Page 24 of This Monster of Mine

“I’m to help bring your things down.” Telmar stared at the ground.

So Kadra thought she’d immediately ride off to his home, did he? Her mouth formed a grim line.Then again, what better place to begin investigating the Fall?

“I’ll handle it,” she said quietly.

“Can you?” A tinge of lucidity entered Telmar’s voice. “After this morning?”

“I didn’t want Ennius’s blood on my hands if he was innocent.”

“At what cost? You just made yourself a target.”

“To whom?” she whispered. “In Arsamea, you said every Petitor from last year’s Robing died. Was it the same for the years before? What’sreallybeen happening to them?”

He pressed a finger to his lips. Laughter sounded below them and he spoke quickly, words slurred with the drink.

“When one died, the others fled. If they didn’t, they joined them. That hasn’t changed for four years, so someonewilldie this year. If you mean to survive, barmaid, then keep that stubborn chin of yoursdown. Don’t look farther than the end of your nose—” Awareness left his eyes.

“Why?” Forcing herself to grip his shoulders, she shook him, trying to stop theibezfrom taking him under. “Did the Petitors really commit suicide? Who should I be watching for?”

Telmar squinted. “Barmaid!” He patted his pockets. “Did I give you your present?”

Shit. Releasing him, she nodded. “Thank you for the scroll.”

Looking on the verge of tears, he flashed a watery smile and stumbled downstairs, nearly careening into Anek. They moved out of the way, shooting Sarai a curious look. She cursed as Harion’s gleeful face emerged behind them, followed by Cisuré.

“Late-night visitors already?” Harion eyed her. “Elsar only knows what they see in you, though Telmar isn’t much of a prize. Never sober—”

She threw the scroll at his head. “He was here forthis.”

Catching it, Anek stared at the message. Cisuré read over their shoulder and blanched.

“Well,” Harion pronounced. “You’ve madequitean impression.”

Sarai’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t Petitors usually reside near their Tetrarch?”

“The point being ‘near.’ Kadra’s telling you to livewithhim.”

“This isn’t right.” Cisuré stared at the parchment like it had grown fangs. “New Petitors get a few days to pack our things, make our farewells. You’ve only just had dinner, and he’s summoning you this late—” She crumpled the scroll. “This is an abuse of power.”

“Looks like you’ll be losing the bet.” Harion raised his hands when Anek shot him a withering glance. “There’s a chance.”

“Don’t go.” Cisuré tossed the letter in the fireplace. “In addition to never taking a Petitor, Kadra hasneverallowed anyone into his tower. Who knows what he could do to you there?”

“Wisdom alive, he won’t eat her.” Anek gave Sarai a meaningful look. “The choice is yours.”

I’ll be staying at his home.It could haveanswers, evidence. Granted, she’d probably join Ennius on a pyre if Kadra caught her snooping, and she was in grave danger if he had the suicide-inducing ability Harion thought he did.But I could ruin him.

“I’ll go.” She shook her head when Cisuré protested. “For better or worse, I’m his Petitor.”

“Finally, a decision,” Harion groused. “You womencertotake your time.”

“Probably because we’re surrounded by men waiting for us to stumble so they can find purpose,” Sarai muttered. He glowered.

Anek and Cisuré helped her pack her few possessions, while Harion ran a blood-boiling commentary on the unfashionability of her two tunics. When he finally left, Sarai let out a barrage of curses that earned her a dig in the ribs from Cisuré.

“Harion’s mostly all bark,” Anek said. “It’s well known that any woman who spends an hour in his company regrets it.”

Sarai snorted, shoving Kadra’s robes into her satchel. “What about the Tetrarchs? Cassandane looks like she’d be highly sought after.”

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