Page 70 of Heir of the Autumn Queen

“Yes.” I hate that he doubts my character enough to even ask, but I suppose he doesn’t know me well. Although, if I'm really honest with myself, I’m not entirely convinced of my own answer; I can’t say that I wouldn’t choose to harm Selena if the opportunity presented itself, and that scares me.

He nods, resigned to accept my answer.“Tell me about Shadow,” he says, changing the subject.

“What about her?” I ask, taking another cookie from the plate.

“I’m sure you know how rare she is.” He levels me with a look.“I’m just curious how you two came together.”

I shrug but tell him of the circumstances of my and Shadow’s meeting. He asks about the Nevoa Mountains and my journey through the Pass, and then about Staghorn. He eventually takes a seat in the other chair next to mine, and we talk for several hours, swapping stories from our childhood and upbringings. I tell him about Briar and training with Killian and my conversation with Sibyl on the night of my birthday.

I learn that he’s an only child, but he considers his pack to be his brothers in every way, blood be damned. He tells me that his father passed away ten years ago and that he’s been alpha ever since. His father had gone missing, and a few days later they found his body in the woods, still in wolf form. They found no signs of a struggle, and it was accepted that he knew he was dying and went off alone. Shepherd seems to have come to terms with his father’s death, but I can tell that it bothers him that he didn’t get the chance to say goodbye. He tells me he always knew he would be a member of the Royal Guard, that it’s in his blood as much as being a wolf-shifter is.

Only when I’m no longer able to keep my eyes open does Shepherd say goodnight with a small bow. I thank him for the biscuits before collapsing onto the bed and promptly falling asleep with a smile on my face.

Chapter Thirty-two

The next morning, Shepherd informs me that the next town is too far to reach in a day, even if we moved at a quicker pace, so we’ll be camping in the woods tonight. Ekko and Lyker have once again gone ahead to scout, and to find a place for us to make camp tonight.

Shepherd, Rowan, and I walk down the main road just like we did the previous day, chatting casually. I learn that Rowan is actually the pack beta, a position he earned by displays of his strength and cunning, both in human and wolf form, as well as the pack’s vote of approval. Ultimately, the decision came down to Shepherd, and he told me he would want no one else as his second. They’ve been best friends since childhood, which apparently is much longer ago than I realized, as Shepherd shares that they’re both pushing eighty years old. Just like when I learned how old Finn is, I’m shocked, unable to fathom how they could be so old and still look so young.

“Most wolf-shifters live to be at least five hundred years old, if not older,” Rowan tells me, but I still can’t wrap my head around it.

“That’s incredible,” I say, shaking my head.

“There aren’t any wolf shifters in Staghorn Forest?” Shepherd asks.

“Everyone in Staghorn is mortal, or at least mostly mortal. The oldest person in the village is the seer, and she’s not even a hundred.”

“Why is that, do you think?” Shepherd’s brow furrows.

“Maybe it’s the mist of the Nevoa Mountains.” I consider.“It’s possible the magic here can’t penetrate the enchantments of the Pass. I never had any kind of unexplained abilities while I lived in Staghorn; they didn’t start manifesting until I was on this side of the mountains.”

“That makes sense,” Shepherd says, scratching the back of his neck.

“Except you,” Rowan says.

“Except me, what?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“You’re not mortal,” Rowan says simply, as a breeze drifts by, blowing the wispy hairs that have escaped my braid around my face.

“Says who?” I ask, annoyed that yet another person is insisting that I’m some kind of special or otherwise supernatural being.

“Firstly, you don’t smell like a mortal, there’s something else deep beneath the surface of your scent.” My eyes flash as I remember Finn saying something similar, but Rowan goes on.“Secondly, you can speak directly into people's minds, and your eyes glow when you do it. Never mind your mother was one of the most powerful witches of her time. You’re not mortal, not even a little bit,” he argues, shutting down any rebuttal I could make.

I hadn’t realized my eyes were still glowing during the thought-speaking.“Did the Psylaryn’s eyes glow?” I ask.

“Not that I’ve heard,” Shepherd says, watching me to see my reaction.

I exhale a sigh of relief at that, not really wanting to be one of them after hearing all the horrible things they were capable of doing. But of course, if I’m not, that leaves even more questions unanswered.“Well, whatever I am, it’s not as badass as being a wolf shifter.” I grin at the two of them.

Rowan snorts.“Yeah, right.”

Shepherd cocks his head to the side.“You said unexplained abilities.Does that mean you can do more than just thought-speak?”

I shrug.“When I was in the Eastlands, I accidentally healed a little boy.”

“Youaccidentallyhealed him?” Rowan asks, eyebrows raised.

“How does one heal someone by accident?” Shepherd echoes his beta’s sentiment.

---