“We’ll figure something out. Arguments break out between houses all the time.”
Becka suspected it wouldn’t be that easy and that Astrid was minimizing the situation. “If Hawthorne gathers enough support, won’t that be dangerous?”
Astrid frowned. “They won’t take it too far. The houses no longer war, not since losing the Great War with the humans. It taught us that other fae are not our enemies, and yet we appear versed in bickering endlessly.”
Becka nodded in agreement, hoping Astrid was right.
The questioning carried on for a few hours, during which time they got through the entirety of the household guards, the shifter guards, and several council members. Even Maura had popped through, intent on showing cooperation, despite her distrust of the enforcers.
“Let’s break for lunch,” Quinn announced.
Becka stretched her arms and legs and then reached down to close the book. Three words stood out to her.
Home. Not. Safe.
She slammed the book shut. As if she hadn’t already figured that one out.
Chapter 25
Lunch comprised a platter of cut fruit, nuts, warm bread, and artisan cheeses. Everything Becka ate was checked twice. The shifters were taking zero chances.
She climbed the stairs to the rooftop garden to avoid the pointed looks and whispers from the fae she passed in the halls. Everyone had heard by now of the fallout with House Hawthorne and they’d all heard about the interrogations taking place.
Becka didn’t have the impression she was anyone’s favorite Rowan at the moment, unique and powerful gift or no.
Becka sipped iced tea and contemplated the Shadow-Dweller book’s last message. Why would it bother to tell Becka her home wasn’t safe, when such truth was obvious? Historically, it had shown her things she didn’t know or suspected. Was it pointing out a new threat or was it emphasizing that the current threat hadn’t yet passed?
She had no way of knowing.
Quinn, who had followed her to the roof and given her some space to eat alone, finished his conversation with Hamish and Caeda and then walked over and sat down beside her, resting his elbows on his knees. The three had eaten sandwiches while they walked and talked, which she assumed was a habit of working long hours as investigators and grabbing meals on the go.
“You’re lost in thought,” he said. “Anything you want to talk about?”
“Yes, can we walk?”
He stood and offered her his hand, helping her up. Becka threw her bag over her shoulder and led him down the stairwell at the side of the house and down to the meditation garden. Row upon row of short hedges formed a large labyrinth which was deserted.
“Tell me what’s on your mind,” he prompted.
Wasn’t her anxiety patently obvious? “I’m afraid this drama with Hawthorne will blow up.”
“Not to sound hyperbolic, but I’m sure it’s just beginning to blow up.”
“You don’t think I’m overestimating the issue?” she asked.
“Not at all,” he said. “Your gift, once known, always had the potential of being feared. That’s just the nature of some powers. Ironically, Hawthorne’s called the House of Thorns not just because it’s a play on the name, but also because of the thorny and prickly nature of fire-based gifts.”
“That’s true. I suppose I’d come to think of Alain as prickly and dour, not prickly and a fireball,” Becka replied.
“Why do you think their homes are all built of stone? Because you’ve got to work pretty darn hard to burn down masonry! Gods knows they’ve made a decent effort on multiple occasions.”
Becka laughed at his joke. “Burning down your own home is definitely a vocational risk of fire elementals. Do you think their posturing is more about fae politics and that they’re just using my gift as an excuse?”
“That’s a question for your council, not me. But my gut says it’s always politics first with the fae.” He paused, appearing to gather his thoughts. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that your gift has the potential to disrupt the power balance between the houses. More so than anything else I’ve seen in our generation.”
Becka stopped short at his words, her mind trying to wrap around the concept of that level of power. What, you mean me? He’d delivered his insight with unusual gravitas and she knew if he said it, Quinn believed it to be the truth. Becka would be unwise not to heed his warning.
“You think I’m that powerful?”
“You don’t?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not exactly. Nulling is a unique and new power, and I get why others are threatened by it. No one wants their magic taken away or destroyed. However, I’ve been completely focused on learning how to control my gift and trying to come to terms with being back here. When I think of my gift, I can’t imagine being deliberately destructive with it. It’s not who I am.”
“I get it, but take a few moments to think about this from their perspective. What the other houses are thinking, knowing Nulling is in the world and they don’t have control over it. If House Rowan wanted to, they could send you out to strip its enemies’ powers at will,” he said.
Becka groaned. “That’s ridiculous. If I did that, someone would kill me outright for being a wild fae. Or dose me with the Treatment.”
“Are you listening to yourself?” He reached out and touched her shoulder. “Someone dosed you with the Treatment! It’s possible that motivation is behind your poisoning.”
“But you said the poisoner is someone in this house,” she replied, arguing because he had to be off base. Didn’t he? “You and Brent both agreed on that when you presented your findings to the council.”
“That’s true, but that person settled for the larkspur on their second round of poisoning because they didn’t have more ready access to the first poison they used. Therefore, they got the first substance from an outside source.”
“Then we have to catch them to find out who provided them the first poison,” Becka said.
“That’s our plan. But that source could well be another fae house. Or humans. Even shifters. Even when we find the person who dosed you, we may not fully address the current threat. Anyone could act to prevent the emergence of your considerable power. Becka, consider that it’s a bit terrifying to think of how you could abuse it, if you so choose.”
