Page 69 of Heir of the Autumn Queen

His expected reaction plays out in front of me as his dark brown eyes widen with shock.I thought they were playing me for a fool.His deep voice says into my mind, and I smile at him. His voice has the same resonance as his sound, at least in my head.

They were not, at least not about this.I say back to his mind, and he gives me a small smile. He jerks his head towards Ekko, who’s looking at me expectantly, his pale blue eyes full of anticipation.

I close my eyes once again to focus on finding Ekko’s sound. I’m able to find him quickly, his sound bright and innocent, like sleigh bells. I open my eyes and form the connection between our minds.Hey, Ekko.

This is weird.Ekko answers me, laughing nervously.

I find Lyker’s sound again and loop it back into the conversation, along with Rowan’s relaxed sound, which sounds like a lute plucking away lazily, and Shepherd’s honest, steady sound, like a drumbeat. I work to weave all the sounds together, creating a symphony of sorts, before speaking to all of them at once.Thanks for having my back out there today, guys.

A chorus of responses sound in my mind.

Of course. Shepherd.

You’re welcome, Amberheart.Rowan.

Still weird. Ekko.

I’m able to separate their voices a little more this time, but it’s still pretty overwhelming to be connected to so many minds at once. I wince slightly but smile at them all.

Alright, kids. Time for bed.Shepherd’s alpha voice says to all of our minds.

Okay, Dad.Rowan answers sarcastically, but the pack gets up from the table and we head upstairs to our rooms.

Once in my room, there’s no tub, but I wash up with the basin and a washcloth, and change my clothes. I curl up in the chair in front of the fire and pull out the novel that I snagged from my room in Viaria. I started reading it while in the Blest Quarter, and I’m just now getting to a racy scene between the two main characters. Briar and I used to stay up late reading scenes from romance novels as young teenagers obsessed with the idea of falling in love, but they were never as explicit as this.

She grips his thick, bulging cock in her delicate hand, squeezing softly as he moans her name. He kisses her neck with such sweetness, such tenderness, that she feels she will climax simply from the feeling of his lips on her skin. He licks up the length of her neck, eliciting a whimper from her luscious mouth. Without much warning, he thrusts his cock into her with all his might, and she stifles a shout as they join.

Reading this, I can’t help but think of Finn since he's the only person I've experienced that kind of connection with. I clench my thighs together at the memory of Finn inside me as warmth pools at my entrance.

A knock at my door startles me, pulling me out of the trance I was in. My face flushes from embarrassment, and I feel utterly ridiculous reading something so erotic. I quickly stash the book under the cushion of my chair and head to the door. I open it to find Shepherd standing in the hallway with a plate of shortbread biscuits outstretched toward me. He takes in my appearance and my scent, and his face flushes even deeper than mine.

He clears his throat awkwardly.“I thought you might want some of these.”

“Oh, thanks,” I say, hoping that he doesn’t think I was pleasuring myself in here, even though I sort of was. He hands me the plate of cookies and turns to leave, but I stop him.“Do you really think I can eat all these by myself?”

Shepherd smiles.“I mean, I’ve seen you eat a lot more than someone your size should be able to.”

“Someone my size?” I raise an eyebrow.

Shepherd shrugs, struggling to hide a smile.“You’re small.”

I laugh dryly.“I’ve been called many things in my life, but small isn’t one of them.”

“Size is relative. And I didn’t say you’re not strong,” Shepherd says with admiration.“I’ve never seen you fight, but I don’t have to; I already know I wouldn’t bet against you.”

I smile at that, pleased that he doesn’t think I’m some helpless damsel.“Come in.” I nudge the door open wider. He moves to the hearth and leans against the stone, crossing his ankles and his arms. I sit back down on the chair where I was reading and set the plate of goodies down on the small table to my right.“How far out are we from Kelderon?” I ask, taking a bite of the buttery, crumbly biscuit. It’s rich and fatty and melts in my mouth, and I almost moan in ecstasy, but I hold it in. There’s more than enough moaning in my book for all of us.

“About a week, give or take a few days,” Shepherd answers, and I get the feeling he didn’t just bring the cookies up to my room for a casual chat.

I nod in response but don’t ask any other questions, giving him space to say whatever he needs to say. Sure enough, a few beats go by before he asks,“Can you listen to my thoughts? Even if we’re not having a conversation?”

I frown.“I don’t think so… I think it has to be a mutual connection.” I guess, since I don’t actually know. He nods but doesn’t seem convinced.“Is that something the Psylaryn could do? Invade people’s minds without their permission?”

Shepherd nods gravely.“The most powerful of their kind could take over your thoughts and turn your mind to pulp; either killing you outright or leaving you a mindless shell of a body.”

“Even if I could do something like that, I wouldn’t. I would never use my power for evil.” A shiver runs down my spine at the mention of the thought-speakers’ unfathomable abilities.

“Even against your aunt?” His question sucks the air right out of the room. Even the fire in the hearth seems to dim slightly as his words hang between us.

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