Page 127 of This Monster of Mine

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.She’d intended on preventing the trial from reaching this point. She sought out Kadra’s gaze, but he shook his head, something that looked bewilderingly like resignation in his eyes.

“Despite being tasked with the administration of justice, Tetrarch Kadra has used this court as his personal dungeon.” Aelius’s voice cracked through the hubbub like a cane. “He has killed, burned, executed, anddismembered within these very walls. I have let it pass only because he was supposedly doing so in the name of justice. But I cannot let it go any longer. A grave miscarriage of justice has occurred today. Over a hundred witnesses, who should have set a good man’s name to rights, now recant. I know I speak for us all when I say that we know they were tortured into it byhim.” He jabbed a finger in Kadra’s direction.

Tullus added his piece. “I have no confidence in Tetrarch Kadra’s ability to lead Ur Dinyé. As such, I formally call for the Tetrarchy and its Petitors to vote on this matter. The punishment for a Tetrarch’s abuse of power has always been clear and we will not deviate from it now. If found guilty, Tetrarch Kadra will be dismissed from his position.”

The bottom fell out of her stomach. The crowd was chaos, yells of outrage—though she couldn’t tell whether it was at Kadra or on his behalf—mixed with questions on the scuta.

A storm brewed in Kadra’s eyes and the air crackled dangerously around the stage, sparks of lightning flaring into and out of sight amid the angry yells and boos of the crowd.

Aelius sniffed disdainfully. “I’ll thank you not to bring the Aequitas down to avoid your charges. Though this display is enough to convince me that you’re guilty. The Tetrarchy will now vote. And this is my word.” His features held triumph. “Guilty.”

This can’t be happening. She saw the line of Kadra’s back loosen as though he’d been waiting for this. His head remained unbowed. He was allowing himself to be dethroned. But why would he … She halted, and took in the sparks still sizzling in the Aequitas.

He’s charging up the air.

“Guilty,” Tullus echoed with equal malice.

He’s going for another strike.

“Guilty,” Cisuré crowed.

Kadra’s hard mask splintered for a fraction of a second, but it was enough. She spotted the vicious, bitter look he slanted in Aelius’s direction, and everything slotted in at once.

I’d rather have Aelius’s head. I’d Probe the truth right out of him, she’d said last night.

And he was about to give it to her.

Features drained of color, Cassandane shook her head and stayed silent, indicating that she was abstaining. Anek did the same.

The second Kadra was dethroned, he’d strike before Aelius could so much as utter a word of victory, and give him to her to fish the truth from his head. But Aelius was the Magus Supreme, the most powerful magus in the land. Add Tullus to that and …they’ll kill each other, she realized in horror.

“Guilty,” Harion murmured after a confirmatory glance at Tullus.

The weight of almost every stare in the Aequitas struck Sarai at once, but she only had eyes for the man she loved, who was about to lose everything. He gave her an imperceptible shake of his head. Asking her to doom him.

Why is this your solution?

Her lips parted, as she tried to think of a way out, and a glint of metal caught her attention at the side entrance to the Aequitas.

Steel rolled out of the doorway, a flash of violet robes vanishing down the hallway. Relief and elation engulfed her. She could have wept.Thank you, Telmar.

A broad smile bloomed on Aelius’s lips as he took her silence for abstention. Beside her, Cisuré’s eyes welled with tears.

“I knew you could do it.” She gripped Sarai’s hands. “I’m so proud of you.”

“The Tetrarchy speaks with one voice!” Aelius roared exultantly. “Drenevan bu Kadra is hereby found guilty of abusing his power and—”

Shaking off Cisuré’s hold, Sarai ran to the side entrance.

“Petitor Sarai?”

She ignored the knife-sharp warning in Aelius’s voice and ran faster. Ducking under the arm of one of Aelius’s vigiles, she crouched to grab the scutum and hugged it to her chest.Fuck, yes.

She didn’t think. Racing to the center of the stage, she held Kadra’s gaze and ascended the steps to the dais purposefully. One step away from him, she rested a foot on the uppermost stair, inclined her head, and fanned the material of her robes back. And she knelt before Kadra, scutum in hand.

Her voice rang across the court. “Innocent.”

Then, for a long, glorious moment, she watched as Kadra was struck wordless. His features went slack, shock flaring in his midnight eyes.

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