At that moment Brent marched into the glen, a wolf at his side. He took in the scene, gave a curt nod, and ran back, yelling into the distance. The wolf approached the downed pair of his kin, letting out a high-pitched whine.
“I figured Brent would find us,” Quinn whispered. He coughed up a little blood. “I need you to talk to Chief Elowen. Tell her everything.” He opened his hand, holding out his phone to her, which she took.
“I will, just save your strength so I can argue with you later.”
He nodded, but held his tongue. His eyes closed again, as he drifted out of consciousness.
Brent returned with fae guards, more shifters, and a healer in tow.
“I am Illan of House Birch,” said the male healer.
“I remember you.” For a moment, Woden’s warning that the shadow-dwellers had others around chilled her. But she remembered Illan from her youth as a skilled healer. Could she still trust him?
“Please give me a quick overview of what occurred in the altercation,” he asked, “I want to be thorough.” Becka did a quick rundown of the events.
Illan got to work, his hands aglow as he moved them from Quinn’s head and chest.
“Please step aside,” he said.
Becka let go of Quinn, stood up, and then took a step back. She must have been dampening his healing abilities. She watched for a moment, as Illan’s deft use of magic staunched the bleeding and sealed the seared edges of his charred skin shut.
Brent tapped her on the shoulder. “Becka, can you tell me what happened here?”
She stood and walked with him. “Woden. He went by Woden. You’d know him as Lagan. He’s dead back that way, but he started this fire.”
He nodded, expression confused but not questioning her. “Are you hurt?”
“Yeah,” she held up her wrist, which was still covered in a blood-soaked bandage, and pointed at the blood oozing down her leg. “Woden cut me, and then he drank from me. He was a shadow-dweller. I got that hole in my leg from him too.”
Brent digested this new information for a moment, his gaze appreciative. “It sounds like you got one up on him,” Brent replied. “Good on you.”
He called over another healer. Becka didn’t catch his name, but of course their magic didn’t work on her, so she ended up having her wounds washed, coated with antiseptics, and then sealed with medical glue. She gave quiet thanks that the fae kept the simple trauma supplies on hand.
“Is everyone all right back at the pyre?” she asked Brent.
“Yes, a bit disoriented and a few bruises here and there, but otherwise everyone’s fine. I’d run into Quinn earlier and we scuffled...we were all a bit confused from the smoke. But he said to follow him. When your trail led back to the grove and then out into the forest, I called in reinforcements.”
“Thank you, Brent,” Becka replied. “I owe you.”
Brent pulled her silk gloves out from an inside pocket of his jacket. “We found these at the grove.”
“Of course you did.” She took them and put them back on, grateful her hands and arms had been cleaned off by the healer.
Illan arose and approached them. “Quinn has stabilized. I healed more lacerations and burns then I could count, but he’s stable. We will get him moved back to the manor, but I am going to insist he do a stint at the Sirona Healing Springs. He needs the time to rebuild his energy and the healers at Sirona are exceptional. For tonight I will stay by his side.” He turned to Becka. “Do not worry, he will be up and moving about by morning.”
“Thank you, Illan.”
The healer went back to Quinn, and Becka watched as fae guards carried Woden’s body into view.
Brent leaned in close, which meant she had to look up to him to meet his gaze. “Considering today’s events and Quinn’s condition, I’m assigning you a rotation of four guards.” He raised a brow, as if to ask, are you going to fight me on this again?
She rubbed the bandage on her wrist. “I only want shifter guards. Woden said there are more hidden shadow-dwellers amongst the fae.”
His eyes widened, but he nodded. “Not a problem with me, but Duchess Maura will insist on her own guards too.”
“No fae guards, but don’t worry, I’ll take it up with her. There are more shadow-dwellers, and they won’t stop until they have my magic.”
Saying the words out loud cemented her resolution. She would apprentice with Aunt Astrid to learn what she could of her gift. Becka didn’t feel like she had any other choice, not if she wanted to be able to defend herself.
She would not allow the shadow-dwellers to win. At least not without a fight.
“Lorelai. Shamus,” Brent called out. A moment later the pair of shifters appeared. “Escort Becka back to her quarters. Take Luce and Sage. Two eyes on at all times. No exceptions.”
The shifters shared a look before all nodding in near unison.
“I don’t think you should be walking on that leg,” he said. “I’ll send for a horse.”
Becka’s head still floated. “I’d appreciate it.”
“Welcome back to House Rowan, Becka,” he replied. “I hadn't thought things could get more interesting around here, but you proved me wrong.”
Becka shook her head. “Yeah, lucky me?”
Chapter 30
Despite holding her nose, Becka choked and coughed while trying to down the herbaceous, grainy slurry Illan had insisted upon.
At least he had the decency to appear apologetic.
“If you were not immune to healing, measures like this would be optional.”
The healer’s quarters consisted of an office with an attached infirmary containing a row of four cots. The office was filled
