However, she didn’t believe that someone who lost his temper at the drop of a hat could selectively mask his emotions. Did he even think before he blurted out his positions? Becka chuckled to herself.
But then, who did that leave as a suspect? They had crossed Astrid off the list because she didn’t appear to fear Becka’s powers at all. In fact, she saw Becka as a potentially huge moneymaker for the house. And they’d also eliminated Alain, but perhaps that was premature? Despite his interest in aligning with their house and bringing in a relationship coach, had the incident with Hanna changed his mind? Becka’s death would free him from his obligations, as Calder was next in line.
Becka rubbed her forehead. Her mind was spinning with the possibilities, threatening an impending headache.
“Becka, do you need a break?” Maura asked.
The council had quieted around her; she assumed they’d talked the investigation to death without her. Oh wait, did that pregnant pause in the air mean she’d missed a question?
She shot Maura a forced smile. “I’m fine. Sorry, what did you ask?”
Concern lit Maura’s eyes. “I asked for your thoughts. The council could discuss this all day, but you’re the one being targeted.”
“I feel like I’ve already made that clear. I’m done getting poisoned.” Becka looked each council member in the eye, one by one. “If we don’t find the culprit, it’s only a matter of time before they succeed. I support Quinn’s proposal and having Brent’s shifters working in tandem with the enforcers should wrap this up.”
Lord Cedric’s grudging nod was paired with frowns around the table.
“Let’s put it to a vote,” Maura said. “All for moving forward?”
Becka, Astrid, Calder, and Lord Cedric raised their hands. Maura, Lady Wynne, and Elder Eirian didn’t.
Maura voting against furthering the investigation deflated Becka, the dire nature of the threat against her not enough to move her mother’s hand. And what did Wynne and Eirian have against her?
“Against my better judgement, we carry the vote,” Maura said. “We will consent to the indignity of this fishing expedition, because the alternative is unacceptable. We will have a council member present. If they cross the line, then we will find an alternative method of finding the poisoner.”
Becka understood what Maura was demanding. Saving Becka’s life was well and good, but not if it risked bringing an investigation down on House Rowan. It was a reasonable position for the head of the house to take, even though it stung a little to hear from her mother. The pressure on Maura had to be immense this past week, what with Vott comatose and the continued attacks against her heir. Becka knew Maura feared for her safety, evidenced by allowing the enforcers’ investigation to continue despite the council’s concerns.
One day that responsibility would fall on her. Becka hoped it would be a lifetime from now.
“I hear you loud and clear,” Becka replied.
Maura’s sad smile didn’t reach her eyes, which were filled with cold calculation. “I’m glad we understand each other.”
Becka rose to go. “I’ll deliver the news.”
She left the room, but as she closed the door Astrid caught it and slipped out with her. “Just a moment of your time?”
“Uh, sure,” Becka replied.
Astrid’s smile was refreshingly genuine. “I wanted you to know, we’ve confirmed Langdon’s curses are gone while his powers remain intact. Your work is considered a resounding success by the healers and testers.”
“That’s fantastic,” Becka replied. “I needed some good news.”
“I am declaring you fully trained,” Astrid said. “Guilded.”
“Seriously?” Becka replied. “Doesn’t training usually last much longer?”
“I filed the paperwork this morning. And although I encourage you to practice regularly to refine your skills, there’s not much more I can do to help direct your learning.” She smiled an encouraging smile. “It’s not like I can show you the hidden secrets of a gift we’ve only just uncovered. It’s on you to continue seeking and learning what you can along the way.”
“What does it mean, that you filed paperwork?” Becka asked.
“It means you’re ready to perform your civic service, as dictated by the Pax Hominid treaty. We’re required to report on all gifteds’ duty status as soon as we deem them trained. It’s an unfortunate requirement, but even during that time of charitable work we can add in paying work, like you did for Langdon,” Astrid replied.
It wasn’t lost on Becka that Astrid had reported her ready for duty the morning after her second poisoning. The penalty for delaying must have been hefty for Astrid to be so punctual, considering Becka’s condition.
“No doubt your civic service will help to spread the word about your abilities, which will increase the demand for your services,” Astrid said.
“Fantastic,” Becka replied. “But won’t word of my hurting Hanna spread too?”
“Yes, but it might actually benefit you by adding to the reputed power of your gift,” Astrid replied. “We offer your services for removing unwanted or outdated magic, like a magical house cleaner. We would never sanction requests for you to harm other fae as you did Hanna. We will not have you presented as a weapon. There will be outstanding questions as to the extent of your abilities to resolve, but that will sort itself out.”
Again, Astrid’s nonchalant waving away of the potential for others to see Becka as a threat concerned her. “I’m worried about my gift being seen as a weapon. How do we address that?”
“Well, we assure the other houses that some abilities are immune to your gift. Like the innate gifts of House Oak. It would behoove us to understand all of those exceptions, obviously. The artifact you broke was created with additive magic, and Elder Langdon’s curse was formed with feminine moon magic. Therefore, not all powers are susceptible to your gift, although we don’t yet understand why. No doubt we’ll figure it out, given enough time.”
“And enough injuries,” Becka muttered. Learning what types of gifts were immune to her Nulling implied there would be
