“Which is how Becka broke The Unbreakable?” Maura replied although she appeared to be musing more to herself than asking the testers.
“Where does it go?” Sigfrid asked. When met with frowns, she continued. “The magic, I mean?”
Good question. From Berak and Saana’s shared look of confusion, Becka didn’t get the impression they had any idea.
“We do not know,” Berak replied. “Saana and I hope to find the answer with our forthcoming research.”
“How powerful is this new ability? What’s the scope?” Maura asked.
“We do not know that, either,” Saana replied. “But, if she could break Unbreakable, it is something to take great care with. As Berak said, we will need to work with Becka and see what more we can learn.”
“More testing?” Becka asked, her voice dry and cracking.
“No,” Berak shook his head. “Not like these tests at all. More interactive experiments, like testing out the scope of what you can break.”
“She damaged the fabric of the funerary shroud enchantment just by walking through it,” Astrid said, her expression contemplative. “And I have watched other magics roll off her as if she did not even exist.”
“I would like to record your observations,” Berak replied, and Astrid nodded.
“It sounds like the range and depth of our questions cannot be answered here and now,” Vott said. “May I suggest we allow Becka to clean up and change? We can always speak more of this over lunch.”
“A wise suggestion, husband,” Maura replied. “Saana and Berak, if you would accompany me to my study, where we may speak of this further. Becka, please take some time to compose yourself and then meet us for dinner. That should give us all some time to contemplate today's momentous events.”
Becka gave a quick, curt nod. She’d walked into the room an outcast, and now she was ...gifted? What did that even mean? The sudden change in attitude from her estranged family galled her. What if she didn’t want to be included? Did she have any say?
Maura headed out the door, but then paused. “Also, for the love of all that is sacred,” she continued, “Do not touch anything. Well, nothing you have not already touched. Brent, please assign a security detail to Becka. Quinn, do not get in the way of Brent.”
Maura swept out of the room before Brent would answer, followed by the testers, Calder, Astrid, Vott, Sigfrid, and Ingrid.
Alain remained. He’d been silent during the discussion, his gray-gold eyes stormy. He opened his mouth to speak, seemed to think better of it, and then walked to the door. He paused, just as Maura had.
“I will see you at lunch,” he said, bowed slightly, and then left, not waiting for her reply.
What, even Alain was being civil now?
Neither Brent nor Quinn said a word, but both looked at her with concern evident on their faces.
She must look a wreck.
“Well, fuck.”
Chapter 22
The hot, long shower and getting back into her own clothes had helped ease the last of her headache away, but Becka doubted anything would quell the anxiety continuing to do backflips in her stomach. Yesterday, she was ungifted. Yesterday, she was also an outcast.
Today, Becka was gifted. Today, Becka was something other than an outcast. Ironically, she didn’t want either Especially not some useless new gift no one understood, and not with the drama of House Rowan.
Even worse than the anxiety was the pervasive sense of sorrow Becka wrestled with. If she’d known about her gift eight years ago, Becka would have never been sent away to the city. Had the testers known sooner, she’d have grown up with her sister. Her heart ached at the thought.
The timing of her gift’s emergence had cost her years with her family and twin. What would happen now, after all of this time? What decisions would be made by others about her life now?
She’d been tempted to run back to her bedroom and hide, but after being in the testing room all she’d wanted was some fresh air. Walking down a gravel path surrounded by purple tea roses and the tinkling sound of fountain she couldn’t quite see should have calmed her.
Becka sighed in frustration.
“Is the stroll helping?” Quinn asked, broaching the silence.
He’d followed her wordlessly for the past hour. Becka had known the walking would help ground her. She hadn’t expected Quinn’s silent presence to help, but she had to admit it had.
“I’m trying to figure out where I went wrong.”
“Pardon?”
“I should never have answered Vott’s call. I should have run out the door to...well anywhere, and never looked back.”
He looked at her like she’d lost her marbles. “Answering or not answering his call, coming home or not, you are still Becka. You cannot run away from yourself nor your gift.”
Becka shrugged. “You might be right, but I can still try.” She narrowed her gaze at him. “Think I can escape from here?”
“Where to?”
Where would she go? She’d been separated from fae society for so long...she had no friends. No contacts.
The human world wouldn’t hide her. As an outcast, they’d only grudgingly accepted her. As a gifted, she’d be expected to live on fae territory, except for travel and occasional job assignments.
“Anywhere but here. If I were back in the city, I could keep doing what I was doing. I have a job waiting for me at home, and my graduate studies.”
He blew out a long breath. “Well, between the shifter and fae guards you will have a difficult time running.”
Becka cast her gaze about. A pair of lanky and lean shifter ladies trailed them, but not too closely. Brent’s pack wasn’t just known for their loyalty, but also their clever wits and unmatched speed.
“I suppose I can’t outrun that pair.”
“Pair?” Quinn stopped and looked down the aisles of roses, and then turned to face her. “I count six wolf shifters. Another eight fae guards are a bit further out, but still nearby.” He motioned to the locations of each as he did the rundown.
Becka whistled. She’d been so focused on
