new information, mostly in denial that I could be related to such a powerful group of beings.

Rowan must sense my tension because he decides to ask more prodding questions.“So, do you have a partner?”

Shepherd groans.

“Do you think I would be out here with you lot if I had a partner?” I ask, trying to sound upbeat, but secretly feeling the crushing weight of Finn’s betrayal all over again.

Rowan raises his hands in innocence, smiling broadly.“Fair enough.”

“What about you, Row?” Shepherd asks teasingly.“Where’s your partner?”

“I don’t kiss and tell.” Rowan winks at me.

I roll my eyes but am grateful to feel pretty relaxed around them. I suddenly remember the book I read in The Blest Quarter that documented the royal families.“The king and queen have children, right?”

Shepherd eyes me as if I should already know the answer to this question, but answers me anyway.“A daughter who’s sixteen and a son who’s twelve; Scarlett and Reed.”

My heart leaps at the news of my cousins’ existence, never having had any other family besides my godparents and Killian. I smile to myself, suddenly very excited to meet them.“And what are the king and queen like?” Frankly, I’m wary about any royalty, as those I’ve met so far in the Spring and Winter Kingdoms have been indifferent at best and utterly mad at worst.

Shepherd considers his words carefully, painfully aware that he’ll be speaking about his employers.“King Adrian is kind. And Queen Iris is smarter than people give her credit for.”

Rowan barks a laugh.“He means a complacent bore and a conniving bitch.”

Shepherd growls wolfishly at his friend in warning.“No ruler is perfect.”

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