“I would never willingly harm another! I feel ill when I think of what happened to Hanna.”
He held up his hands. “I know you, and I know you wouldn’t willfully cause others harm. But you’re not well-known within fae society. You’ve spent half your life cozying up to college professors and living as a wild fae child in the city.”
“I had no choice. I was an outcast.” Becka couldn’t believe she was hearing this from Quinn. Calder and the others, sure, but not him. “Is that how you think of me?”
“Not at all. But most fae don’t know you. They will hear a version of a story, likely from a long-time, trusted source, about how you maimed Hanna, permanently obliterating her powers. Do you think they’ll even hesitate to ask for your version of events before acting reasonably to defend themselves?”
“So, then what do you propose I do?” She threw up her hands, hearing the shrill tone to her voice, but unable to rein it in. “How do I convince the world that I’m not just this destructive monster lying in wait for them?”
“I have a plan to protect you. I ran it by Chief Elowen yesterday while you were sleeping, and she gave it the go-ahead and set things into motion. It involves your civic service.”
Fingers of ice gripped at her heart. It fluttered, skipping a beat, as the chilly sensation shot through her chest. “Did it occur to you to discuss this plan with me first before putting it into action?”
“I would have, but you were knocked out with the healer’s concoction and I felt that time was of the essence.”
She understood Quinn had done what he felt like he had to do, but Becka couldn’t pretend she was okay with her life, yet agai
n, being determined for her. Even by Quinn.
“Whatever you did, I’m sure it came from a sincere place, but I don’t know that I want it.”
Quinn’s pupils flared, his shock at her reaction clear. He opened his mouth to speak and then seemed to think better of it. They stood there, facing off, for a few quiet moments, Quinn’s clenched jaw and determined gaze against Becka’s raging independence.
“Do you want to hear my plan?” he said, his voice unusually flat.
She took another few, slow breaths. Quinn watched her, his expression tense and back ramrod straight, as if bracing for a fight. Which Becka supposed was what this almost was.
Becka looked into his eyes. This was Quinn. Her Quinn. He’d proven himself trustworthy time and again, and she knew he had her best interests in mind. He may have acted without her consent, but he’d done it to protect her.
When she’d calmed herself, Becka replied, “Yeah. Go ahead.”
“You’re right,” Quinn replied. “I’m sorry, I should have talked about it with you before I spoke to the chief.”
Her heart was heavy with sorrow. “I get your heart’s in the right place, but you crossed a line, Quinn.”
His expression softened. “I did. I know how being forced to be back here at the manor has been hard on you. I know you rankle at every order from Maura and Astrid. And you’re practically allergic to the title of heir. I know you, and I knew better than to act on your behalf without speaking to you first.”
“Why didn’t you just wake me up?”
“Because things here are escalating quickly. Very quickly. The situation with Hawthorne is more volatile than Rowan might realize. I fear you won’t be safe here once word spreads.”
Quinn’s warning echoed the last message Becka had received from the book, and that gave her pause. “Tell me about your plan.”
He gave a quick nod. “Astrid filed the paperwork declaring you fully trained, so now the human government gets to decide where best to place you for civic service.”
“Sure, I’m familiar with the procedure. I know Astrid and Maura are offering my Nulling services to other houses, possibly before I get called off to do civic duties or between assignments.”
He shook his head. “That’s a dangerous plan. The last thing you need is to be sent into a house that’s sympathetic to Hawthorne and willing to arrange an accident.”
Chills ran down her spine. “And I suppose being sent on any random civic duty assignment carries the same risks?”
“Unfortunately, yes. The fae fear your gift. Humans may fear you, but they are also apt to see you as a tool to use against your own.”
“I hate the idea that other fae see me as something to fear. I’m just me!”
“But you have to think about how everyone else sees you. You must understand their perspective in order to outthink them and protect yourself.”
“I suppose you’re right, but I don’t have to like it. So, what’s the plan, Quinn?”
“My plan was to preempt the normal civic duty system by placing a request before the government even realized you were available.”
“So you knew Astrid filed paperwork yesterday morning, and then what? You magically had a request in for me the same day?” Becka asked.
“It wasn’t magic; it was Chief Elowen. And yes, I had her file the request yesterday afternoon. Hopefully, before anyone else even knew you’d become available.”
Now the timing made sense. “Right after I fell asleep.”
He shrugged. “Yeah.”
Becka rubbed her temples. “Wait, what form of civic service?”
“Serving with the enforcers, specifically as a civilian consultant on certain cold cases the chief thinks your abilities might shed some light on.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “You mean Shadow-Dweller cold cases?”
He nodded. “Do you still hate me? I thought you’d be interested in the opportunity.”
“I’m still upset and emotional,” Becka replied, hands on her hips. “I get to be upset. But I admit the job sounds interesting. Great, actually.”
A weak smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Do you want another apology?”
Becka pouted. “No, no. I understand your intent and I appreciate your swift action. I get it. But how does moving to the city and working with enforcers make me any safer? Won’t my enemies have better access to me there?”
