Page 123 of This Monster of Mine

“What do you do when you’re tired?”

“I drink,” he said dryly.

Sarai paused, recalling all the times she’d found him with a wineglass. He smelled like wine tonight too. She squinted at the dark shape on the table that looked like a bottle.

Him and Telmar.One used it to escape and the other used it to keep going. She wondered if those who thought Kadra unfeeling knew that he drank in the dark because he felt the weight of what he did.

“Why go against Aelius and Tullus at all?” she asked. When he remained silent, she guessed. “Is it because of Othus?”

If possible, Kadra grew even more rigid. By Temperance, he didn’t bend easily, but perhaps if she gave a little, he’d be willing to reciprocate.

She took a steadying breath. “I broke ties with Cisuré tonight. She’s so far under Aelius’s influence that I fear there’s no pulling her loose.” Her voice dropped to a thread. “But, in truth, we were probably doomed even before then.”

Amusement filled his eyes, and she elbowed his chest, earning her a grunt.

“Try not to gloat, damn it. She was all I had. Becoming your Petitor didn’t help our friendship a whit either.”

“I imagine not.” He didn’t sound troubled by that, and she frowned.

“Why do the two of you hate each other so much?” A thought occurred to her so terrifying that she stopped in her tracks. “Were youinvolved—”

“No,” he growled, sounding disgusted.

Unsure of what to do with the relief swamping her, she switched tacks. “Your turn. How did you become a Tetrarch?”

He refilled his wineglass. “You’ve heard of the supposition that I killed Othus.”

She nodded, wondering how he could remain so unfazed over the rumors. “I heard your relationship was … strained. But you were his successor.”

“No.” Wine swirled in the glass as he tilted the stem. “Another man was slated to top the election.”

“Dare I ask what happened to him?”

A predatory light entered his eyes. “Augustus was a little too indiscreet about his proclivities. Involving children. Aelius was heavily involved in covering it up. Took a few counts of blackmail.” Kadra shrugged. “Some larceny to free the children.”

“And a bit of torture?” Sarai finished.

And just like that, the would-be-Tetrarch would have vanished from the ballot, leaving a surefire win for the most popular iudex in Othus’s former Quarter.

She shook her head in disbelief. “You absolute madman.”

“No diatribe?” He dipped his head dangerously close to hers. “Two and a half months ago, you’d have given me an earful.”

“And you wouldn’t have believed a word of it,” she mused. “We’ve always seen right through each other, haven’t we?”

A slow, fascinating smile curved his mouth. “It bothered you to no end at first.”

“Because you thought I was a fool!”

“Never.” The low tenor of his response sent a surge of hunger through her. “Not once.”

Seeking a distraction, she seized his wine bottle and took a sip. And promptly gagged.

“Gods, that’svile.” Cretus’s infamous Violet Snowgrape Delight, bottled in the Month of Seas, Year 548 of the Tetrarchy, had a new contender for sheer acridity. Desperately wishing for a glass of water, she swallowed and shuddered as the aftertaste reared its head again. “You drink this willingly?”

He looking thoroughly amused. “A connoisseur, I see.”

“A connoisseur, you are not! Seven years as a barmaid and I’veneverhad anything this awful.” She wiped her lips with the back of her hand. “Has the mighty Kadra of Edessa never tasted good wine?”

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