Page 110 of This Monster of Mine

Sarai did the math. “Wait, why is their head worth less?” She ducked when Hair-Yanker attempted his signature technique again and let him shove her to the ground.

Closing her eyes, she reached with her magic, found a tendon and sliced it. His screams told her she was on the right track. She continued,ripping into muscle, metal clashing in the background as Anek handled Dagger-Shoulder.

At a piteous squeal, she opened her eyes and peered past a now-wailing Hair-Yanker to where Dagger-Shoulder had gotten another dagger through his hand and was now fleeing. She let go of Hair-Yanker to allow him to do the same, and he quickly followed.

“Ruin’s tits.” Anek plopped down beside her on the grass. “You’ve been busy.”

Sarai nodded, harsh breaths sawing from her. “So have you. How do you have a bounty too? You’re the quintessential Petitor.”

They heaved a sigh. “You first. That’s a dangerous skill you’ve got.”

“Don’t tell Harion.”

“That you could have healed his nose? Never.” Anek toyed with the scarlet hilt of their dagger. “Have you heard of a Petitor named Livia?”

Her head jerked up. “Yes.” She eyed Anek warily. “Why?”

“I was looking into her.” They returned Sarai’s start of surprise with a speaking look. “She was my predecessor after all.”

“Did you find anything?”

“I wish I hadn’t.” They passed Sarai a familiar square of parchment. “This was in the spine of the last volume she ever requested from the Hall of Records. She died the next day.”

Sarai curled her fingers around the letter. “Have you read it?”

“My Urdish is rudimentary, but I got the gist. I spoke to Livia’s mother and heard you’d been by. When you started practically living in the Hall of Records, I figured you were looking for what I’d found.”

Unfolding the letter, Sarai steeled her nerve at Livia’s shaky writing.

My dear Jovian,

I’m going. I can’t ask you to come, but if all goes well, we’ll be at the center of Edessa’s most explosive case tomorrow. I just need a scutum to prove it.

I overheard a few of the Metals Guild’s guards saying that they’ll be drinking on their shift tonight. I can sneak past. A scutum isn’t that heavy. I’ll be in and out before they notice. If we crash a trial at the Aequitas and reveal it all, no one can hurt us with the whole city watching.

I’m leaving at midnight. If you’re coming, I’ll be by the side doors into the forges.

Your fearless friend,

Livia

Sarai returned the letter to Anek. They both knew what had happened next. Livia hadn’t made it out of the Metals Guild that night. Jovian had died two weeks later.

Anek stretched out on the grass. “I went to the Guild and asked about how a young woman could possibly fall into a vat of molten metal. The openings for those are narrow to keep the metal from cooling. The Guildsmen didn’t like that. Hence the bounty.”

“When was this?”

“Right about when you caused all that trouble with Helvus.”

Sarai winced. “Bad timing.” She healed the stab wound in her palm. “Stop looking into this. You have your family, people you can lose. I don’t.”

“Believe me, I’d rather leave it to you and Kadra.” They squinted. “Does Cisuré know?”

She stiffened. “She doesn’t believe me.”

Anek sucked air in through their teeth. “She’ll learn. Just because these gods-obsessed men created the rules, doesn’t mean they should be above them. Especially if Helvus and our Saintly Head Tetrarch have been running a dangerous con for years.”

“Don’t forget our Violent Senior Lecher Tetrarch.”

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