Page 67 of Heir of the Autumn Queen

I know.I say to his mind, and we both laugh.

I can hear you both.Shepherd says into my mind, and Rowan and I both snap our heads in his direction.

So we can all hear each other?I ask, trying to focus on both of them at once.

Yes.They answer in unison, their overlapping voices in my mind overwhelming my senses.

I put my hands on my temples, massaging a bit as a dull ache takes hold in my brain.“I think that’s enough for today,” I say out loud, standing.

They both follow me up and exchange a look.“Are you alright?” Shepherd asks, reaching toward me again and placing a hand on the small of my back as I walk over and check the cinch on Shadow’s saddle.

“Fine,” I reassure him.“Just tired, I think. I’ve never had a conversation mind-to-mind before. At least, not intentionally.”

“We should be in Drumholt by tonight,” Shepherd says, removing his hand and clearing his throat as if he’s just now remembering that it was there.

I put my foot in the stirrup, about to hoist myself up when Rowan holds his hand up, signaling for me to be still. I listen, respecting his knowledge of these woods and this land.

Out of nowhere, I hear the whizzing sound of an arrow cutting through the air before it thunks against the hardness of flesh. I turn to my right where Shepherd is standing next to me, an arrow protruding from the back of his right shoulder. My eyes go wide as I turn around to face the direction that the arrow came from, but he seems to be generally unaffected by the arrow stuck deep in the skin.

I push Shadow away,“Go hide.” I tell her, and she doesn’t hesitate, heading deeper into the trees to avoid any danger. I draw my bow and nock an arrow, aiming for the trees ahead of us.

Shepherd reaches up with his left arm to try and pull the arrow out, but it’s too high for him to reach. Another arrow flies our way through the trees but zips right past us and lodges in a thick trunk.

“I wouldn’t exactly call this a fair fight!” Rowan yells, somehow still maintaining an air of lightheartedness, even if the face of an attack from gods-know who.

Several guards dressed in the all-black armor of the Winter Kingdom emerge from the trees, two with bows drawn, two with swords drawn, and one without any weapons to be seen, as if he’s above petty skirmishes in the woods. I scan their faces, but I don’t recognize any of the males, except one.

Brutus.

His wicked face curves into an evil smile as his eyes find mine.“I believe you have something that belongs to us,” he says coolly.

“Ha!” I laugh darkly.“That’s rich coming from Cadogan’s bitch.”

Shepherd and Rowan exchange a look, piecing together the fact that Brutus and I are acquainted.

“You ran off before we could even get to know each other, sweetheart.” Brutus feigns adoration.

I spit on the ground, hoping it reminds him of when I spat in his face.“And we never will.” I aim my arrow right at his heart. The temptation to fire is almost too great to pass up, but I don’t want to unknowingly incite a war, so I keep my arrow in place, the string of my new bow pulled tight.

“Oh, I beg to differ.” Brutus’ smile grows.“You see, our beloved king has become ill. So ill, in fact, that even our finest healers cannot help him. The only explanation we can come up with is that he was cursed. And who would want to curse him aside from the wicked bitch of a foreigner who was mostly recently in our kingdom?”

“I did no such thing,” I say through gritted teeth.“And you know it.”

Brutus ignores me completely.“The court is furious, of course, demanding justice. So here I am, sent to retrieve you once again. I have a warrant here if you don’t believe me.”

“Come and get me then.” I bite out.

Brutus starts to signal to his men, but Shepherd speaks up.“Now Brutus… do you really want to start a war today?”

The spymaster of the Northlands hesitates in giving the order.“We are perfectly within our rights to pursue and obtain thiscriminal,even on your lands.”

“I doubt our king would agree with you. In fact, it’s well known that should a member of the royal family be accused of committing any kind of crime against another kingdom, there is to be a trial held in the Blest Quarter, where evidence can be presented and an impartial jury deciders of the sentence.” Shepherd’s tone is calm as he states the facts. Facts that I was not aware of, but am now extremely grateful for.

“That bitch is not a member of the royal family,” Brutus says, the disgust on his face apparent.

“She’s King Adrian’s niece, so I assure you, she very much is,” Shepherd snarls.

I see some large shapes moving in the trees beyond the Winter Kingdom soldiers, realizing that it’s Lyker and Ekko, still in wolf form, ready to strike if things go south.

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