Swinging the door open, Becka came face-to-face with Maura Rowan and Hanna Hawthorne.
“From the disappointed look on your face, I am guessing you were hoping for someone else,” Maura replied. “May we come in?” she asked as she stepped in. Maura motioned for Hanna to follow her, which she did a bit reluctantly, appearing less willing to invade Becka’s personal space.
Becka closed the door behind them.
“You have such a lovely room, Becka,” Hanna said.
“Thank you, Lady Hanna,” Becka replied, grateful for Hanna’s upbeat presence.
“I see you haven’t gotten dressed for the day yet,” Maura said, taking Becka by the elbow and walking her in the direction of her changing room. “Hanna, why don’t you wait for us here while I help Becka finish getting ready?”
Once they entered Becka’s bathroom, Maura gently shoved her toward her changing room.
Still stinging from their conversation yesterday and moody from her thoughts of Tesse, Becka didn’t protest. She was determined to move forward with Maura, which right now meant placating her. “Are you planning to accompany me all day?” Becka asked.
“No, but I thought I’d check on you. What have you been up to this morning?” Maura asked.
Becka looked around her closet, searching for the perfect outfit to match her mood.
“I had breakfast and was engaging in some light reading. I’m still feeling worn out and didn’t want to tax myself before the long day ahead.” Her red tracksuit and neon green sports bra were calling her name.
“That’s sensible,” Maura replied. “You’ll be thrilled to hear Lady Hanna has offered to act in the role of your political and romantic advisor.”
“That sounds…” Becka started to reply, pulling the sports bra over her head. She searched for the right words, wanting to be snippy, if only because Maura wasn’t giving her an option. But, to her own surprise, Becka liked the idea.
“Generous and gracious of Lady Hanna, don’t you agree?”
“Yes, it does,” Becka replied. “I could use her perky energy at my side.”
A brief smile graced Maura’s lips. “How… refreshing. Now, let me appeal to you, Becka, on a topic I know you care about,” she spoke in low tones. “I spoke with Chief Elowen last night. If I push the matter of Enforcer Quinn’s breach of behavior, then I can get him reprimanded. Fired, even.”
Becka’s heart skipped a beat. Quinn lived to be an enforcer and hunt the Shadow-Dwellers. “Wouldn’t a formal complaint embarrass House Rowan as well?”
Maura smiled, broadly this time. “I do appreciate how you are thinking of your house first. And yes, it would, but do not think I would not do it. Do not push me.”
Becka tugged her hair into a messy bun and emerged from her dressing room looking ready to run a marathon, which was exactly how she thought about the day ahead.
“Fine,” she said to Maura, walking around her back into her bedroom. “Lady Hanna, I hear we’ll be spending a lot of time together going forward. I must say, I am grateful for your company.”
Hanna’s brief frown at Becka’s attire lasted only a moment, and then she was all smiles again. “Yes, I am so excited to learn what your days look like. Your schedule looks so entertaining. Are you ready to go?”
Becka tucked the Shadow-Dweller book and her journal into her bag, which felt heavy slung over her shoulder. There was some clue she was missing. Something that didn’t quite fit together. Maybe the book’s simple presence, as a constant reminder, would help her subconscious surface whatever clues it was trying to puzzle out?
She remembered her schedule, steeling her nerves for the upcoming day. She luxuriated in a long, deep yoga breath. “I’m ready.”
“Do not forget your meeting with Elder Alaetha later today,” Maura said, her still-exhausted features otherwise placid and calm. “She is keenly interested in meeting you. And please, for the love of all things sacred, be polite to her.”
“Dearest Mother, there’s no other way I know how to be,” Becka replied as sweetly as she could muster.
Hanna looked back and forth between the two of them, brows knit in confusion. “Your words and your emotions are wildly disparate.”
Becka smiled at Hanna, feeling genuine mirth. “I think we’ll get along fabulously, Hanna Hawthorne. Shall we get going?”
“Remember, Becka,” Maura said. “Leave the investigation to the enforcers and keep your focus on your duty to House Rowan.”
Like she’d needed the reminder? She’d understood Maura’s threat to Quinn’s career loud and clear. “There’s nothing else on my mind, Mother.”
“That’s not at all true,” Hanna replied, progressively looking more confused.
“I know, isn’t it exciting?” Becka smiled, her mood brightening. She took Hanna’s hand in hers, dragging the bewildered woman along with her. “We’re going to have such fun today.”
Chapter 10
It felt like a veritable host of guards trailed Becka as she walked the halls with Hanna at her side. She hoped her first council meeting wouldn’t be as dreadfully boring as she feared, but perhaps with Hanna along for the ride she’d at least have someone on her side, even if that side was also Hawthorne’s and Maura’s side.
Becka’s desire to avoid arriving at the council meeting early meant they’d walked in circles, but Hanna hadn’t complained.
“Who are they again?” Hanna whispered, leaning towards Becka.
“Which set of guards do you mean?” Becka asked, her voice at deliberately normal levels.
Hanna frowned. “Start with the ones who aren’t fae.”
“Sure. They are wolf shifter guards who are pledged to Vott. After the attack on me a few months ago, he assigned some to me. Shamus, despite looking so attractive and inviting, is a brooder, while Lorelai is the friendlier one of the pair.”
“I would not have guessed it,” Hanna replied. “My gift does not work reliably on shifters, thus why I asked. She looks so grave.”
She wasn’t wrong. Shamus, sporting a fresh frown, always seemed to be waiting for the other shoe to drop. His pate of wild curls
