“Walk with me?” Becka asked Brent.
He gestured for her to take the lead, and, craving fresh air, Becka led them upstairs and out to the rooftop garden. Her bevy of guards followed them. At the top of the staircase, Becka walked through the doors to the rooftop garden, feeling drawn back into this space… the couches where she and Vott were poisoned days before.
“Are we going to review the shifter duty roster or is this all for show?”
Brent shook his head. “This isn’t for show. Luce recommended to me that you take over Vott’s oversight of wolf shifter operations here at House Rowan, and I think it’s a smart idea.”
“You do?” Becka took a seat on one of the couches, motioning for Brent to sit across from her, mirroring Vott’s placement.
He nodded and took a seat. Shamus and Lorelai walked the area, giving them the space to speak privately. Elena and Oba did the same, walking the perimeter of the roof.
“Luce has good instincts. We shifters do more than you are likely aware of. Also, we don’t yet know if Vott will recover. I prefer to plan for the worst-case scenario, so I can be surprised, and frankly relieved, if things go better than expected.”
“Have you heard anything new about Vott’s condition?” she asked, and he gave a simple shake of his head in reply. Poor man, she knew he and Vott had a close bond. No doubt this was doubly hard on him, knowing the poisoner had gotten by his team to Vott. She’d do whatever she could to make things easier on him. “So, what do you need me to do besides approving expenses?”
Brent gave her a halfhearted smile. “Traditionally we settle out at the end of each month, so that’s not on my mind today. As you know, Vott ramped up our security detail when you were declared gifted and it was clear there was a threat to your life.”
She nodded. During the last few months she’d appreciated having their presence twenty-four seven. Becka felt safer with them than the house guards.
“Do you want to change anything?” she asked.
“Not the frequency or number of guards, no. Look, you faced down Woden, a Shadow-Dweller, who wanted to steal your powers.”
Becka shivered, remembering Woden drinking blood from her wrist. “I remember.”
“I was talking with Quinn earlier. I don’t think this poisoning fits with the Shadow motive.”
At the mention of Quinn’s name her heart skipped a beat. “You talked to Quinn?”
“He’s been all over this place. I swear he will start ripping it apart brick by brick to hunt down proof for his theories.”
She smiled. “Sounds like him. And you’re right, this doesn’t seem to fit the Shadow-Dweller motive. I discussed the potentials with Quinn, and he asked me to think about more, but I’m at a loss.”
“I want you to keep notes. Or make a mental list and communicate to my staff whenever you add someone to it. I have my own list, of course, but you might think of someone neither Quinn nor I have previously considered.”
Quinn had hinted around this topic, but hearing it from Brent, her father’s longtime guard and trusted confidante, hit home.
“Of course. You and your shifters will be the first to know.”
Brent steepled his fingers, his entire focus on her. “I know this is stuff you’ve covered with Quinn, but off the top of your head, who might want you dead?”
“Anyone who might feel threatened? I mean, could they be afraid of my powers? So maybe Aunt Astrid?”
“I’ve thought about her, but it seems like she adores taming powerful gifts. It’s her vocation.”
“Yeah, but my power is wild. She’s warned me about the potential for madness if I don’t harness my powers adequately. So many warnings. Perhaps she fears for the house?”
“Okay.” He shrugged. “Next?”
“What about Calder? He’s not happy I’m back as heir; he’s enjoyed his temporary stint as the eldest guilded progeny. Once I am declared trained and guilded, he goes back to being number two. I’m taking his position as next in line, and that’s got to burn a bit.”
“I agree he has a strong motive. Who else?”
“What about Alain?” If he was behind the poisoning, surely that would be a way out of the engagement contract?
“Your fiancé? That’s not someone I would have pegged. Why do you think he would want you dead?”
“It would get him out of the engagement! And, I’m nowhere near the ‘pedigree’ Tesse was. I’m a disappointing second-place prize. I’m sure he’d prefer a new arrangement, if he could. Perhaps Ingrid, or Sigfrid? Or another house’s heir?”
“I’m not sure anyone sees you as second place, Becka. Besides, why would he wait three months?”
“To see if we could get along? To set up the poisoning? I don’t know.”
“I’ll make a note of it. Anyone else you can think of?”
Becka shrugged. “I don’t know. All of those options sound potentially plausible to me.”
Brent leaned back and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Okay, I’ll get started tracing Astrid and Alain’s movements in the days before the poisoning. I was already looking into Calder. I’ll report back to you and Quinn once I know more. And if you think of anyone else, if you even just have a wild thought cross your mind, report it to any shifter and they’ll pass it back to me.”
Reviewing her potential poisoners had brought with it memories of the event. Distressed, Becka took a deep yoga breath and held it for a few seconds before blowing out slowly.
“Will do. Thanks for looking into it.”
Brent stood up. “The enforcers aren’t the only ones who can hunt down their prey. Besides, Vott was poisoned on my watch. I have an oath to keep, and I’m taking this as a personal attack.”
Becka was glad he was on her side. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask, but the timing just never felt right.”
Brent shrugged. “Ask away. I have no qualms telling you if you’ve crossed a line.”
Becka didn’t doubt him for a second. “How is
