CHAPTER 42

Verian

VERIAN GUARDED THE brONZE doors of the Curia, swallowing his questions like a good soldier. The duty roster had changed unexpectedly this morning, and he'd been directed to the city council chambers, the brick-faced concrete building with a portico held up by enormous marble columns.

Bile settled in his throat, an uneasy sensation consuming him since he'd been unable to locate Vita last night. He'd inquired at the inn and tavern, but no one had seen her since the previous evening. At first, he'd assumed she'd gone back to the palace, but when he awoke this morning, he couldn't shake the sense of dread that shrouded him like a veil.

She would never have left without telling him; he knew that for an absolute fact. She wouldn't let him worry, wondering where she'd gone, no matter how upset she was. The pit in his stomach widened as he stood at the doors, desperate for his shift to be over so he could look for her once more.

As far as he knew, there were no proceedings scheduled for today, or even this week. He had worked here a few times since being promoted to Praetorian guard, but never for anything other than official council business.

His instructions were simple. Let no one in or out, other than the Praetor himself or a man named Spurius. Verian had seen neither as he stood watch with his brother in arms, Phaedrus.

It had been a long day.

One of their brothers had brought them a simple lunch, but that had been the only break they'd received for many hours. The shadows lengthened, casting the Curia courtyard in an eerie gloom.

All day alone with his thoughts, going over what he'd say to Vita when he saw her. He'd force her to listen to him, force her to hear him out so he could get everything in the open. He would… he would quit the guard, as much as it pained him, knowing that Drusus' words were true.

This was not what he wanted, was just something that had been engrained in him since he was a young lad at the training collegium. Look how the guard had treated his father after he had died in the line of duty… like a nobody, when he had been everything to Verian and his mother.

He had messed things up with Vita, and he was going to fix it. As strong as she was, as much as she'd been through, it was clear how she needed someone devoted to her. And he could be that person. He didn't want to go back to being friends, needed to hold her in his arms until the end of their days.

He only hoped she was safe, that he had just missed her when he was looking for her last night.

Drusus broke him out of his tumult of thoughts, approaching the bronze doors with a small tray in his hands and another guard in tow. "You both are relieved, but someone needs to bring this to the basement."

"The basement?" Verian had been down there a handful of times to gather supplies for one council member or another, the dank darkness always giving him a disturbing chill.

Drusus shrugged. "He has some sort of prisoner down there."

The small cup of water and dry loaf of bread tracked with that statement. Even so, it made little sense.

"Why is a prisoner here instead of the jail?"

Now Drusus glanced around before leaning in close. "Rumor has it that this prisoner can do magic ."

The statement sent an icy chill through Verian's veins, his mouth going dry. A prisoner who could do magic, someone the Praetor was obsessed with…

Vita .

"I'll take it," he offered, grabbing the tray before Drusus could protest.

The guard commander quirked a brow, but said nothing else.

Phaedrus heaved the great bronze door open, and Verian took shaky steps into the Curia.

It couldn't be Vita. Praetor Amulius had no right to kidnap Shadowholde citizens, regardless of what crimes they were accused of. And yet it was the only conclusion that made sense.

He made his way down a dark staircase, trying to stop his heart from racing. The tray rattled in his hands as he attempted to steady himself. He came out to an empty hallway, unsure where exactly he was supposed to go until a voice surprised him from the shadows.

"I'll take that, soldier."

The words tensed every muscle in his body, as if something were probing deep within him. Some sort of presence, unseen and unheard, yet he could feel its investigation of his mind. He tried to remain calm, taking a deep breath as a figure appeared from the dim hallway.

Lit braziers revealed an unassuming man, small and fair. What disturbed Verian was the dark, searching eyes, the wicked grin plastered on his pale face.

The man seized the tray from him before slinking back into the darkness.

"Is there anything else you need?" Verian called, finally regaining his capacity for speech, but was met with his own echoed voice.

He waited on bated breath for a response, a noise, anything, but there was only silence. With his heart racing, he turned and ran back up the stairs in a clatter of armor.

Verian slammed his fists against the wooden doors, chest heaving with exertion.

"High Consul!" he yelled, his voice hoarse.

Why the Hells wouldn't they let him in? Exhaustion buzzed through him, but desperation urged him onward.

In his heart, he knew Vita was the prisoner in the Curia's basement. His suspicions were confirmed when he rushed to Ad Noctua and her room at the inn, and she was still nowhere to be found.

Though he had wanted to go straight back to the Curia, to fight for her even if it meant certain death, he knew he didn't stand a chance if his brothers turned on him. Not to mention the strange man who'd been probing his mind. There was something off about him, some unseen power Verian had little hope of fighting against.

His only option was the High Consul's palace.

Before he could slam his fists against the knotted wood once more, the door creaked open, and a face appeared.

"Can we help you?" It was the servant he'd seen the first time he had visited.

"I need to speak with the High Consul immediately. It's about Vita." When the man just stared at him, Verian continued. "She's in trouble."

After a pause, the servant opened the door fully, and he hurried inside. The man scrutinized him, clearly offended by his disheveled appearance, but gestured for him to follow. Winding corridors led them to another door, the servant rapping the wood three times before a huff of a voice sounded from inside.

"Come in."

He opened the door, holding his arm out to Verian, who took the cue and entered alone.

The High Consul sat at an enormous desk, a motif of roses painted on the luscious wood with sparkling gold. Bookshelves lined each wall from floor to ceiling, and the room glowed with candlelight.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, a smirk on his lips.

"It's about Vita," Verian said quickly, barely letting the man finish his words.

The High Consul cocked a brow, then turned his attention back to the book splayed open on his desk. "What about her?"

"I… I believe she's in danger. I don't have proof, but it all adds up. Praetor Amulius has her."

The High Consul froze for just a moment, before standing and approaching Verian faster than humanly possible. Worry etched his face no matter how much he tried to keep it neutral, red eyes wide and glimmering.

"How do you know this?"

Verian recounted his day guarding the Curia, the rumors of a prisoner with magic, the strange man he'd met in the basement while delivering the tray. Then, he went back farther, to his meeting with the Praetor, the talk of poison in the city, his words a jumbled mess.

As he spoke, the High Consul nodded along. He could only hope the man believed him, otherwise Verian would have to go in alone. If there was a chance Vita was down there in the clutches of Praetor Amulius, he had to try to save her.

When he finished, the High Consul's jaw was clenched. The man took one last glance around his office before taking Verian's arm and pulling him out the door.

"We will go to the Curia at once," he said, not making eye contact as he led them through the halls.

"What about the mage woman? Your friend? We could use all the help we can get, especially if the man I encountered has magic."

The High Consul shook his head. "Aurora and Petran are out of the city on business."

Verian swallowed a swell of emotion, willing himself to remain calm.

Magic or not, they would save Vita. Or die trying.