“Possibly, but it gets you out of fae territory, and when you visit fae, you will always have an escort.”
She pursed her lips. “You mean… you?”
“The enforcers won’t keep you busy all the time. And I won’t necessarily be teamed up with you each case, but mostly. I know you’ve had self-defense training so you’ll be able to take it up a notch with enforcer training, which will also keep you safer.”
Becka groaned and began pacing back and forth. Luce and Lorelai became interested and Becka had to wave them off. It must make all the guards crazy, to see Becka so upset and just stand around, watching and twiddling their thumbs. It was weirder for Becka to know they were all watching, even from a distance.
“Let me get this straight. The fae will have less opportunity to harm me, but what about the Shadow-Dwellers? How would I be safer in human cities from them? There are plenty of fae in the city. I might avoid the political fallout of harming Hanna back in the territories, but there’s nowhere in the world that I’ll be protected from Shadow-Dwellers.”
He flexed his shoulders. “You’d be with me.”
He didn’t even have the decency to blush.
She shook her head and sighed, barking out a single laugh. She loved his humor. “Your opinion of yourself might be just a wee bit overblown.”
He laughed, but quickly sobered. “Look, I’m sorry. And be upset all you want, but think about it. Wouldn’t you rather be out hunting down Shadow-Dwellers instead of sitting through council meetings and fancy dinners day in, day out, waiting for the next assassin to find you?”
She rolled her eyes. “You have a way of making all my options sound so appealing.”
“Look, the letter will arrive shortly. You can talk to Maura and either encourage her to accept the option or protest it with the civic service. I’m guessing she, or the council, will follow your lead.”
“Let me think about it.”
“Thank you,” he replied.
“One more thing,” Becka said, hesitating to ask what had nudged at her thoughts since the beginning of this conversation. But she had to know. “Are you scared of me?” she blurted out. “Of my gift?”
He smiled a sad smile and took a step closer to her. “No, not at all. Why would you think that?”
“You said some fae will be terrified of me and what I might do. What I can do. Aren’t you afraid I’ll destroy your gift?”
“I’m not. If my gift was susceptible to your Nulling, it would have happened the first time I touched you, when we first met, and you ran into me.”
Becka considered for a moment. “But, are you concerned that our more… extended touching… might not damage your gift?”
Humor twinkled in his eyes and he took another step closer to her. “That depends. What depth of contact are you considering?” he asked, a deep rumble in his voice.
Heat flushed her cheeks for the second time that day. She tried to come up with an answer, but her mind had blanked out.
Just then, Quinn’s attention was drawn up and behind Becka. She spun around and saw a lone fae guard running towards them.
“What is it now?” she said.
They walked toward the guard. The rest of the shifters, including Luce and Lorelai, rounded the edge of the labyrinth to meet them.
Becka didn’t get an opportunity to even ask why the guard was running.
“Hurry, Lady Becka! Duke Vott’s awake!”
Chapter 26
They jogged across the estate until Becka ran out of steam and had to slow to what felt like a crawl.
“You want me
to carry you?” Quinn asked.
She was tempted, but then immediately thought about the face Maura would have if she saw Becka in Quinn’s arms. “Heck, no.”
“It wouldn’t be any trouble.”
Becka panted, sucking down breath. “I’m not about to let you carry me anywhere. I’m gonna walk myself all the way there.”
His rich baritone rumbled through the air. “Either Luce or Lorelai could…”
“Nope. I’ve got this.”
“You might be the most independent, stubborn fae I’ve ever met.”
“I’ll take it.” Becka smiled, liking the compliment despite her ire.
“In this moment, that wasn’t a compliment,” Quinn said.
They arrived a few minutes later and Illan met them in the main infirmary. The shifters and other guards waited out in the hall; only Quinn followed her inside.
“How’s he doing?” Becka asked, breathless.
Frowning, Illan pulled on latex gloves and checked Becka’s pulse. “Vott is weak but has his wits about him. Duchess Maura and Elder Alaetha are in with him now, but he said to send you right in as soon as you arrived.”
She knew that was only half of the story. “What about his gift?”
“He reports that his gift has gone silent. It was the first thing he said upon waking.”
Pain gripped Becka’s chest and the corners of her eyes watered. “I knew it was likely, considering they dosed him with the Treatment, but I’d hoped.”
Illan patted her shoulder. “We all did, Lady Becka.”
She drew in a deep breath, held it a second, and then blew out slowly. The heat in her cheeks didn’t fade. Vott and Hanna both had lost their gifts because of Becka’s actions, accidental as they were. Was this how her life would be, a string of people injured because of her?
Becka couldn’t let that happen. She needed to find a way for others to be safe around her. Is perfect control too much to ask for?
Perhaps Quinn was right, and others would rightly fear her. If she’d intended to harm others, Becka could have left a trail of carnage in her wake. She’d have to demonstrate to the masses that she was nothing like they feared, but how?
Poisoned Shadow: An Urban Fantasy Supernatural Detective Mystery (The Shadow Series Book 2) Page 20