“What’s that you’ve got there?” I ask. “A mace.” He twists the bottom, making it vibrate. “It’s a symbol of a university’s authority to award degrees. Since it’s your graduation day, I thought you deserved a little reward.” Pleasant shivers run down my spine. “And here I was thinking you’d buy me a car.” Marius smirks. “It’s parked outside.” “Which color?” I rise off my stool, my breath quickening. “Red.”
