“Considering what you’ve been through, growing up away from the fold as you did and returning under such duress, your father and I felt it wise to handle you gently. We thought that, over time, you would embrace our way of life. Our customs. Our sensibilities.”
Although Maura wasn’t precisely wrong, her summary shortchanged Becka’s experience, telling rather than asking how she was doing or feeling. They sat mere feet apart, and yet Becka didn’t feel seen or understood. She felt like the receiver of a practiced speech.
“I’m grateful for your patience,” Becka replied. “This has been an emotionally and physically exhausting time overshadowed by the trauma of my return.”
Maura nodded. “It’s only been a few months to process the change and heal, for both you and the house, but your position as our heir and the future that comes with it is something you need to come to terms with. I must ask, are you under the impression that your circumstances will fundamentally change?”
“Well…” Becka replied. Am I?
“Let me be absolutely clear with you. As a gifted fae, you are bound by law to reside within fae territories. That means, for all intents and purposes, living here with your family at House Rowan or on assignment on jobs for the house. Do you understand that this is not something within any of our powers to change?”
“Of course I know that,” Becka answered. There was knowing and then there was knowing. Did she understand the legalities of being a guilded fae? Certainly. Had she digested that those same rules now applied to herself?
Indigestion roiled in her stomach. She didn’t want to accept the new order. It felt like she might lose all of her hopes and dreams for the future if she gave in to being heir, and all it entailed.
“You may know it, but I doubt you’ve fully accepted it.” Becka started to interrupt, but Maura raised a hand and waved her off. “I see now that our approach has been flawed. We have been too lax with you when instead you need more structure, even if you do not realize it yourself.”
“That’s the exact opposite of what I need,” Becka insisted. “If anything, I need more freedom, not less! I’m stifled here! I don’t want to marry Alain. I want to work at my internship and I still want to get my doctorate. And I want to be able to spend time with Quinn.”
“I do not think you have any idea what you need. You are the heir to House Rowan now. Lucky for you, I am well-motivated to provide you the direction you appear to be craving.”
Becka’s stomach sank. This Maura was not a woman she could reason with. This was a Maura who had almost lost her husband and eldest living child and would not suffer any fools. This Maura was on a mission.
“It is far past time that you learn the duties of your station. Tesse used to attend council meetings and so shall you. It’s what she would have wanted.”
The mention of her sister’s name wrenched at her heart. “It’s not fair of you to use her name as leverage over me!”
“I am past attempting to be gentle with you, Becka. If Tesse could see you now, she would be embarrassed on your behalf.”
“Ha!” Becka barked out a humorless laugh. “Goes to show how little you knew her. Tesse loved hearing about my life! She would never have wanted me to change.”
Maura’s eyes were filled with rage. Whether from Becka’s refusal to comply or her statement on Tesse, she had no idea.
“No doubt Tesse indulged you, because you were an unguilded outcast. No doubt your tales of city life were a thrill to hear. No doubt she missed seeing her twin every day and loved to simply hear your voice and see your words. But Tesse understood the expectations upon her and her role in the family. Never once did she falter in fulfilling those duties.”
Becka’s knowledge of Tesse had been limited to their calls and a single meeting in the city years ago. Although Tesse had shared her life with her and groused about the strictures of fae society, she’d never spoken of bucking tradition. Only now did Becka realize that, for all that Tesse shared her thoughts with Becka, her sister’s behavior had been exemplary. The realization hit her right in the solar plexus. Perhaps Maura was right? Would Tesse have been appalled over Becka’s continuing unwillingness to conform? How had she never asked herself this before?
“This is how things are going to be now,” Maura replied. “You will start attending the daily council meetings. You will keep the schedule I set for you. You will, of course, answer the enforcer’s investigation-related questions when required, but only under the supervision of your shifter and fae guards.”
“I’m to be chaperoned?”
“Yes. At all times, as it seems you would benefit from the oversight.”
“Then why allow me to talk with Quinn at all?”
“Because it is in House Rowan’s interests that the poisoning case is solved, of course, and the needs of the house are always preferenced over personal interests. Enforcer Quinn appears well-motivated to accomplish this task. If he won’t stay on target, then I’ll have him replaced. He has a known reputation for divided loyalties, but he has also risked his life for you and House Rowan, and so I’ll give him an opportunity to prove himself.”
“What do you mean, divided loyalties?” Becka asked.
“He is an enforcer, Becka, which overrides his upbringing in House Oak. He works with a team of humans, shifters, and other fae to keep the peace between the races, which obviously clouds his loyalty to the fae.”
“Being dedicated to peace
