“Do you ever do your hair fancy, like the other Rowan?” Lorelai asked, following her to the changing area but discreetly standing outside. “I bet with the pink it would look amazing, all shiny locks braided up.”
“On my gosh, do I ever have better things to do with my time!” Becka laughed, tossing her pj’s onto the floor and throwing on a brown peasant shirt over a pair of batik orange-and-yellow wide-legged pants. “Like anything else.” Sandals, teeth brushed, face washed, and messy bun later, she was ready to go.
She would have preferred a shower but didn’t want to hold up Quinn.
Becka returned to the bedroom, stuffing the Shadow-Dweller book into her bag and then hooking the strap over her shoulder. She donned her signature silk gloves, and then memories of yesterday flooded back to her. A heavy weight settled into her stomach. “Wait, are the Hawthornes still around?”
“No,” Quinn replied. “The entire retinue left shortly after delivering their warning to Duchess Maura.”
Becka glanced over to her bedside table, where Alain’s unopened scroll sat, taunting her. “That’s something, at least.”
“The entire house is all a-murmur over it,” Shamus said. “You’d think they didn’t have murders and poisonings and better things to worry about.”
“Oh, there’s never too much drama for House Rowan,” Becka replied. “And you’re wrong, this news is worse than murder or poisonings. A break with House Hawthorne is tantamount to war.”
Chapter 24
By the time Becka arrived at the library, the Enforcers had already transformed the space into a comfortable but serviceable interrogation room. A small, round table with a machine Becka didn’t recognize sat next to a plush chair in the center. There were a pair of couches across from it, but someone had pushed most of the seating and extra tables to the outer walls, allowing for clear views to the center of the room. They had placed additional gear on tables along the outer wall.
Two of Brent’s shifter guards stood outside the door, teamed up with a pair of fae household guards. Two more shifters, Luce and Saige, stood against a far wall, chatting quietly.
Entering the room, Quinn headed straight for the newly arrived enforcers who were fussing over the machine on the table. When they saw Quinn, both snapped to attention.
Just how does Quinn rank within the enforcers? She’d never wondered before now, other than knowing he reported directly to Chief Elowen.
Becka realized she’d met the female enforcer in the city after an altercation two years ago. She remembered Enforcer Caeda as both fair and fierce.
“Thank you both for coming,” Quinn said to them, shaking their hands.
“How could we say no?” the large male replied. The fae enforcer laughed, a light, airy sound.
“Lady Becka, this is Enforcer Hamish,” Quinn said, motioning to a tall shifter man whose pronounced jawline overwhelmed the other features on his face.
“Pleased to meet you, Hamish. Are you a member of Brent’s pack, the Sawatch Enclave?”
“Nope,” he replied, shaking his head. “I’m from the Bitterroot Enclave.”
“You’re a long way from home, then.”
He squinted his eyes at her and then shrugged. “That’s the truth.”
“And this is Enforcer Caeda of House Poplar.” The pixie-like fae was unusually petite, but the steely edge to her amber gaze belied any impression of her being a delicate flower.
Becka arched a brow at Caeda, who arched a brow right back at her.
“Enforcer Caeda and I met briefly in the city a while back,” Becka replied.
“Nice to see you again,” quipped Caeda.
“I suppose it is,” she replied.
“Don’t you worry. We’ll get your poisoner,” Caeda said in her birdlike voice. “And anyone else who might have helped them better be ready for the hammer.”
“You can count on us,” Hamish threw in. “Have you noticed this place is wound up tight as a virgin’s knickers?”
Becka raised a brow, but no one else reacted to his colorful commentary.
Brent walked into the room, carrying a list on parchment. “Becka, glad to see you’re looking better today.”
“Thank you, Brent.”
Brent handed over the list to Caeda. “Here’s a register of everyone at the manor. No exception. There’s been no one in or out, so we know the culprit, or culprits, will be on this list.”
“We’ll start at the top and work our way down,” Hamish replied. “I bet we’ll have it sorted in two, three days, tops.”
“We should do the guards first,” Caeda replied. “Then the higher-ranking family and staff.”
“Agreed,” Brent replied.
“What does that machine do?” Becka asked.
“It’s an interrogator. Mostly, it puts the fear of transparency into the suspect,” Caeda replied.
“It’s a combination of human tech enhanced by fae magic,” Quinn explained.
“What flavor of magic?” Becka asked.
“House Yew infuses them with clarity of the seen and unseen,” Caeda replied. “And then House Elder does a little something which reveals shadowy aspects of character. It watches brain waves, pulse, temperature, respiration… things like that.”
No wonder Maura didn’t want the enforcers questioning everyone. Becka didn’t want to sit in that chair either. Not that the magic would affect her; instead she might break their machine.
“I’ll remind you both,” Quinn looked to Caeda and Hamish, “there’s to be no deviation from the focus of the investigation or the duchess will shut us down and throw the lot of us out.”
“We both read the report you sent over,” Hamish replied. “We’ll keep it on track.”
“They can’t kick us out,” Caeda replied, sporting a defiant smile. “We’re too clever and cute.”
“Caeda,” Quinn said, drawing out her name into one long question.
She held up her hands. “You’re so easy to rile up, Quinn. I’ll stay on target. I’m your wee dragonfly with razor-sharp claws. I never miss my kill.”
Quinn shook his head. “I have no interest in anyone here dying.”
Hamish laughed out loud, looked around and seemed to realize Quinn hadn’t told a joke, and then sobered up. “No! No, of course not. Let’s get to it.”
Becka headed to one couch and curled up, retrieving the book from her bag. No sooner had she settled before Astrid sat next to her on the couch.
“Good morning, Becka. We missed
