He looked her up and down. “I didn’t aim to offend, Becka. Your safety is of the utmost importance to both your father and House Rowan.”
“It’s sweet you believe that, Brent. But the truth is I’m not important to my birth house beyond my ability to produce potentially gifted offspring. As you could see from that brief but pointed conversation with Lagan just now.”
He shifted uncomfortably. “It’s better for everyone if you’re alive and thriving.”
Becka blew out a sigh. “You’re striking out, Brent. I’m afraid it’s a hard no for me.”
“So you’d rather keep Quinn around?” he growled. “The liar, as you said?”
Becka smiled. “Do you know him?”
Brent frowned. “Not personally. But I know he can hear the truth in the words of others, while having the uncanny inability to give a straight answer. He’s been involved in some shifter/human investigations in the past, and from what I heard, his methods can feel a bit like strong-arming. I have to question whose side he’s on.”
“Side?” Becka cocked her head. “He’s an Enforcer, they look for the truth, right?”
“Feels like his truth favors the humans a bit too often for my taste.”
Becka rolled that around her head for a moment. If Quinn was honest in his work, and he was catching out the shifters and fae, then perhaps that’s why non-humans weren’t fond of him?
Luckily for him, she was an outcast who had no interest in taking sides against the humans.
“Yeah, I’m still gonna stick with him. He’s got his charms, the biggest of which is he’s not swayed by internal Rowan drama, which is a huge selling point in this decision for me. Besides, I’m on the case now. I’m going to help Quinn catch Tesse’s killer.”
“Is Quinn aware you’ve decided to work on the case?”
“Yes.”
Brent shook his head. “How irresponsible,” he spat out, his expression downright stormy. “This is a very bad idea, Becka. There’s no cause to endanger yourself when there are plenty of others investigating her murder.”
Becka planted a hand on one hip while wagging a finger in his face. “I can work with the Enforcer if I want. I’m not guilded. You don’t get to tell me what I can do.”
“You’re right, I don’t But I’ll inform Vott, and we’ll see what happens. I can’t imagine the Enforcer will be around long after that. I can’t believe he even offered such nonsense! ”
Becka’s shoulder’s sagged. It’d been a mistake to run her mouth off bragging to Brent about helping on the investigation. “Quinn said Vott couldn’t get him dismissed?”
“I wouldn’t count on that. When he hears of Quinn’s poor judgment, I bet he’ll find a way. Are you sure you won’t take me up on my offer?” he asked again.
“Nope.”
Brent shook his head, sighing in resignation. “I’ll let Duke Vott know you turned down an offer of help from the family.”
“Duly noted, but I’m outcast. It’s been great talking with you, Brent.”
Becka continued down the hall to her bedroom, wanting to kick herself in the butt. What if Brent was right? What if Quinn was sent away over his willingness to rope Becka into the investigation? She was just feeling like she had some purpose in being back here, beyond just sitting vigil for Tesse. Becka needed this investigation to keep herself sane. She needed to do right by Tesse in death, as she hadn’t been able to in life.
She heard footsteps behind her. Could he not take a hint? She stopped and spun around.
“Dammit…” she paused, ready for an argument. “Oh, Quinn.” She felt a spontaneous, broad smile spread across her face. His presence calmed her so much, and she didn’t even know why. Considering Vott and Brent’s poor regard of the Enforcer, she should be keeping him at a distance.
Perhaps it was because of her years amongst humans herself that she didn’t begrudge him his position between the two worlds.
Perhaps it was because of his consistent, direct manner, so like her own that made him more relatable than other fae to her.
Or perhaps she’d grown too fond of that stunningly gorgeous smile and didn’t want to admit it to herself. “I wondered where you’d got off to.”
“Did you?” He seemed tense. And serious. He raised a hand and placed it on her shoulder, his brows in super serious mode. “You appear quite intoxicated.”
Becka huffed and strode off in the direction of her room, Quinn close on her heels.
“I indulged in the food and drink I haven’t had in eight years. Cut me some slack. Besides, I have a killer headache I’m trying to fight off over here.”
They reached her room and Quinn went in ahead of her, sweeping the room as he’d done the first time. Becka headed straight for one of the bottles of hot sauce she’d stowed in her bag, unscrewing the top and pouring a hefty amount down her throat.
“I would think, knowing you might be in some level of peril, that you would abstain from the wine to better keep your wits about you. And that sauce will only muddle your brain further.”
“You didn’t say to avoid the drink. And I have the option of a mind muddled by the sauce or this headache, and I vastly prefer the dizzy addling of the peppers.”
He crossed the room to her, unabashedly getting up in her space. “Try to show a little bit of enlightened self-interest, okay?”
His visceral concern hit her as honest, a refreshing emotion after a dinner filled with posturing guild members. A spontaneous smile returned to her lips, but Becka squelched it, lest he think she wasn’t taking him seriously.
Instead, she put on her ‘I’m being serious’ face. “I’m sorry, Quinn. I’ll endeavor to be more careful.”
He cut his chin to the side. “Good.”
She took another swig from the bottle, relishing the mind-numbing kick. “But the sauce isn’t optional.” The headache slid away like a sheet of water off a duck’s feathers, and she sighed with relief.
He made a sound somewhere
