Page 120 of This Monster of Mine

“I know about the scuta,” she said without preamble.

He halted mid-yawn. All color bled from his face.

“So, that’s it,” she said. “That’s why you drink.”

“I’ve said nothing—nothingto you,” he stammered, collapsing into his chair. “Get out! Don’t drag me down with you.”

“I’m not going to involve you.” She sat across him. “But I need evidence. You were honest with me from the start, and I never understood why.”

“Should have listened, barmaid.” He grabbed the bottle from her.

“How long have you known?” She held up a placating hand when he shook his head furiously. “It doesn’t matter. My word is useless without evidence, and I’m set for trial tomorrow. Your secrets will die with me.”

He took a gulp of wine before speaking. “Three years ago, I earned tenure as an instructor here.” His eyes glazed over as he returned tothose days. “I had everything I wanted. Never so much as heard a word of reprimand.”

“But?” she prompted when he trailed off.

“There was a storm. I saw one of thosethingsexplode and down a block of insulae.” His face tightened. “There was so much screaming. And the fire … it burnt out of control before we could do a thing. Forty-two dead. A younger magus with me saw it, too, and asked afterward, about why the scuta had exploded.” Telmar swallowed. “Tullus’s vigiles pulled her body from an alley days later. And I knew. And I couldn’t stop knowing.”

“Aelius and Tullus are shadow owners in that iron mine, aren’t they?” she asked wearily.

He nodded. “There used to be a few records. Transfers from Aelius’s coffers that matched investment receipts in the mine. But they got rid of them after that magus’s questions. I snuck a look beforehand but it didn’t matter. No court would have touched them.” His bloodshot eyes met hers. “I’m sorry. I don’t have anything for you.”

She watched him, let the silence unravel until he started nervously glancing at every corner of the room.

“Where’s your scutum?”

He turned white. “Get out.”

“I’ll pay you anything if you give it to me.” When he attempted to move past her to leave his office, she blocked his path with a hand, wincing at the contact.

“I won’t die, Petitor Sarai. Not after all I’ve endured!” he cried, wine sloshing over his floor as he gesticulated wildly. “Don’t you think I’d have done something if I could?”

“But youhave,” she reminded him urgently. “You kept one of them, didn’t you? Just in case your life was ever in peril or someone in the future could do this for you. Telmar, you wouldn’t have to hide from your thoughts anymore.”

His face crumpled. “Please leave.” He fell to his knees. “Please just leave.”

Her throat worked, eyes burning. “This is my only chance too. Tomorrow at the Aequitas, it all ends for me without that scutum.”

He said nothing. She could force him now. Snap every bone in his wrist until he conceded. But if he was right about Aelius’s eyes everywhere and he died for this as Decimus had, then she’d never forgive herself.

“I have until tomorrow.” Her voice was hoarse. “So do you.”

She left.

Sarai’s spirits deflated when she spotted the pale-haired figure waiting for her at the Aoran Tower Gate. She’d imagined this conversation a thousand times since Admia’s Summoning, and delayed it to the last moment possible. She had the awful sense that it wasn’t going to hurt any less. Assuring Gaius that she could handle herself from there, she dismounted and pasted on a smile.

“I was about to head in your direction.”

Cisuré beamed, shooting a wary glance at Gaius. She tilted her head toward a garden folly not too far away. They walked, the sky deepening to indigo above. Both moons were slivers in the east. She felt miles from the determined young woman she’d been two and a half months ago.

“Well?” Cisuré whispered once they’d reached the garden folly. “Did you search his tower?”

She took a steadying breath. “I did.”

Cisuré clutched her, eyes wide with excitement. “And?”

“He has an orange grove, a massive number of books, and a great deal of wine,” she explained, as Cisuré looked increasingly baffled. “I searched every inch, but there’s nothing Tetrarch Aelius would find nefarious.”

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