Page 142 of This Monster of Mine

Throwing Sarai a meaningful glance, she strode toward the dinner table.

Tullus smiled. “Would you like to see the ballroom upstairs?”

Tullus chuckled, bringing her to a balcony at the top. Edessa spread out below them.

“Well, Sera, I can allow you into the Academiae if you pass a test of skill. My tests aren’t easy, but I’m confident that anyone Cisuré recommends will succeed. Tetrarch Aelius vouches highly for her.”

Sarai’s chest swelled. “Name it and I will.”

“It’ll be toward the end of this gathering, I’m afraid. We’re getting stormfall soon.” His eyes went to a point beyond her shoulder, and he sighed ruefully. “Ah, but here comes Cisuré to take you away. If you’d prefer to do this another time …”

“No! I’m happy to wait. I’ll let her know!”

Excusing herself with a smile, Sarai raced to where Cisuré waited. “He’s asked me to stay until the end for a test! If I pass, he’ll let me in.”

“Gods, you’re going to join me!” Cisuré squeaked. “This iswonderful!”

Sarai gripped the other girl’s shoulder in delight. “It’s all thanks to you. And to Tetrarch Aelius, although I haven’t seen him yet.”

“Anything for you,” Cisuré said affectionately. “Don’t worry, he’s just mingling with a few Guildmasters. He’s a busy man.” She dropped her voice. “Just watch out. I hear Tetrarch Aelius is expecting some high-flying iudex to make an appearance tonight. He’s notorious for his violence, but the people love him.”

I wonder if it’s Kadra. “I’ll watch for him.” She really did owe him.

Cisuré squeezed her hands. “I need to go assist Tetrarch Aelius, but come find me when you’re done and tell me all about it.”

“I will.” She accepted a glass from Tetrarch Tullus, who’d reappeared at her elbow, and took a sip. It tasted as if it had gone a bit off. “I promise.”

She shrank back as a door creaked open. Footsteps entered the room, a group of men judging by their voices. One approached the closet, purposeful strides ticking like seconds on a water clock. He stopped before the doors.

Gods save me.

The man leaned against the door of her pitch-black prison. “—doesn’t matter,” another familiar, cultured voice said.Aelius. She must’ve passed out only a few minutes after she met him. “They’ll all buy it up. It’s almost a pity how gullible they are, but it’s profitable.”

She grew cold. The man she’d spoken with hadn’t sounded so patronizing.

“You’re sure they won’t find out?” an unfamiliar male voice asked.

“That the miracle shield I’ve discovered doesn’t actually run on faith? No, Helvus, they won’t. The public isn’t known for their critical thinking.”

“Should have seen the hick girl I had to chaperone the whole evening. All acquiescence and nothing in the way of intellect.”

Tullus. She bit down her rage.

“So we pretend it’s some sort of miracle from the gods, hide our stakes in the mine, Helvus manufacturers it and everyone snatches it up.” Tullus whistled. “We’ll be rolling in aurei.”

“And if a few hundred homes blow up, then they’ll only curse themselves. The Guild gets the land.” Aelius laughed. “Foolproof.”

Petrified, she crouched by the door, hoping they’d leave.Stay quiet, her instincts told her.Wait for them to leave, then break your hands and ankles, whatever it takes to get the restraints off and the door open.

Something skittered past her leg. She heard it again, a clacking in the same space as her. The narrow slit of light between the hinges illuminated a many-legged insect preparing to crawl up her leg.

She involuntarily shrieked. The sound, muffled by her gag, cut through the conversation outside.

The men fell silent. Aelius’s weight shifted away from the closet.

What have I done?

Whatever had secured the closet’s handles hit the ground with a thump, and the door opened. She stared up at Aelius, tears streaming down her face.

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