“It’s not scanning,” Brent bit back. “Your emotions naturally permeate the surrounding air. We can’t avoid picking up hints of what you’re feeling, just as you can’t avoid emitting those scents. And we can’t read thoughts or catch lies.”
Becka did a slow double-blink, Brent’s words shaking something loose in her mind. “Reading emotions is the nature of being a wolf. It’s as natural as breathing to them, or magic to the rest of you.”
Brent inclined his head to her. “Just so.”
Astrid waved a hand in the air, as if she could wave away their rebuttal. “It’s invasive. Vott may not mind it, but I don’t have to like it.”
Becka shook her head, holding up a hand to stall the discussion. She had to find a middle ground between these two. “Quinn. Brent. Can you offer a compromise? Perhaps something with… oversight?”
Quinn took a deep breath. “I would like Duchess Maura’s permission to bring in two additional assets.”
“Go on,” Maura replied.
“I know this is a big request to House Rowan, but with two more enforcers on site we can interview every person in the household. The interviews can be done with a council member present to ensure no irrelevant questions are asked. I wouldn’t even need to be a part of the interviews.”
Maura’s jaw clenched so hard Becka swore she heard a tooth crack. “Why not just utilize our fae guards?”
“We can’t use your household guards, as there is the outside risk they’re compromised by Shadow-Dwellers.”
“But I thought the Shadow-Dwellers were not implicated in the poisoning?” Maura replied.
“That is correct, but we know the Shadow-Dwellers are a long-term threat to Becka. The potential for them to infiltrate your household and guards remains,” Quinn explained.
Maura frowned and crossed her arms, unmoved by his argument.
Quinn shifted his weight between his feet and ran a hand across the back of his neck. “I give you my personal guarantee that my enforcers will focus solely on the hunt for the poisoner.”
Becka had heard enough talk within the council chamber to understand Maura likely feared Quinn or his associates would report House Rowan’s anti-human sentiments to the government. But right now, Becka needed Maura to trust Quinn.
“Enforcer Quinn has my implicit trust. If he vouches for his team, that’s enough for me,” Becka said.
Maura’s gaze narrowed. “You’ve proved your loyalty to Becka, and perhaps by extension also House Rowan, so I’ve given you a certain leeway. How am I supposed to believe you have adequate pull with Chief Elowen or your fellow enforcers to make such a guarantee?”
“I have demonstrated I have the pull with Chief Elowen already,” he replied.
He paused for a moment, and a few of the council members shifted in their seats. Maura’s eyes widened in surprise at his implicit admission that he’d already either hidden information of their seditious tendencies or that the chief had at his request. Maura gave a quick nod of understanding, and then he continued.
“I would personally choose the enforcers. Only those I trust implicitly.”
Lord Cedric leaned forward in his chair. “You are alluding to excluding grievances from your reports. Additionally, you claim to know other enforcers who will do the same at your request. All enforcers take oaths to uphold human laws. If you have broken those oaths, how are we to trust you will keep your word to us?”
Quinn shrugged. “You can interpret my statements as you please. I prefer to focus my efforts on finding your poisoner.”
Brent side-eyed Quinn and gave him an appreciative nod.
“I need more than your word,” Maura replied, and Calder, Cedric, Wynne, Eirian, and Astrid all nodded.
Quinn shook his head, and Brent held up a hand. “Duchess Maura, do you continue to accept the word of my wolf pack?”
Her eyes widened. “Of course, Brent. Vott trusts you, and therefore so do I.”
“Then I would propose that these two hand-selected enforcers of Quinn’s be paired with shifter escorts. Then we can ensure they don’t deviate from their scope of seeking the poisoner, even outside of the formal interview process.”
Maura held up a hand, stopping Brent. “Is there anything more about your proposal that the council needs to know before discussing our options?”
Brent and Quinn shared a look, their sour expressions reflecting the likely poor outcome of their request.
“No, Duchess,” Quinn replied.
“Then I would thank you to vacate my council chambers. You will be informed of our decision.”
Quinn opened his mouth as if to argue, but appeared to think better of it.
When the door closed behind them, Becka couldn’t tell if they’d said enough to sway Maura or the council. If they wouldn’t hear reason, what more could she do? Becka couldn’t back down, fear of another poisoning driving her forward.
Chapter 21
Calder, true to form, was the first to speak. “Mother, you can’t be considering his request! Quinn has turned fae over to the human courts, including Elder Bjork of House Alder, cousin to Duke Vott. And he wants to bring more enforcers into our home?”
Maura held up a hand to silence him, and he quieted, but his face remained flushed.
“In case any of you have forgotten, my will presides within these walls.”
“Thank you, Duchess, for your level-headed oversight,” Lord Cedric replied.
She waved him off. “What are your thoughts?”
Lady Wynne held her hand to her chest. “Do you think we can trust them?”
Maura shrugged. “Quinn has displayed an adept hand with fact-finding and appears quite committed to protecting Becka. Brent has earned Vott’s trust, and ours, over the years.”
“I too trust in those points,” Elder Eirian replied. “Someone is targeting Becka, and I fear now that they’ve failed twice, they will only be emboldened to further attempts unless we stop them.”
Becka slumped in her chair, regarding Calder as the council members talked amongst themselves. She’d believed he was the most likely suspect, but now that didn’t feel right to her. Perhaps he had been arguing publicly in opposition to his
