Page 28 of This Monster of Mine

“Is that so?”

Havïd. He’d provoked her. Made that crack about sentiment to force a response. And it had worked.

“Have you ever seen a hanging?” Kadra sounded curious.

She cleared her throat, cursing herself for taking the bait. “I’ve heard of one.” Some years back, a rapist had been hanged in Sal Flumen. A pull of a lever and a snap of the neck, they’d said. A scarce dent in the hour and it was over.

“What do you think of it?”

She cast around for a response. “As a punishment, it seems”—she struggled with the word—“humane.”

“And you believe in a humane response to what Ennius did?”

“You don’t have to become a monster in order to punish one.”

“Ah.” He smiled laconically. “You’re morally superior.”

“Like hells I—” Sarai’s lips pressed into a tight line. She’d come here for vengeance. Not to debate with this—her eyes made a wary ascent—six-foot lunatic. “My beliefs are unimportant. I was just surprised that the Tetrarchy condoned veering from established law.”

“There’s little the Tetrarchy doesn’t condone. Despite what I did today, I remain one of the most powerful people in Ur Dinyé.” He paused. “How does that reconcile with your beliefs?”

“The Tetrarchy didn’t give you power. The people did by electing you.”

“You disagree with their decision, then.”

She exhaled in a bid for composure. “Tetrarch Kadra, I’m in no position to make that assessment. As long as you serve the people in the manner they wish—which you’re doing excellently, if today’s cheering was any indication—my opinion is irrelevant.”

“And if I told you that your opinion is paramount?”

She threw up her hands. “By all the gods, why?”

“Because you’re going to have to choose.”

“Between?”

His face had never looked crueler. “The Tetrarchy. And me.”

Truth.She gaped for all of a second before a laugh burst out of her. Loud and incredulous. Her eyes watered as she clutched his desk for support.

“I can give you that answer now,” she managed between chuckles.

“Sleep on it.” Kadra’s gaze was inscrutable.

“It won’t change,” she informed him.

“Then you don’t have to give it now.” He didn’t even sound bothered.

“Why do I need to choose anyone?” she dared to ask. “You’re part of the Tetrarchy.”

“I plan on tearing it apart.” There was something disturbing in his eyes. Not mockery or cruelty, something infinitely more worrying for its namelessness. “And you don’t want to stand in my way.”

True.Her good humor vanished. She didn’t realize she’d taken a step back until she nearly tripped over his reading couch.

“Why?”And why tell me?

“Because the law of this land is wrong,” he said quietly, watching her, every word ringing with truth. “And you know it.”

Her heart halted. A long-suppressed part of her snapped awake, rattling its cage, all hunger and sharp teeth, like it had been waiting for this very second. She shoved the ugliness back under, watching Kadra with the sinking realization that it had woken forhim.

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