“I have to admit, I hadn’t even considered that. At least not yet.” She’d broken the Unbreakable just last night. What with the testing only hours ago, there hadn’t been time to process what related consequences might exist.
Astrid hesitated for a moment before she continued. “I do not intend to pressure you, but I want to make sure you understand the gravity of your situation. I consider this the most important work I can do for the House at this time. Therefore, I will be clearing my schedule to name you my primary pupil.”
Calder slammed his hand down on the table and rose to his feet. Becka jerked at the noise, and then leaned away from him.
“I am your primary pupil!” he said, his voice so loud and deep it carried across the room.
Astrid regarded Calder with a chilly glare. “Yes, you have been. However, the emergence of Becka’s gift demands swift attention. Surely you agree?”
His face flush with anger, he snapped back. “I do not. She’s not even a proper Rowan, nor is she an illusionist.”
Maura held up a hand. “Perhaps you need a moment to regain your composure, son?”
Calder looked back and forth between Maura and Astrid, but neither woman backed down. He looked down at Becka sitting next to him, and whispered, “I am your better in every way,” before storming out of the hall.
“You’ll have to pardon Calder, Becka. He feels deeply,” Maura said.
“You’re not wrong,” Becka replied under her breath, trying to shake off Calder’s cutting comment. She then turned to Astrid. “How about we discuss this more tomorrow?”
Becka was not just considering Astrid’s offer, but further, it sounded like a good idea to learn how to control her magic so she didn’t accidentally break something else.
“Why don’t we shift the conversation to discussing Tesse?” Vott asked, and his words were met with solemn and grateful nods. “Let us discuss Tesse’s favorite childhood games. Who would like to start?”
Ingrid shared a story of Tesse building hidden forts in plain sight out amidst the aspen groves where her sisters would go and hold secret tea parties. Although quite new to her abilities as an illusionist, Tesse’s skill and power had mostly made up for her youth and inexperience.
Becka was grateful for the shift in conversation. She remembered the invisible play fort fondly. But now, listening to everyone’s stories, she got an idea.
“If you don’t mind,” Becka said, standing up, “I’m going to retire a bit early.”
No one argued, and soon she and Quinn were headed back to Tesse’s room. A pair of shifter guards followed them down the hall, but the fae guards weren’t present. Perhaps they were only assigned to track her when she left the building?
“Are you ready to retire for the night?” Quinn asked.
“Not at all,” Becka replied. “The story about how Tesse hid our play fort in plain sight gave me an idea. I need to see Tesse again, right now.”
“While we’re walking,” Quinn began, “there is a connection I have been wondering about. It is an idea I have been mulling on after the testing marked you as gifted. I do not want to worry you, but I would like your thoughts.”
She side-eyed him. “With that kind of lead-in, how can I be anything other than concerned?” He sighed. “Please, go on,” she added.
He hesitated, and then Becka gestured for him to get on with it.
“We do not know why the killer targeted Tesse. She was widely regarded as the most powerful illusionist in generations, so could it have been the intensity of her power that drew them.”
“You think her gift was what drew them?”
“It’s possible. We’ve kept an eye on you, and by extension, your family. Now today we find out you are a powerful Null. Also, you are the first one of your kind.”
Becka’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you implying?”
“If we have a killer who is looking for unique or strong magical powers; you now fit that bill.”
As Quinn spoke the words it struck a chord within Becka, ringing true. “I think you’re onto something. I’ve had this anxiety eating at me since the testers declared me gifted, but I couldn’t quite name the cause. Me being gifted makes me more like my twin. The implication is scary.” Oddly, naming her fear lessened the constriction it claimed around her chest.
“The murder could have been an act of simple opportunity. Or an attack against House Rowan. However, the use of those symbols has me convinced it’s something with an active magical component.”
“Of which, I appear to have plenty. Even if it doesn’t look or feel like anything I’d call magic.”
“Plus, there is that unknown individual who keeps demanding a meeting with you. Perhaps it’s because of your magic?”
She stopped and turned toward him. “But we just today found out about my magic. How would they have known?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. Perhaps they’ve been following you, or your family? Astrid noticed the effects of your gift, even though she didn’t understand them. Others could have done the same.”
“There’s too many possible suspects, Quinn,” she sighed. “Calder? Astrid? Although she’d not acting much like it now. The person on the phone?”
Quinn nodded. “I think it would be wise to share this new theory with Brent and Duchess Maura. I would feel more comfortable if your guards knew that Tesse’s murderer might target you next.”
Becka pursed her lips. “I’m not sure that’s wise.”
He looked taken aback. “Why not?”
“No one but you, me, Chief Elowen, and others on your team know about the symbols on Tesse yet. If everyone hears about them, it’ll be harder to suss out those who know more than they should.”
“That is a good point. However, now that you have gone from having a
