Gilded Serpent by Danielle Jensen (top 10 novels txt) 📕

“Yes.” His sister squeezed his hand tight. “That’s why you need to end it, Marcus. Because imagine what it will do to Teriana if she discovers she’s sleeping with the man who murdered her dearest friend.”

 103TERIANA

“What do you mean Lydia’s dead?” She gaped at Senator Valerius, unable to decide whether the sudden hollowing of her chest was because revenge would be denied her or grief that Lydia was gone.

“That’s is what I believe to be the case.” Stepping outside, he said something to Austornic, who’d ventured up after them, then shut the door behind him. Crossing the room, he sat on a bench, motioning for her to take the seat across from him. “And I believe that Cassius was the one who murdered her.”

Gagging, Teriana pressed a hand to her lips, trying to keep her stomach contents in check as she stumbled into the chair. Putting her head between her knees, she said, “Why would he kill her? She gave him everything he needed to capture my people.”

“Lydia didn’t betray you, Teriana.”

She lifted her head. “But he said she…” She trailed off, because Cassius had never overtly said that it had been Lydia who’d given her up. Teriana had only assumed that to be the case because he’d had her copy of Treatise.

“Vibius is the traitor,” Senator Valerius answered. “In more ways than one. He found where Lydia had hidden the book you’d given her and showed it to Cassius. When she discovered Cassius was using it as leverage to arrest your people, she tried to warn you, but I—”

Breaking off, he rose and went to fill two glasses with lemon water, handing one to her. Resuming his seat again, he met her gaze. “I am the one you have cause to be angry with, Teriana, because I was the one who prevented her from warning you.”

Her hand trembled, water spilling over the rim of the glass. “Why?”

“To protect her.” He took a large swallow of water, then set the glass aside. “Vibius would have told Cassius she’d interfered, and I feared the consequences. Feared I’d be unable to keep her safe from him, should he try to do her harm in retaliation for upsetting his plans. I sacrificed you and your crew in order to keep her safe, and yet she’s still dead.”

“How?” She could barely get the word past her lips.

“The morning the Quincense was towed into Celendrial’s ports, Cassius requested a sojourn between him and Lydia at the baths. I did not wish for her to go, but she did anyway, likely hoping to intercede on your behalf.”

The world spun in and out of focus, but Teriana forced herself to concentrate. To listen.

“She went into the baths, that much I know is fact. But shortly thereafter, Cassius sent word that she’d never arrived. A search began, but the servants working in the bath’s gardens revealed that a girl fitting her description was seen sneaking away. Others spoke of seeing her in the city. And more still that they’d seen her boarding a ship destined for Sibern. But I don’t believe it was her.”

Reaching across the space between them, Senator Valerius took her hands, his skin hot against her icy fingers. “Teriana, she fought against him so hard. And I know in my heart that she’d have died before abandoning you. She went into those baths, but I don’t think she ever came out. Not alive.”

A whining sound filled her ears, and she realized that it was coming from her lips. That she was shaking, tears flooding down her face, and a gasping sob tore from her lips.

Lydia was dead.

Lydia was murdered.

Lydia was gone.

She screamed, wrenching out of Senator Valerius’s grip and falling to the floor, where she pounded her fists against the wood, harder and harder, seeking the pain. Relishing it.

Dimly, she heard Austornic and the other boys burst into the room. Heard the senator murmuring that it was only grievous news, to give her space, and the doors shutting behind them.

And then he was kneeling in front of her.

“I grieve with you,” he said, drawing her up. “She was my child. The light of my life and the blood of a woman who saved me in my darkest hours. But tears will not bring her back. Which means revenge is the only thing left to us.”

“How do we hurt him?” she asked, her tongue thick. All this time, she’d believed Lydia had been the cause of her woe, but it was the opposite. It was because of her that Lydia was dead.

“Powerful as Cassius is,” Senator Valerius answered, “he is still subject to the law. If it can be proven that he arranged Lydia’s murder, he will be stripped of the consulship. And if I have my way, he’ll hang.”

“I don’t see how I can help.” She scrubbed at her eyes, trying to stop more tears from forming. “I didn’t know she was even dead. When I saw he had Treatise, I thought she’d betrayed me because we hadn’t helped her escape the betrothal.”

And looking back, she felt sick to have believed such a thing about her friend, who didn’t have a petty bone in her body. Who’d gladly suffer to save anyone she loved anguish.

“You have the ear of the Thirty-Seventh’s legatus.”

She stiffened, looking up.

“I know the boy was involved with Cassius’s scheming.” He shifted off his knees so he was sitting on the floor next to her. “Lydia sneaked onto Cassius’s property and overheard a conversation between the two. Learned that Cassius blackmailed the boy into ordering his legion to vote for Cassius in the elections.”

“Didn’t order them,” she muttered. “He gave them the choice. But the blackmail part is accurate enough. Cassius told Marcus that he’d have the Thirty-Seventh sent somewhere awful if they didn’t do it.”

Lydia’s father’s brow furrowed. “At worst, it would’ve been only for the length of Cassius’s term. And even then, Cassius doesn’t have total authority over such matters and he’d have had a