Page 75 of Heir of the Autumn Queen

“Finn,” I whisper, and I don’t know if it’s a plea for him to kiss me or a warning for him to stay away. Before he can move any closer, my mind wins the battle of wills, and I push against his chest, keeping him from leaning in farther.“I can’t trust you.”

“Let me prove it to you, drangáli. Let me earn your trust. I’ll do anything.” He begs me, not missing a beat.

My beloved.Now that I know what that means, I can’t help but question if he reallydoesfeel something for me. But I shake my head.“It could never work.” I turn my head to the side to avoid his piercing stare.“Brutus wants me dead. He won’t stop until he has me.”

“Let me worry about Brutus,” Finn says, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

“You can’t be with me Finn, your father would see it as a betrayal,” I say, letting some of my concern for his well-being shine through my words.

“My father hasn’t been himself for a long time,” Finn says sadly.“But don’t worry about me. I’ll convince Brutus that I’m playing the long game, trying to earn back your trust. I can be your inside man, making sure you’re always one step ahead of whatever he has planned.”

“Did you know that he came here a few days ago, trying to arrest me?” His brow furrows and he looks genuinely confused at my question.“He claimed that your father is ill and that I cursed him so that no healer could save him.”

Finn laughs cynically.“I assure you, the only curse my father is under is Brutus’ manipulation.”

I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that Brutus has no real grounds to legally come after me, even though I already suspected he was lying about the whole thing.“Points for creativity,” I say darkly.“What about the Mordeka?” I ask, and Finn’s eyes go wide.

“Someone summoned a Mordeka to come after you?” he asks, rage seeping through his words, fists clenching at his sides.

“Last night,” I tell him, shivering at the memory.“We fought her off, but it could’ve ended badly.”

“We?” Finn asks harshly, taking a step away from me.“Oh, you mean you and the pack of dogs I can smell all over you?” His voice is cold, the jealousy in his tone unmistakeable.

“They're wolf-shifters, Finn. And without them, I would be dead right now, so maybe cut the protective male bullshit, okay?”

“So there’s nothing going on between you and the male who was hovering behind you all night? Running his hands all over you like he’s intimately acquainted with your body?” Finn’s neck flushes at the mention of Shepherd touching me.

“So what if there is?” I ask, raising my voice.“You don’t own me Finn! You have no claim on me, no matter what this thing is between us.”

“The hell I don’t.” He holds my gaze as his eyes darken, reflecting the stars above. "You're mine."

“You’re delusional,” I scoff, outright angry with him now. I push off of the wall and make to head back inside to leave him out in the cold, but he grabs my arm.“Let go of me.”

“I’m not gonna lose you again,” he says, refusing to loosen his grip.

“You can’t lose something you never had.” I yank my arm away.

“Oh, I had you alright.” He smirks knowingly, and I feel like I got punched in the gut.

“Fuck you!” I shout, more hurt than angry that he would bring up the time we spent together and use it against me.

“You already did.” He mocks me again, and my thighs clench together involuntarily. I feel both furious and aroused, the combination of opposing feelings confusing my senses. I don’t know if I want to punch him or kiss him, but I don’t get the chance to do either.

The tavern door opens and Rowan is standing there, looking between Finn and me, scenting the strange smell of both lust and anger in the air.“Auri?” he asks hesitantly, coming to stand next to me.

“I’m fine,” I tell him, my anger towards Finn diffusing slightly with Rowan’s presence.

“Finneas,” Shepherd’s voice says from the doorway, his tone the coldest I’ve ever heard.

“Hello, dog,” Finn says with an equal amount of disdain.

“You two know each other?” I ask confusedly.

“Oh, we go way back,” Finn says, staring at Shepherd.“How’s your jaw, Shep?”

“Better than your heart, I would imagine,” Shepherd answers, crossing his arms.

“Wait,” I say, looking between them.“Thisis the pack of wolf-shifters you got into a fight with?”

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