Becka’s cheeks burned. “You have no right to keep me here.” She continued up the stairs into the manor.
He shrugged. “Perhaps not the right, but I do have the authority. Besides, if you returned home to the city there would be nothing more you could do there to help Tesse.”
Becka exhaled as his words hit her in the solar plexus. “That’s a low blow.”
“I am single minded in my determination, and I will do whatever is necessary to solve Tesse’s case.”
“I appreciate that, but…”
He turned to her. “Which now includes figuring out what’s going on with the magical disruptions around you before anything escalates.”
Becka stopped. “What, what do you mean?”
“I mean, before you end up like Tesse.”
Chapter 15
After Quinn’s dire warning, Becka had remained deep in thought as they returned to her room. She couldn’t deny that things kept going sideways around her, but the idea that she might be cursed was difficult to swallow.
After all, she was an outcast. Who would bother with her, fae or human alike?
Becka shuffled over to her sister’s roses, thinking about that lone lavender petal. What could it mean?
Quinn closed the door to her room behind them. “Your assistance with the investigation could be the turning point we have been looking for, Becka.” He searched the room as he’d done each time they’d entered.
“I feel like you’re strong-arming me into staying.”
Becka flopped down on a plush velvet divan near the row of topiary mini-roses. Oriani took advantage of the newfound lap space and jumped up, quickly claiming a spot to lounge on her black yoga trousers. Helpless to his wiles, Becka scratched under his chin, earning herself a loud, rumbling purr.
Nothing trapped a person faster than a napping cat. At least being trapped by the feline didn’t rankle Becka’s nerves.
“Not at all. I am, however, pointing out that you are in a unique position within this investigation. Without you we would have never known about the markings on Tesse.”
“I’d like to remind you that I’m not the detective in the room.”
Quinn sat down on the end of the divan, encroaching into her personal space. Despite Becka’s anxieties after viewing her sister’s body, his mere presence continued to comfort and calm her. Her emotions concerning Quinn were a combination of growing attraction and professional respect riddled with doubt.
“I will remind you that you agreed to help. In fact, you seemed eager yesterday, bargaining with me for information in exchange for your aid.”
Yeah, but then there was this phone call I overheard, and then I saw how my sister had been mutilated and killed… “I don’t think I can manage to be around my family. They’re yelling at me. There’s typical drama over what I’ve done wrong, over perceived slights. It’s exhausting and pointless. I won’t even see them again after I leave.”
“Solving Tesse’s murder is not pointless.”
He pulled out his phone, which he’d kept well hidden around the fae, and his notebook. Quinn snapped a series of images of her drawings, presumably to send back to his team.
“That’s not at all what I meant and you know it.” Oriani grabbed her retreating hand with his fluffy paw, dragging it back to his ear and rubbing his head against it. Becka tried to pull away, thinking to get up and move away from Quinn, but Oriani dug in his claws and fixed an accusing eye upon her. She relented, and then the cat buried his face in her hand, content for the moment.
“Then why the change of heart?”
Knowing he would read a lie off of her, Becka chose her words carefully. “I’m scared for my safety. I guess it’s really hitting home to me that whoever killed Tesse might be after others too, and those others might well include me.”
“I am glad to hear you are finally taking the risks seriously.”
Becka frowned. “And now there are these magical events connected to me. But who would put a curse on me? Or House Rowan by extension?”
He held up a cautioning hand, as if it somehow slow down her racing mind. “I agree, we need to figure out if you are cursed. Although it would be an odd curse. It is not as if you are suddenly sick, aging, or ugly. You are just...jinxed.”
Becka shrugged. “How do we find out?”
“I will ask for a tester. This is a big gathering, I bet there is one present.”
“Of course there is. Oh, lucky, lucky me!” Becka shivered with dread.
He rolled his eyes at her, and then his phone rang. “Hold on, this is work.” He answered it immediately. “Quinn here.”
The thought of a tester left Becka’s stomach in knots. She’d seen a tester no less than three times before the guild had finally deemed her ungifted. The process still made her skin crawl, but if there was a chance she had been cursed it was worth the discomfort. Perhaps nothing would hurt, or burn, or itch horridly, but she doubted she’d be that lucky.
“Yes, those are all of the drawings. No, I did not see anything, only Becka could. No, I do not know if anyone else has reported them, but I will ask around.”
He stood and started to pace, which didn’t lower Becka’s blood pressure.
“Let me know what you find out. Have there been any threats surfacing against House Rowan?” Quinn asked, frowning as he listened. “Internal?” His eyes fixed on Becka. “Can you be more specific?”
Becka squirmed on the couch, her hand tightening on Oriani’s back. The cat, who’d been dozing, awoke squeaking at the pressure, and then leapt up and away. Freed at last, Becka rose and brushed off her pants. Not that it did any good; Oriani had left a swirl of white and orange hair across her lap.
“That’s good to know. I will keep the possibility in mind. Also,
