Page 40 of This Monster of Mine

Taking the grape bowl from Tullus, he peered at her over the lip. “Now, Sarai, are you gods-fearing?”

She recalled his lengthy prayer at the Robing. She wouldn’t call herself devout, but she believed in the Elsar. Despite the Fall and her miserable life.

She nodded. “I’ll be making a visit to the Grand Elsarian Temple soon.” She named the largest house of worship in Ur Dinyé.

“Good.” Aelius beamed. “We’re a humble people here. Our lives are at the gods’ mercy, so we rely on their every kindness.”

“I’ve heard much of your scuta keeping people safe as well,” she ventured.

“Well, many do call me the Naaduir of invention.” He grinned, referencing the minor pantheon of humans who had achieved deification through devotion to the gods. Those Naaduir who served the High Elsar were known as Saints, while devotees of the Dark Elsar had a different appellation—the Wretched.

“The Temple has been asking Aelius to consider being formalized as a Saint.” Tullus turned to her. “What do you think? Should he take them seriously?”

What inhavïddo I say to that?She stammered, “Yes, I—”

“You really should, Tetrarch Aelius,” Cisuré piped up from her corner. “Ur Dinyé hasn’t formalized a Saint in centuries. The monarchs back then lazed in their palaces without doing half as much as you have. You deserve the honor.”

Torn between awe and bewilderment as Cisuré’s speech continued, Sarai glanced at Tullus and nearly choked to find him nodding sagely. Only Cassandane looked like she was searching for a hole to swallow her.

“You’ve made your case.” Aelius raised his hands with a smile, sleeves falling back to reveal a silver armilla blazing with lit runes like Kadra’s. “I’ll speak with the Temple.”

At Cisuré’s flush, Sarai slid her a reproving glance.What were you saying about not being fond again?Avoiding her eyes, the other girl began fanning herself.

Aelius returned to Sarai. “Pardon our distraction. You must be wondering why we invited you. And why Tetrarch Kadra did yesterday.” He steepled his fingers. “Strange, isn’t it? Calling a young woman over in the dead of night.”

Havïd. Cato was right about the rumor mill being busy.Best to nip this in the bud.

“I’m sure he thought it necessary, seeing as I work with—for him now,” she corrected when Tullus’s eyes narrowed. He clearly didn’t consider Tetrarchs and Petitors as equals on the job.

“What’s his tower like?” Tullus demanded. “It’s been ages since I was last there.”

Why is he so focused on Aoran Tower?“It’s”—Sarai cast around for a neutral answer—“quite dark. I’m afraid I didn’t see much of it last night.”

“Really?” His brow creased in irritation. “You sawnothing?”

“I—”

“She probably only had a few hours of rest before beginning work with him,” Cassandane interjected, sending Sarai a reassuring glance.

Tullus looked like he couldn’t care less if Sarai slept or not. “I knew Kadra’s predecessor well, Tetrarch Othus. We were in and out of each other’s homes. Then, Kadra takes the throne, and suddenly no one’s allowed in. That’s suspect, being so paranoid about visitors.”

Well, we’re in a tower with lightning around it.

“It’s like he’s hiding something dangerous there. Could be treasonous correspondence, forbidden magic, even bodies.” Tullus’s eyes finally moved up to her face. “And you’re the only person in Ur Dinyé with access to it all.”

The ensuing silence had a dangerous weight to it. Anticipation. Insistence. Her spine stiffened in understanding.

She folded her hands in her lap before daring to speak. “Are you asking me to spy on Tetrarch Kadra?” Behind her, Cisuré sucked in an audible breath.

Aelius gaped. A wide grin broke across his face. “Now, there’s an idea! You’re a bright one. We all saw it at the Robing, didn’t we?”

Tullus gnawed on a grape. “Splendid idea. Will you start tomorrow?”

Wait, what?Why were they acting like this was her idea when she’d only said what they’d kept beating about the bush at?

Sarai realized her jaw had fallen open and wrenched it shut. “I was only—”

“You’ve seen how dangerous Kadra is.” Tullus talked to her chest, scratching his grizzled chin. Sarai itched to whack him with his grape bowl. “The man delights in gory spectacle. It’s a travesty that he was even able to ascend to the position.”

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